Initiate
A video introduction using illustrations, personal stories, metaphors, or active learning examples to begin the discussion.
Interact
After the video, prompts are supplied for thinking and sharing with others personal perception and experience. This opening activity prompts participants to think about and relate to the topic, and to share with others.
This Is Odd
Consider these statistical odds. Which one surprises you most, and why?
- Odds of being struck by lightning at some point in your lifetime: about 1 in 15,000
- Odds of flipping a coin and getting 10 heads in a row: 1 in 1,024
- Odds of giving birth to identical twins: about 1 in 250
- Odds of winning the Powerball jackpot: 1 in 292,201,338
- Odds of rolling two dice and getting snake eyes (two ones): 1 in 36
- Odds of pitching a perfect game in Major League Baseball: about 1 in 11,500 games
- Odds of becoming a professional athlete (from U.S. high school to professional level): often less than 1 in 5,000
- Odds of being born on February 29: about 1 in 1,461
- Odds of being audited by the IRS in a given year: roughly 1 in 200
Insight
The Bible discussion begins with a careful reading of the whole passage, either from your own Bibles, or from the provided images below.
Then participants are to ask:
- What is going on in this passage of Scripture?
- What are the key words and phrases? Highlight them.
- Why do you think this passage is included in the Bible?
- What does it contribute to our “knowing Christ” and “living in Christ”?
Jesus stands before the tomb and reminds Martha, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” They remove the stone before anything changes. What is standing in the way that we know we need to move? Faith is not only belief. It leads to action. Martha had already confessed that He is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25–27), yet now she must trust Him in the present moment. Out of all the events people experience, a person rising from the dead is rare. Why does John center this sign in his Gospel?
Before calling Lazarus, Jesus looks up and prays. “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” He speaks aloud so those listening may believe the Father sent Him. The miracle grows out of His steady relationship with the Father, just as He had said earlier that He does what He sees the Father doing (John 5:19).
Then Jesus calls, “Lazarus, come out.” The one who said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3) now calls a man by name. Lazarus walks out, still wrapped in linen. Jesus says, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Where is He calling us to step forward into life?
Insight Out
A parting video clip with a personal invitation to apply the message to “knowing Christ” and “living in Christ” in the coming week.