Leader Packet
THE I AM STATEMENTS OF JESUS: “RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE”
John 11:17-27
Getting Started
1. Including this lesson, which one of the five I AM statements have you found to be particularly powerful or illuminating? Remind your group that these declarations demonstrate Jesus’ ability to meet the deepest needs of humanity, and each of us has unique needs, drawing us to Jesus for very personal reasons. His statements challenge us to embrace the Savior, not only as a teacher or prophet, but as the only way to experience true life and intimacy with God. How has Jesus changed your relationship with Him through this sermon series?
I Am the Bread of Life - John 6:35, 48, 51
I Am the Light of the World - John 8:12; 9:5
I Am the Door of the Sheep - John 10:7, 9
I Am the Good Shepherd - John 10:11, 14
I Am the Resurrection and the Life - John 11:25
2. How might doubt, fear, and even despair demonstrate a person’s limited understanding and/or acceptance of Jesus as the great I AM? Understanding the significance of the I Am statements allows us to grasp the profound nature of Jesus’ ministry and the transformative power of his message. This is one of the most powerful ways God moves from our heads (only knowing information about the Bible) to our hearts (living in a redemptive relationship with Jesus).
Digging Deeper
1. Read the promise in Psalm 34:18. Describe a dark season in your life. If you were a follower of Christ at that time, how did this impact your relationship with Jesus? Sometimes it takes the bitter sting of a broken heart to feel the presence of the Lord. In those moments when we are unable to come to Him, overcome by our own weakness and shattered spirits, He comes to us. And, often, that is when we come to understand His unwavering love for us in a special way.
2. Next, read John 11:21-22. In what way do you relate to Martha? When have you felt this way? Describe a time when you felt that God wasn’t there when you most needed him. Richard D. Phillips has written, Christians sometimes think it wrong for a believer to speak frankly with the Lord. But God invites us to pour our hearts out to him. “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you,” the Bible urges (1 Peter 5:7). This includes our burdens and our griefs, our questions and our frustrations. God’s willingness to receive the grieving complaints of our hearts is proved by Jesus’ tender ministry to Martha on the road into Bethany.
3. What does “faith-filled frustration” mean to you? What might this type of expression look like? How might a person complain to God in a way that honors him? In the John 11:21-22 example, despite her frustration, Martha still held onto her faith. She believed that Jesus had the power to bring about change and she said, “Even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
4. Many people fear physical death. Perhaps you fear it as well (or you have in the past). In your words, what does the “fear of death” feel like? What thoughts come up with this fear? While everyone will die, people view it–and face it– differently. And while Christians believe that there is life after death, for many, transitioning from this life to the next is a thinking and emotional weight that can feel burdensome. That is why this week’s sermon is so needed and timely. We need to know how to face death well. And we need to know the person who is waiting for us in heaven (Jesus).