St. Peter Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Illinois

Fear of Death (John 11:32-44)

Today we tackle what can be one of life’s greatest fears – the fear of death. Dreams run their course. Seasons of life wind down. Relationships fizzle. Our bodies fade, and eventually we all die. It is imperative that we learn how to deal with the inevitable. That’s why today we zero in on John 11:32–44 and listen to Him who is the resurrection and the life; for as we see with Lazarus, death is never the end when Jesus shows up. Textual questions to ponder: 1) How did Lazarus’ sisters react to his death? How did Jesus react? 2) Why is death frequently our greatest fear? 3) What does Jesus promise you when you face the death of a dream, a job, a relationship, or someone you love?

Financial Fears

We live in a world engulfed in financial fear and unrest – the fear of inflation, healthcare costs, college expenses, retirement sustainability, and more. How do we live in a financial world and not have financial fears? Jesus tells us how we can win over financial worry: it’s faith in the goodness and providence of God that dispels financial fears. Textual questions to ponder: 1. Why are financial fears some of the most powerful fears we have? 2. What does Scripture have to say about our worry over money? 3. Contrast how unbelievers approach financial fears with that of how Jesus wants believers to face them?

The Fear of Leaving Our Shells

If we are honest, most of us would prefer to follow Jesus in our self-made, comfortable, safe shells. On the first Pentecost the Holy Spirit empowered 120 Jesus-followers to break out of their shells with the gospel of Jesus Christ — and the world was forever changed. Today we ask God to do it again—with us! Textual questions to ponder: 1. Compare the disciples before and after Pentecost. What changed them? 2. What would you have thought about the disciples, had you been in Jerusalem on that first Pentecost? 3. From Acts 2:1–24, make a list of what the Holy Spirit does and what he is like. What impresses you the most? What do you need the most?

Fear in the Storm

In 1633 the famous Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669) painted The Storm on the Sea of Galilee. Rembrandt knew about storms from his own life. In fact, if you count the disciples in the boat with Jesus, you will notice an extra 13th person. That person would be Rembrandt, you, and me. We too know life in the storm. In the painting, however, one disciple is looking at Jesus with trust and reverence; think about it: looking to Jesus in the storm! That’s transformational, and our text will tell us why! Textual questions to ponder: 1. Have you ever been in a storm like this? 2. Why do you think the disciples panicked? 3. Why do you think Jesus was sleeping?

The Fear of Failure

“Though a righteous person falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.” (Proverbs 24:16) As we see throughout the Bible and especially in our own lives, God’s blood-bought children are not people who do not fall nor fail, but by His grace and Spirit we are lifted up to keep going again-and-again. This is welcomed news for moms, for mother-figures, and for everyone today! Textual questions to ponder: 1. What is the difference between the righteous and the wicked in this verse? 2. What has the fear of failure done in your life? 3. Why get up when life (parenting, finances, work, health, relationships, etc.) knocks you down?