Sacred Steps | Week 4 | Pastor Kevin Kringel
COME FORTH: FROM DEATH TO LIFE
(The Journey → Easter)
If we don’t stand in what feels dead, we won’t recognize when God raises it.
“These aren’t just stories we read… this is our story too.”
“Have you ever had something that felt… done or over?
Not just broken but buried, dried up, dead.”
1. When things are hopeless
EZEKIEL — Doesn’t just LOOK DEAD, it is dead (Ezek. 37:1–6)
“You’re not reading about dry bones today… Some of you carried them in with you today.”
This season, before Easter, gives us permission to feel what we usually try to fix or ignore. Stand among the dead things.
2. This is what hopelessness feels likePs. 130:1–7
The psalmist declares: God is our only hope, we hope in his mercy, his acting on our behalf, we, like those dry bones, cannot save ourselves.
“Where are you still waiting?”
3. This is what the Spirit is doing in us (Rom. 8:6–11)
Now let’s transition from the death we experience because of our sin and lostness into death, or loss we experience that has nothing to do with sin.
4. Jesus is the resurrection and the life
JOHN 11 — THE DELAY (Jn. 11:1–6; 17–27) (What Ezekiel saw for a nation, Jesus does for the one, the person he loves)
God’s delay is not harsh; it’s purposeful. (dry bones, very dead, most dead of all his raisings, the body is not warm, the funeral is days over)
-Jesus waited to allow death to take its full course and reign so the power of resurrection could be shown in full force. (Pointing to his own victory over death)
-I believe one reason for this delay was to show that Jesus is the resurrection, resurrection and life, victory over death in our lives, as not just his own. He would conquer death in his own resurrection, but this story tells us he has conquered death in ours.
“What if God is not ignoring you… But doing something deeper?” Was demonstrating his power over death, not just healing a disease.
The name Lazarus means: “Helped” – a man helped by God, who couldn’t help himself. A man who was loved by Jesus. His maker both creates and raises Him.
-It’s important to see that this death was not because of rebellion or sin. This death was experienced by someone Jesus loves. Those whom Jesus loves still experience loss and tragedy at times. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t love them.
JOHN 11 — (Jn. 11:38–44)
“Lazarus… come forth.”
Resurrection is God’s work. Stepping forward is your response.
Insight:
“This is not just Lazarus’ story… this is Jesus’ story and what will become a catalyst to the cross, the fulfillment of God’s promise from the garden of Eden.”
Declaration:
He still calls us by name out of the graves. (Ezekiel: “I will open your graves.”)
(The Journey → Easter)
If we don’t stand in what feels dead, we won’t recognize when God raises it.
- “We’re moving toward Easter… but we’re not there yet.”
- “Before an empty tomb… there’s a sealed one.”
“These aren’t just stories we read… this is our story too.”
“Have you ever had something that felt… done or over?
Not just broken but buried, dried up, dead.”
1. When things are hopeless
EZEKIEL — Doesn’t just LOOK DEAD, it is dead (Ezek. 37:1–6)
- Very dry bones = no hope, no future, the story is done
- Scattered and dead by their own rebellion and sin (as we move towards Easter, we remember our deadness before resurrection)
- The Spirit decides (not the bones) to move upon them and bring them back to life
- Vs. 11-14- “I will open your graves.” (Theme today. He decided to do it.) (Grave Robber)
- Not just for life's sake but for a purpose (He did for them, God’s story over their lives was not finished. God also did it for us, for you. Their return also sets up Christ’s coming.
“You’re not reading about dry bones today… Some of you carried them in with you today.”
This season, before Easter, gives us permission to feel what we usually try to fix or ignore. Stand among the dead things.
2. This is what hopelessness feels likePs. 130:1–7
- Depths, waiting, longing
- A psalm illustrating what Ezekiel saw and how it felt to the bones.
The psalmist declares: God is our only hope, we hope in his mercy, his acting on our behalf, we, like those dry bones, cannot save ourselves.
“Where are you still waiting?”
3. This is what the Spirit is doing in us (Rom. 8:6–11)
- Apart from the Spirit, we can do nothing. The Spirit of God must enable us to live.
- We are the dry bones before Jesus raises us
- That wind, breath, Spirit dwells in you now (not speaking to the nation but to the congregation and you, the person.)
- The Spirit not only raises our morality but also raises and changes our mortality. (raises your character and your eternal life)
Now let’s transition from the death we experience because of our sin and lostness into death, or loss we experience that has nothing to do with sin.
4. Jesus is the resurrection and the life
JOHN 11 — THE DELAY (Jn. 11:1–6; 17–27) (What Ezekiel saw for a nation, Jesus does for the one, the person he loves)
God’s delay is not harsh; it’s purposeful. (dry bones, very dead, most dead of all his raisings, the body is not warm, the funeral is days over)
-Jesus waited to allow death to take its full course and reign so the power of resurrection could be shown in full force. (Pointing to his own victory over death)
-I believe one reason for this delay was to show that Jesus is the resurrection, resurrection and life, victory over death in our lives, as not just his own. He would conquer death in his own resurrection, but this story tells us he has conquered death in ours.
“What if God is not ignoring you… But doing something deeper?” Was demonstrating his power over death, not just healing a disease.
The name Lazarus means: “Helped” – a man helped by God, who couldn’t help himself. A man who was loved by Jesus. His maker both creates and raises Him.
-It’s important to see that this death was not because of rebellion or sin. This death was experienced by someone Jesus loves. Those whom Jesus loves still experience loss and tragedy at times. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t love them.
JOHN 11 — (Jn. 11:38–44)
“Lazarus… come forth.”
Resurrection is God’s work. Stepping forward is your response.
- Come forth (God)
- Take off grave clothes (you and your community)
Insight:
“This is not just Lazarus’ story… this is Jesus’ story and what will become a catalyst to the cross, the fulfillment of God’s promise from the garden of Eden.”
Declaration:
He still calls us by name out of the graves. (Ezekiel: “I will open your graves.”)