Believe! The Gospel of John

WK 33 – “How Do We Deal with Death?”

John 11:17-32 NASB

November 1, 2026

Justin Scarberry

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“How Do We Deal with Death?”

John 11:17-32 NASB

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Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, …

– John 11:17-20

• By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days.
• Jesus allowed it to happen; God was going to perform an awesome miracle!
• Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, were mourning the loss of their brother.
• We met Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42, where Martha was busy doing housework while Mary sat right at Jesus’ feet, giving all her attention to Him.
• Martha learned from her previous experience with Jesus.
• Martha had a major problem, and she went directly to Jesus with it.

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Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”

– John 11:21-24

• Martha didn’t hide her pain from Him; God already knows (Isaiah 65:24).
• Everyone who has ever lived and died will be resurrected. – John 6:39-40
• You are either raised to eternal bliss in heaven with Jesus or you are raised to eternal punishment in hell. – John 5:29
• We must be eagerly awaiting the return of the King. – 9:28, Titus 2:13
• “With the trumpet of God, … the dead in Christ will rise first.” – 1 Thess. 4:16
• “Be on guard, … you do not know when the time will come.” – Mark 13:33

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“I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies,”

– John 11:25-26

• Eternal life is through Jesus; a true belief in His death and His resurrection.
• One day we will take our last breath; our soul will be separated from our body.
• We will be with God: “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” – 2 Corin. 5:8
• We will be like Jesus: “We shall be like Him.” – 1 John 3:2, 1 Corin. 15:42-44
• Every believer will be resurrected to a new heavenly – 2 Corin. 5:1
• God doesn’t send anyone to hell. If you go there, you made that choice yourself.

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“I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the son of God…”

– John 11:27

• Martha’s confirmation of her belief in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God!
• We must declare verbally that Jesus is Lord of our life. – Romans 10:9

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When she heard this, she *got up quickly and came to Him.

– John 11:28-29

• A woman of God: Mary heard Jesus was there, and she headed right to Him!

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When they saw that Mary had gotten up quickly and left, they followed her…

– John 11:30-31

• When you decide to go to Jesus, there will be many people watching you.
• Mary and Martha had a lot of people around them while they were grieving.
• Tips for supporting someone who is grieving:
  • Less is More; Listen more than you speak. – Proverbs 17:17
  • Be Present; Be there to show support. – Hebrews 10:24-25
  • Be Available; Help out in practical ways. – Galatians 6:2
  • Be Consoling; Share something heartfelt and meaningful. – Romans 12:15

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Mary… fell as His feet… “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

– John 11:32

• Mary was clearly distraught telling Jesus He should have been there.
• Someone who is “crushed in spirit ( 17:22)” will say things they don’t mean. Don’t hold it against them. Jesus didn’t hold it against Mary.
• Important last tip for supporting someone who is grieving:
  • Be graceful; “Maximize your grace meter.” – Ephesians 4:32
• We don’t know the details, but we know we’ll see them again! – 1 Thess. 4:13-18

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FINAL THOUGHTS

How would you receive Jesus if He showed up at your door unannounced?

When was the last time you just hung out with Jesus and gave all your attention to Him?

Like a dog anticipating his “dad” coming home, are you anticipating Jesus’ return?

The choice is yours: Where will you be when this life comes to an end?

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THANKSGIVING DINNERS

We are supporting 10 Local Families in WCSD

Providing a Complete Thanksgiving Meal

Each family meal costs approximately $50

If you would like to sponsor a meal, we are collecting donations

November 1^st – November 18^th

Contact Paulette (775) 813-7615 or Laura (360) 430-8590

THANK YOU for being a Blessing

And ensuring these families have a warm, happy holiday!

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PACK-A-SHOEBOX

Pack a Christmas Box for a child in need!
Lists and instructions in each box (see Brenda for help)

RETURN BOX TO CHURCH BY NOVEMBER 15 (Sunday)

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MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDIES

Monday: Bible Study at Paul & Paulette’s 6pm

Wednesday: Women’s Bible Study at church 7pm

Thursday: Men’s Bible Study at church 6pm

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YOUTH GROUP WEDNESDAY

Paul & Paulette’s. Food Provided. Bring Friends! 6-8pm

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Flocknote

Want Church Events and Announcements?

Text SSBRIDGE to 84576 and answer the prompts!

Get one or two text messages each week for updates to important church related events.

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Digital Giving

 (Zelle Link)

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  Mark 13:32-33 ESV

³² “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.

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1. Who are Mary and Martha in the Bible? What are some things we know about and can learn from them?

2. Read John 11:17-24, does it seem like God is absent sometimes when we are dealing with tragedy in our lives?

3. What “resurrection on the last day” is Martha referring to in verse 24? Is everyone resurrected?  Why or why not?

4. Read John 11:25-32, what is meant in verse 24 “the one who believes in me will live, even if he dies,”? Is that all that is required to go to heaven, to believe?  If so, what do we believe in, if not, what else is required?

5. What happens to a believer today when he dies?

6. What does the bible mean when it talks about an event we call the “rapture”? When will that event happen?

7. What does it mean to “repent”? Can you be a Christian and not repent?  Why or why not?

8. What are some ways we can console those who are grieving? What are some things we should avoid when consoling someone who is grieving?

9. What will heaven be like?