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Speaker: Pastor Steve Estes
Title: "Let Us Die With Him"
Scripture: John 11:1-16

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus. "Lord, the one you love is sick." When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him" Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Notes:

1. At some point, Christian disciples--especially leaders--will be asked to "die" as they follow Christ.
A. Dying can be literal
B. Dying can be figurative
C. What dying looked like for Paul
D. What dying might look like for you
E. Dying is unpleasant

2. When small group leaders die, they are dying "with Jesus."
A. As you face frustrations, weariness, tensions...Christ is facing these things in you
B. Christ feels your pain especially as you die in ministry

3. Small group leaders encourage each other to die.
A. It's one reason we're in church today

4. When followers of Christ are willing to die with Him, God uses them despite their weaknesses.
A. Was Thomas strong?
B. How did it end for Thomas?

Benediction: Be strong and courageous. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Amen.