Undefeated
Apr 16, 2017
Dr. Ed Newton
John 11:25-27
"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."
The Secretary
Floyd Mayweather Jr
The Watt
The Intent of the Message:
What has been deemed or decreed as impossible in and around your life can become possible because of one singular supernatural event in history, the resurrection of Jesus! Therefore, today it is our desire that you would discover your comeback story in a tomb that is empty, a Savior who is living and a salvation that has been afforded by grace through Jesus.
{The four challenges in your life that cause doubt of God's comeback story in you:}
I. "It's been too Long":
John 11:6 - "So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was."
Application: His DELAY is not because of DISTANCE.
In Jewish culture it took 3 days for a person to be "officially dead".
II. "It's too Late":
John 11:21, 32 - Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died…" 21 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 32
Application: His ARRIVAL is not blocked by your ANGER.
• Response to Mary: Then Jesus wept.
John 11:35 NLT
• Born once, die twice.
• Born twice, die once.
• Jesus doesn't want anyone to suffer a spiritual death.
• Death has been repurposed, it's not a deadend.
III. "It's too Limited":
John 11:37 - But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"
Application: His POWER is not bound to PARTIALITY.
• If Jesus, can come back from the dead then there's nothing that He can't do.
IV. "It's too Lost":
John 11:43-44 - When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
Application: His VOICE is not breathed in VAIN.
Obviously Dead-4 days (stench)—Tomb and Stone, Grave Clothes, Empty Tomb
Obviously Dead-3 days-Crucified—Tomb and Stone, Grave Clothes, Empty Tomb
Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb. It was a simple cave in the hillside with a slab of stone laid against it. Jesus said, "Remove the stone." The sister of the dead man, Martha, said, "Master, by this time there's a stench. He's been dead four days!"
John 11:38-39 MSG
Community Group Discussion Questions
"Undefeated" John 11:1-44 April 14-16
Getting Started
What has been deemed or decreed as impossible in and around your life can become possible because of one singular supernatural event in history, the resurrection of Jesus! Therefore, today it is our desire that you would discover your comeback story in a tomb that is empty, a Savior who is living, and a salvation that has been afforded by grace through Jesus.
More than likely, you have at least one relationship, job situation, health issue, or lingering fear about which you feel there will never be a good resolution. It feels impossible to you. Could you share one of those with us?
If the tomb is empty, the Savior is alive, and salvation has been offered, how does this change your thinking about your impossible situation?
Going Deeper
{The four challenges in your life that cause doubt of God's comeback story in you:}
"It's been too Long":
John 11:6 - "So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was."
Application: His DELAY is not because of DISTANCE.
When God doesn't answer our prayers or respond to our requests, we can be tempted to think He doesn't care or that He's too busy to worry about my problems. This can lead us to doubt God's goodness.
The reality is often just the opposite. God doesn't delay in responding to us because He's too busy or we aren't important. It's usually because He has an answer that is 'immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20).
Share with us about a time when God didn't answer one of your prayers but gave you something even better at a later time.
"It's too Late":
John 11:21, 32 - Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died… Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
Application: His ARRIVAL is not blocked by your ANGER.
When we have anger, fears, or regrets, we often talk ourselves out of any hope of fixing them because we say, "It's too late. Too much water has gone under the bridge. It's hopeless." This story about Lazarus shows us that God often waits to do things because He has a purpose in mind that can't be accomplished by rushing.
In this story, Jesus intentionally waited for Lazarus to die because Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Sometimes, God has to let something die in our lives before He can resurrect it or us to a new reality and show His glory in the process. Someone once said, "God is seldom early, but He is never late."
If you could set aside how long something has been 'wrong', what would you ask God to do right now to enable you step into that situation with God's power and see God do a miraculous work?
"It's too Limited":
John 11:37 - But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"
Application: His POWER is not bound to PARTIALITY.
Just a few months before Lazarus died, Jesus had healed a man born blind (John 9). The news of this miracle had spread throughout the region and many believed Jesus could do anything. You can imagine their confusion when they hear that Jesus couldn't keep His good friend Lazarus from dying. Jesus doesn't love some people more than others, but like any good parent, He loves each of us uniquely and perfectly.
To His fearful disciples, He responded with truth and boldness.
To a confused Martha, He responded with a powerful statement "I AM the Resurrection and the Life."
To a crying Mary, He responded with tears of His own
To these unbelieving observers, He responded with a miracle.
How has Jesus uniquely and perfectly demonstrated His love to you?
"It's too Lost":
John 11:43-44 - When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
Application: His VOICE is not breathed in VAIN.
One preacher humorously said, "If Jesus had not used Lazarus' name, every single body in the cemetery would have come back from the dead.' The words of God are powerful, calling creation into existence from nothing, and calling life back from the dead.
The same 'new life' that Jesus gave to Lazarus is a picture of what Jesus offers each of us. He wants us to come alive from a life deadened by sin, to remove the grave clothes, and to be turned loose to live life to the fullest.
Have you made the decision to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior?
He gave His life for you, so He could give His life to you.
In Jewish culture a folded napkin meant that you enjoyed your time and were coming again.
Group Prayer Requests
Pray for those who heard about the Undefeated Jesus this weekend that they may take the next step toward believing in and following Him.
Apr 16, 2017
Dr. Ed Newton
John 11:25-27
"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."
The Secretary
Floyd Mayweather Jr
The Watt
The Intent of the Message:
What has been deemed or decreed as impossible in and around your life can become possible because of one singular supernatural event in history, the resurrection of Jesus! Therefore, today it is our desire that you would discover your comeback story in a tomb that is empty, a Savior who is living and a salvation that has been afforded by grace through Jesus.
{The four challenges in your life that cause doubt of God's comeback story in you:}
I. "It's been too Long":
John 11:6 - "So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was."
Application: His DELAY is not because of DISTANCE.
In Jewish culture it took 3 days for a person to be "officially dead".
II. "It's too Late":
John 11:21, 32 - Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died…" 21 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 32
Application: His ARRIVAL is not blocked by your ANGER.
• Response to Mary: Then Jesus wept.
John 11:35 NLT
• Born once, die twice.
• Born twice, die once.
• Jesus doesn't want anyone to suffer a spiritual death.
• Death has been repurposed, it's not a deadend.
III. "It's too Limited":
John 11:37 - But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"
Application: His POWER is not bound to PARTIALITY.
• If Jesus, can come back from the dead then there's nothing that He can't do.
IV. "It's too Lost":
John 11:43-44 - When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
Application: His VOICE is not breathed in VAIN.
Obviously Dead-4 days (stench)—Tomb and Stone, Grave Clothes, Empty Tomb
Obviously Dead-3 days-Crucified—Tomb and Stone, Grave Clothes, Empty Tomb
Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb. It was a simple cave in the hillside with a slab of stone laid against it. Jesus said, "Remove the stone." The sister of the dead man, Martha, said, "Master, by this time there's a stench. He's been dead four days!"
John 11:38-39 MSG
Community Group Discussion Questions
"Undefeated" John 11:1-44 April 14-16
Getting Started
What has been deemed or decreed as impossible in and around your life can become possible because of one singular supernatural event in history, the resurrection of Jesus! Therefore, today it is our desire that you would discover your comeback story in a tomb that is empty, a Savior who is living, and a salvation that has been afforded by grace through Jesus.
More than likely, you have at least one relationship, job situation, health issue, or lingering fear about which you feel there will never be a good resolution. It feels impossible to you. Could you share one of those with us?
If the tomb is empty, the Savior is alive, and salvation has been offered, how does this change your thinking about your impossible situation?
Going Deeper
{The four challenges in your life that cause doubt of God's comeback story in you:}
"It's been too Long":
John 11:6 - "So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was."
Application: His DELAY is not because of DISTANCE.
When God doesn't answer our prayers or respond to our requests, we can be tempted to think He doesn't care or that He's too busy to worry about my problems. This can lead us to doubt God's goodness.
The reality is often just the opposite. God doesn't delay in responding to us because He's too busy or we aren't important. It's usually because He has an answer that is 'immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20).
Share with us about a time when God didn't answer one of your prayers but gave you something even better at a later time.
"It's too Late":
John 11:21, 32 - Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died… Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
Application: His ARRIVAL is not blocked by your ANGER.
When we have anger, fears, or regrets, we often talk ourselves out of any hope of fixing them because we say, "It's too late. Too much water has gone under the bridge. It's hopeless." This story about Lazarus shows us that God often waits to do things because He has a purpose in mind that can't be accomplished by rushing.
In this story, Jesus intentionally waited for Lazarus to die because Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Sometimes, God has to let something die in our lives before He can resurrect it or us to a new reality and show His glory in the process. Someone once said, "God is seldom early, but He is never late."
If you could set aside how long something has been 'wrong', what would you ask God to do right now to enable you step into that situation with God's power and see God do a miraculous work?
"It's too Limited":
John 11:37 - But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"
Application: His POWER is not bound to PARTIALITY.
Just a few months before Lazarus died, Jesus had healed a man born blind (John 9). The news of this miracle had spread throughout the region and many believed Jesus could do anything. You can imagine their confusion when they hear that Jesus couldn't keep His good friend Lazarus from dying. Jesus doesn't love some people more than others, but like any good parent, He loves each of us uniquely and perfectly.
To His fearful disciples, He responded with truth and boldness.
To a confused Martha, He responded with a powerful statement "I AM the Resurrection and the Life."
To a crying Mary, He responded with tears of His own
To these unbelieving observers, He responded with a miracle.
How has Jesus uniquely and perfectly demonstrated His love to you?
"It's too Lost":
John 11:43-44 - When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
Application: His VOICE is not breathed in VAIN.
One preacher humorously said, "If Jesus had not used Lazarus' name, every single body in the cemetery would have come back from the dead.' The words of God are powerful, calling creation into existence from nothing, and calling life back from the dead.
The same 'new life' that Jesus gave to Lazarus is a picture of what Jesus offers each of us. He wants us to come alive from a life deadened by sin, to remove the grave clothes, and to be turned loose to live life to the fullest.
Have you made the decision to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior?
He gave His life for you, so He could give His life to you.
In Jewish culture a folded napkin meant that you enjoyed your time and were coming again.
Group Prayer Requests
Pray for those who heard about the Undefeated Jesus this weekend that they may take the next step toward believing in and following Him.
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