Connect
What’s something you wish was more true of you?

Pray
Spend a couple minutes quieting your heart and drawing your attention toward God. Consider these prayer points:

◾ God, I pray you’d reveal to me places I’m still feeling shame. I pray you’d give me courage to go there with You.
◾ I pray You would replace my shame with forgiveness and love.
◾ I pray You’ll help me experience new life that comes only from Jesus.
◾ Please, Father, help me hear Your voice and sense You being with me.
◾ Father, today I pray you would father me.

Explore and Discuss
Insight: Jesus likely waited four days because of the Jewish superstition that a soul stayed near the grave for three days, hoping to return to the body. It was believed that after four days there was absolutely no hope of the person being brought back to life.

1. What’s the difference between how Mary and Martha reacted when Jesus arrived on the scene? Why do you think the writer included this detail when telling the story?

2. How would you have felt if you were Mary or Martha? One of the crowd?

3. Jesus assured Martha that Lazarus would rise again. What did she understand that to mean?

4. What does it mean that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?

5. What does this mean for you personally?

6. What was Jesus feeling? Does this surprise you? Why or why not?

7. Satan attacks (often in subtle ways) our view of Jesus. In this story, some people recognized Jesus’ love, others were a bit more skeptical. Which of these can you relate to the most?

8. In what ways has Jesus helped you experience new life?

9. In what parts of your life do you still need freedom?

Insight: Many believe Lazarus’ grave clothes represent the attitudes, habits, guilt and shame people continue to wear, even after becoming followers of Christ.

10. Lazarus came back to life… there’s no way he would continue to wear his grave clothes! If Jesus brings people back to life, spiritually, why do people continue to carry the baggage of guilt and shame? How does this help you understand spiritual warfare?

11. Shame has plagued us since Adam and Eve bit into the fruit and realized they were naked. Their first instinct was to hide from each other and God (Genesis 3:7-11). What are ways people try to hide their shame?

12. Which of these can you relate with?

13. Jesus brought Lazarus back to life then told the disciples to take off his grave clothes. Has anyone ever helped you experience forgiveness and find healing from shame?

14. How does this encourage or change your view of what it means to have or be a good friend?

15. From this week’s study, what do you think the enemy doesn’t want you to see?

Make a Move
Spend a few minutes in silence and ask God what He wants you to know and remember from this week’s study and discussion. Is there an emotion or thought He’s stirring in you? Is there a specific step God is leading you to take? Jot down some thoughts and share with your group or with a close friend.

Memorize
One of the best ways to hear God throughout the day is to store His words in your heart and mind. Based on this week’s theme, commit these words of Scripture to memory:

The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:44 (NIV)

App and the Daily Devotional
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

Why Jesus?
If you’ve never experienced God’s forgiveness and grace, we’d love the opportunity to talk with you about a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200

Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.