There are two videos below (and introductory note and a devotion on Psalm 119) followed by a family worship guide for Colossians 3:12-17.
Family Worship Guide
While we are unable to gather in person for worship as we normally do, this guide is intended to help your family spend some time worshiping this Lord's Day.
Depending on your the age of your kids, you may need to adjust this guide quite a bit. It's okay. The point is not to follow this guide perfectly. Rather, the point is to reflect rightly on God, and worship Him as a family, however that may look.
Depending on your the age of your kids, you may need to adjust this guide quite a bit. It's okay. The point is not to follow this guide perfectly. Rather, the point is to reflect rightly on God, and worship Him as a family, however that may look.
John 11:1-53
Big Idea
Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. He loves His people, rules over death, and calls us to believe in Him.
Open and Pray
Family Leader: Jesus is Lord, and He speaks to us in His Word. Let’s listen, believe, and obey with thankful hearts.
Pray: Father, open our eyes to see and love Your truth. Help us trust Jesus and follow Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. Amen.
Pray: Father, open our eyes to see and love Your truth. Help us trust Jesus and follow Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. Amen.
Sing
Work Through the Passage
Start by reading the passage. Ask for any initial thoughts about the passage. Discuss. Go back to the beginning and work through the passage a little slower. If you want some assistance, feel free to use the following outline.
**Also, it's a long passage. If you have younger kids you may need to read through the passage first and retell the story in your own words or give the highlights.
1. Jesus delays, but He loves (vv.1–16)
• Jesus loves this family, yet He waits. His delay is not neglect. His timing has purpose. We may not always understand God's timing, but God's timing is perfect and purposeful.
• Hard moments and situations in life are not proof that God is distant. Jesus moves toward His people.
• Faith is the assurance and certainty that God will always be true to His Word and act in accordance with His character. That is, faith is trusting that God is good and loving and right even when things don't always look that way according to our finite comprehension and understanding.
2. “I am the resurrection and the life” (vv.17–27)
• Jesus doesn’t only give resurrection. He is resurrection and life.
• He calls for personal trust: “Do you believe this?”
• Hope is not wishful thinking; it’s anchored in who Jesus is. Again, faith is the assurance of things hoped for (Heb. 11:1), and this passage tells us that our hope is a sure foundation. That is, because of who Jesus is, and what he has done (life, death, resurrection, ascension), we can be assured that when we die, we will live.
3. Jesus weeps, then Jesus calls (vv.28–44)
• Jesus enters real sorrow. His tears show compassion, not weakness. Jesus really does lament that the world is the way it is. He is broken hearted about the brokenness of the world. That is true at the death of Lazarus, and that is true in the midst of your brokenness. Our savior didn't shield himself from brokenness, he entered it in order that he might overcome it.
• Then His voice conquers the grave: “Lazarus, come out.” Wow!
• Jesus has authority over death, and He brings life where we cannot. O sing hallelujah!
4. Two responses: faith or resistance (vv.45–53)
• Some believe; others plot. The same Jesus draws worship and also provokes opposition.
• Notice the irony as well as the perfect plan of God: the leaders’ plan pushes the story toward Jesus’ saving death.
• A question for our family: What response will our home have toward Jesus? Will we truly trust Him and worship Him?
Gospel reminder: Jesus raises Lazarus on the way to His own cross. He will lay down His life so His people can have life. When we trust Him, death does not get the final word.
**Also, it's a long passage. If you have younger kids you may need to read through the passage first and retell the story in your own words or give the highlights.
1. Jesus delays, but He loves (vv.1–16)
• Jesus loves this family, yet He waits. His delay is not neglect. His timing has purpose. We may not always understand God's timing, but God's timing is perfect and purposeful.
• Hard moments and situations in life are not proof that God is distant. Jesus moves toward His people.
• Faith is the assurance and certainty that God will always be true to His Word and act in accordance with His character. That is, faith is trusting that God is good and loving and right even when things don't always look that way according to our finite comprehension and understanding.
2. “I am the resurrection and the life” (vv.17–27)
• Jesus doesn’t only give resurrection. He is resurrection and life.
• He calls for personal trust: “Do you believe this?”
• Hope is not wishful thinking; it’s anchored in who Jesus is. Again, faith is the assurance of things hoped for (Heb. 11:1), and this passage tells us that our hope is a sure foundation. That is, because of who Jesus is, and what he has done (life, death, resurrection, ascension), we can be assured that when we die, we will live.
3. Jesus weeps, then Jesus calls (vv.28–44)
• Jesus enters real sorrow. His tears show compassion, not weakness. Jesus really does lament that the world is the way it is. He is broken hearted about the brokenness of the world. That is true at the death of Lazarus, and that is true in the midst of your brokenness. Our savior didn't shield himself from brokenness, he entered it in order that he might overcome it.
• Then His voice conquers the grave: “Lazarus, come out.” Wow!
• Jesus has authority over death, and He brings life where we cannot. O sing hallelujah!
4. Two responses: faith or resistance (vv.45–53)
• Some believe; others plot. The same Jesus draws worship and also provokes opposition.
• Notice the irony as well as the perfect plan of God: the leaders’ plan pushes the story toward Jesus’ saving death.
• A question for our family: What response will our home have toward Jesus? Will we truly trust Him and worship Him?
Gospel reminder: Jesus raises Lazarus on the way to His own cross. He will lay down His life so His people can have life. When we trust Him, death does not get the final word.
Discuss (use your discretion)
Toddlers (2–5) (pick at least one)
• Who is Jesus? (God’s Son / our Savior.)
• Was Jesus kind when people were sad? What did He do?
• What did Jesus say to Lazarus? What happened?
Kids (6–12) (pick at least one)
• Why do you think Jesus waited before going? What does that teach us about trust?
• What does it mean that Jesus is “the resurrection and the life”?
• When you’re sad or scared, what is one way you can bring it to Jesus?
Teenagers (13–18) (pick at least one)
• How can Jesus love someone and still allow painful delays? What helps you hold both truths?
• What do Jesus’ tears teach us about grief and faith living together?
• Look at vv.45–53: why do some move toward faith while others harden? What are the modern versions
of those responses?
• Who is Jesus? (God’s Son / our Savior.)
• Was Jesus kind when people were sad? What did He do?
• What did Jesus say to Lazarus? What happened?
Kids (6–12) (pick at least one)
• Why do you think Jesus waited before going? What does that teach us about trust?
• What does it mean that Jesus is “the resurrection and the life”?
• When you’re sad or scared, what is one way you can bring it to Jesus?
Teenagers (13–18) (pick at least one)
• How can Jesus love someone and still allow painful delays? What helps you hold both truths?
• What do Jesus’ tears teach us about grief and faith living together?
• Look at vv.45–53: why do some move toward faith while others harden? What are the modern versions
of those responses?
Sing
Close in Prayer
Praise: Jesus, You are the Resurrection and the Life.
Confess: Forgive our unbelief and our attempts to control what we fear.
Thank: Thank You for Your compassion and for the life You give.
Ask: Help us trust Your timing, comfort the hurting, and follow You with hope.
Confess: Forgive our unbelief and our attempts to control what we fear.
Thank: Thank You for Your compassion and for the life You give.
Ask: Help us trust Your timing, comfort the hurting, and follow You with hope.