Death Hurts, Jesus Heals

Download a PDF of the Word One Bible Study for Luke 7:11-17

Text: Luke 7:11-17

OBJECTIVES

Participants will:

1. Learn of Jesus’ compassion.
2. Understand that when their life is touched by the death of a loved one, Jesus is there to heal the hurt.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Bibles

GROUP GUIDELINES

Break into small groups of 5-8 people. Choose a leader by determining who has the oldest living grandparent. The leader is to encourage the group to follow the printed study, but may allow participants to pass if they feel uncomfortable sharing. The leader is also responsible to keep track of time and keep the group moving. The leader will want to be sensitive to the emotions that may surface due to the nature of the study.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

1. Have you ever been to a funeral? If you can, tell a little bit about the person who died.
2. How would the mood of a funeral be different for a Christian than for a non-Christian?

LOOKING AT GOD’S WORD

1. Read Luke 7:11-17.
2. What do you notice about the first two verses (11-12)? What kind of conversations do you think each group of people was having?
3. Jesus came to the woman and said “Don’t cry.” How do you think she felt having a strange man tell her not to cry as her son was being carried out of the city in a coffin? How would you feel if someone came to you at a funeral and told you not to cry?
4. How do you think the people reacted when Jesus approached the coffin and touched it? How do you think the people reacted when the young man sat up and began to speak?
5. How could witnessing a miracle such as this affect a persons’ faith?
6. Have you ever experienced the death of a friend or family member? What were some of your thoughts and feelings at the time?
7. The Scripture lesson tells us that the people praised God because the young man had been brought back to life. Even though there is sorrow, how can people praise God at funerals today?
8. Read 1 Corinthians 15:54-57. Notice the picture-language? What does it mean to you that death has been swallowed up in victory? How would these verses comfort you if you were at a funeral?
9. Read John 11:25-26. Jesus was speaking to Martha when he asked, “Do you believe that I am the resurrection and the life”? Jesus asks the same question of you. How would Jesus’ words bring comfort to you at the death of a loved one?

REINFORCING WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED

1. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
2. What might you say that would bring hope and comfort to someone who has experienced the death of a Christian loved one?

CLOSING

Choose one sentence and complete it.

• Today I learned. . .
• Today I was reminded that. . .

Read Psalm 23 together.

By Kathy Jackson

Originally published in Discovery Bible Studies.

Updated for youthESource in May 2016