This week's lessons: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45

Emmanuel Community Church

Inter-generational Lectionary Study;

Sundays from 10:0 to 10:45 in the Board Room

Opening

Opening prayer by leader, or invite another participant to pray, or us:

Almighty God, who has caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning, open our ears and hearts today to learn from your word and from one another, we ask in Jesus' Name. Amen

Set the calendar-clock to the right date. Lent is our time of preparation for Easter: a time to examine our souls and consciences; a time to reform our lives; a time to prepare for the greatest feast of the year, that commemorates the greatest event of all creation. Over the weeks of Lent, the Gospel readings will take us with Christ along the road to redemption.

Today, the Gospel reviews for us the resurrection of Lazarus – and more: Martha's witness that “I have come to believe that you are the Christ”; Martha's evangelical act in bringing Mary to the Lord; Christ's compassionate weeping.

Review of Last Week

What was the Gospel lesson? - Jesus heals a blind beggar

Did anyone have any insights about...

1. What kinds of situations do people face which might cause them such despair that they feel like dried, dead bones?
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2. How can you act to breath new life into your despairing brothers and sisters?
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3. What resurrections or turning points have you had in your life?
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4. What range of attitudes to members of our congregation show when someone among us is released from the bonds of death?
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5. Who in our congregation might God be working through to bring you life, hope, forgiveness or healing?
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Memory Verse:

^{20.1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.}

^{2 Then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.}

^{3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcre.}

^{4 So they ran both together; and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre;}

^{5 and he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying; yet went he not in.}

^{6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen cloths lie;}

^{7 and the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but wrapped together in a place by itself.}

^{8 Then went in also that other disciple which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.}

^{9 For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.}

^{10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.}

Bible Passage

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Psalm 130

Romans 8:6-11

John 11:1-45

Why do we suppose Jesus waited so long to come to Lazarus’ bedside – arriving after Lazarus had been dead 4 days?

Jesus healed many sick and disabled people but raised from death very few so why do we think he chose to raise Lazarus?

What is the disciples’ response to Lazarus’ illness, to Jesus’ choice to wait, and then Jesus’ decision to return to Judea?

Is there any signifigance to Martha's going out to meet Jesus?

Why did Martha speak to Mary privately?

How did the crowd respond in different ways to Jesus' raising Lazarus?

Pew-work Hand-outs

“Pew-work” is like Home-work, except that it is done in the pews, instead of being done at home. Because it is focussed on the readings (as the sermon, presumably, also is) it can be done during the sermon to help the listener concentrate. Or, it can be done while waiting for everyone else to finish their communion. It isn't done during prayers, or hymns, or the readings, because

• During Prayers, we pray

• During Hymns, we sing

During the Readings, we listen

Adult Student's Pew-work

Middle-school Students' Pew-work

Elementary-School Students' Pew-work

Pre-Schooler's Pew-work