编者按
这是一套在美国很受欢迎的教材，按年龄共分三部分：0-6岁学龄前儿童教程，6-12岁学龄儿童教程，和12岁以上青少年教程。我们将陆续翻译成中文，分享给大家。
这套教材里的每一篇，无论是教程还是各种活动，都独立成篇，没有先后顺序，大家可以按需要和负担选择使用。
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thedoorofsheep.com/青少年 课程目的
1.让学生对约翰福音有一个全面的了解
2.帮助学生对耶稣的神迹有更深层的理解
3.帮助学生明白，耶稣战胜了死亡，带来了生命
主题
神迹，复活
背诵经文
约翰福音11:25-26
开始祷告(5-10分钟)
团队建造(10分钟)
男生一组，女生一组，给每个组几卷卫生纸或纸巾。他们的任务是“木乃伊化”组里选定的成员。给他们90秒的时间，尽可能多地盖住他们的“木乃伊”。
谁盖得多，谁就胜；输的人作清理工作。
课堂起头(5分钟)
一般讨论
•什么是地球上最强大的力量？（飓风，核武器，仇恨等）
•是什么使这些力量如此危险？（他们有能力摧毁，破坏等）
•如果这些力量造成了危险，那么你能看到死亡实际上是最强大的力量吗？（允许学生讨论。）
今天，我们将讨论一种比死亡更强大的力量-克服死亡的力量。在继续研读约翰福音的过程中，我们将讨论为什么死亡无法与耶稣相提并论。
深入学习(30分钟)
本章详细介绍了约翰福音里耶稣的最后一个神迹。这也许是耶稣在传道期间所作的最大的神迹。约翰把最好的留到了最后。
阅读 约翰11:1-16
问题讨论
1.拉撒路怎么了？（他病了。）
2.为何耶稣能确定拉撒路不会病死？（祂是神。）
3.如何看待耶稣在第4节中给的这种疾病的原因？（允许讨论。）
4.关于马大，马利亚和他们的兄弟拉撒路，第5节说了什么？（耶稣爱他们。）
5.为什么耶稣不急着去帮助拉撒路？（允许讨论。）
6.耶稣在第15节说的是不是很残酷？为什么或为什么不？（允许讨论。）
耶稣给出了拉撒路生病的一个非常具体的原因（“叫神的儿子藉此得荣耀”），但我们不要以为这就是每一种病的原因。我喜欢使徒继续表现出无能为力的样子，这让我们能更好地理解他们。在耶稣甚至还没有去拉撒路所在的镇子之前，祂已经就确切地知道祂抵达后将会发生什么了。
阅读 约翰福音11:17-37
问题讨论
1.第17节，耶稣到时，拉撒路已经死了多久？（四天。）
2.关于马大在第21节中的陈述，具有讽刺意味的是什么？（她以为时间是一切的前提，但她是在向不受时间限制的那一位说话。）
3.为什么耶稣在第25节中作那样的回应？（允许讨论。）
4.耶稣知道这一切将如何结束。那么，为什么当祂看到拉撒路之死造成的所有这些痛苦时，祂会在第35节里哭呢？（耶稣也是人。）
5.第39节与第22节中，马大对耶稣的信心是否一致？（似乎并不一致，但她经历了很多事情。能谈谈你既有信心和又有怀疑的感觉吗？）
6.耶稣对拉撒路所做的与世界各地医院医生每天做的有何不同？（拉撒路已经死了4天，而病人一般只是在心跳停止后很短时间内有被救回来的可能。）
古老的犹太信仰认为灵魂会在死者的坟墓附近停留三天，以期返回尸体。第四天，灵魂看到尸体腐烂，就会离开。耶稣等到拉撒路死后四天再去复活他，是要消除他人对拉撒路是否真的死了的怀疑。
阅读 约翰福音11:45-57
问题讨论:
1.人们对这些经文中耶稣的神迹有何反应？（有些人相信了祂，但也有人去把祂告了。）
2.宗教领袖对这个神迹是看好的吗？他们主要关心的是什么？（他们担心，如果耶稣继续作这些神迹，每个人都会去信祂。）
3.为什么这对于这群人来说是件坏事？（因为他们会失去权力和对人民的影响力。）
4.从这一刻开始，他们打算做什么？（杀死耶稣。）
这些宗教领袖表现出了完全的属灵瞎眼的悲哀。他们不争辩耶稣是否从死里复活了一个人，而是争辩是否要因为耶稣的神迹而杀死祂。再也没有比这更让人奇怪的了。
应用(25分钟)
虽然批评这些人对耶稣神迹的无视和瞎眼很容易，但要反思人类其实全都在同一条灵性之船上这一事实并非易事。没有耶稣，我们和这群犹太宗教领袖一样是迷失。
耶稣从死里复活了拉撒路，向我们表明，他不仅有能力胜过肉体上的死亡，而且更重要的是，祂还有能力胜过灵性上的死亡。就像约翰为我们记录的其他神迹一样，耶稣做了一些奇迹般的事，以帮助他人的肉体需要（喂饱众人，让盲人看见等等），由此将我们引向更深层的属灵现实。
耶稣复活了拉撒路的肉体生命，以此显明祂是如何将我们从灵性死亡的状态里带入永生的。在拉撒路的故事中，我们在灵性上就是拉撒路。在耶稣呼召我们之前，我们在灵性上已经死了。
一般讨论：
•拉撒路死了多久？（已死亡四天，没有逆转的希望。）
•这时，拉撒路自己能做些什么使自己活过来？（没有。）
•没有耶稣，我们在灵性上有多死？（永远死了，毫无希望。）
•拉撒路自己知道他是何时死的吗？迷路的人会知道自己迷路了吗？（允许讨论。）
•拉撒路的姐妹们对他的死是否可逆抱有多大的希望？（不太有希望。）
•你认识有极不可能跟随基督的人吗？（允许讨论。）
没有神的介入，我们既无能力也不渴望认识祂。如果不是神先呼唤我们向祂祷告，我们根本无法爱神。让我们看看这在拉撒路的故事中是如何显明的。
重新 阅读约翰福音11:41-44
问题讨论
1.当耶稣“大声”喊拉撒路时，拉撒路在做什么？（他什么也没做，只是一具躺在坟墓里尸体；他没有走向耶稣的能力。）
当耶稣呼唤我们时，我们不过是灵性上的死尸。我们没有走向祂的能力。
问题讨论（续）：
2.为什么约翰强调，耶稣在呼唤拉撒路的尸体时用了“大声”呢？（强调耶稣的话有摧毁肉体和灵性死亡的能力。）
3.拉撒路的尸体对耶稣的呼召有何反应？（他复活了，他带着裹尸布从坟墓里出来了。）
4.当耶稣呼召我们时，我们也满血复活，复活出属灵的生命，并通过走向祂，最终与祂同行，来回应祂的呼召。在这里，拉撒路在某种意义上是重生。现在你是否能理解为什么耶稣在第3章中用“重生”来形容归向神的经历吗？（允许讨论。）
拉撒路最终还是死了。但，当耶稣回来时，他将再次复活并永远活着。当耶稣呼召我们，让我们跟随祂时，我们也将有一天与祂永远在一起。
但我们不必等到那一天，才过上以耶稣的变化能力为标志的生活。
如果你已经因着耶稣而从属灵死亡中复活，你的生活如何反映了这一点？如果你的生活还没有反映出这一点，那是为什么呢？
结束祷告(3分钟)
为那些处于属灵失明状态的人祷告，让他们能听到耶稣的呼召，并通过走出他们的属灵坟墓走向耶稣，来作出回应。也要祷告神赐予你勇气，让你能大胆地讲给别人关于耶稣可以做和将要做的事。
**** 英文版 *******
Gospel of John
Lesson 8: Jesus Is More Powerful Than Death
LESSON OBJECTIVES
Goals
1. To provide students with an overview understanding of the Gospel of John
2. To help students understand that Jesus’ signs have a deeper meaning
3. To help students understand that Jesus destroys death and brings life
Topics
Miracles, Resurrection
Scripture Memorization
John 11:25-26
OPENING PRAYER (5 to 10 minutes)
GROUP BUILDING (10 minutes)
With boys on one team and girls on the other, give each team a few rolls of toilet paper or paper towels. Their assignment is to “mummify” a selected member of their team. Give them 90 seconds to cover as much of their “mummy” as possible.
Whoever covers the most wins; whoever loses must clean up.
GETTING STARTED (5 minutes)
General Discussion:
• What would you say is the most powerful force on earth? (Hurricanes, nuclear weapons, hate, etc.)
• What makes those forces so dangerous? (They have the capacity to destroy, ruin, etc.)
• If the result of those forces is what makes them dangerous, can you see where death is actually the most powerful force? (Allow students to discuss.)
Today, we’re going to discuss a force more powerful than death and destruction — a force which overcomes death. As we continue our study of the Gospel of John, we’re going to talk about how death was no match for Jesus.
DIGGING IN (30 minutes)
This chapter details Jesus’ final signs according to John’s account. This sign is perhaps the greatest of the signs that Jesus performed during his ministry. John saved the best for last.
Read John 11:1-16
Discussion Questions:
1. What is wrong with Lazarus? (He is ill.)
2. How can Jesus be sure that this illness won’t kill Lazarus? (He is God.)
3. What do you think about the reason Jesus gives for this illness in verse 4? (Allow for discussion.)
4. What does verse 5 say about Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus? (Jesus loved them.)
5. Why do you think Jesus doesn't rush to help Lazarus? (Allow for discussion.)
6. Is what Jesus says in verse 15 cruel? Why or why not? (Allow for discussion.)
Jesus gives a very specific reason for Lazarus’ illness (“that the Son of God may be glorified through it”) but let us not assume that this is the reason for every illness. I like how the apostles continue to show how clueless they can be, it helps us relate to them better. Before He even headed towards Lazarus’ town, Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen once He arrived.
Read John 11:17-37
Discussion Questions:
1. Per verse 17, how long had Lazarus been dead when Jesus arrived? (Four days.)
2. What is ironic about Martha’s statement in verse 21? (She seems to base it on the premise that timing is everything but she makes the statement to the one person who is not limited by time.)
3. Why do you think Jesus responds the way he does in verse 25? (Allow for discussion.)
4. Jesus knows how all of this will end. So why do you think He weeps in verse 35 when He sees the misery that Lazarus’ death has caused? (Jesus is human.)
5. Does Martha's statement in verse 39 agree with her profession of faith in Jesus in verse 22? (It doesn’t seem consistent, but she’s going through a lot. Can you relate to having feelings of faith and doubt?)
6. How is what Jesus did with Lazarus different than what doctors do every day in hospitals around the world? (Lazarus had been dead for 4 days, whereas patients are resuscitated within a short time of having their hearts stop.)
There was on old Jewish belief that the soul stays near the grave of the deceased for up to 3 days hoping to return to the body. On the fourth day, the soul saw the body decay and left for good. It’s possible that Jesus waited to resuscitate Lazarus 4 days after his death to erase any doubt that Lazarus was really dead.
Read John 11:45-57
Discussion Questions:
1. How do people react to Jesus' sign in these verses? (Some believe, others informed on Him.)
2. Do the authorities react favorably to the sign? What is their main concern? (They are concerned about everyone believing in Jesus, if He keeps performing these signs.)
3. Why is this seen as a bad thing to this group of people? (Because they would lose power and the influence they have over the people.)
4. What did they set out to do from this point forward? (Put Jesus to death.)
These religious leaders show the sadness of complete and utter spiritual blindness. They don’t dispute whether Jesus raised a man from the dead, rather they dispute whether to kill Jesus for performing miracles. You cannot be anymore lost than that.
MAKING IT REAL (25 minutes)
While it is easy to criticize these guys for being lost and blinded to Jesus’ awesomeness, it is not so easy to reflect on the fact that all of humanity is in the same spiritual boat. Without Jesus, we are just as lost as this group of Jewish religious leaders.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead to show us that He has power over not only physical death but more importantly spiritual death. As with the other signs that John recorded for us Jesus does something miraculous to help someone physically (feeding people, making the blind see, etc.) to point us towards a deeper spiritual reality.
Jesus restored Lazarus’ physical life in such a way as to illustrate how He brings us from a state of spiritual death to eternal life. In the story of Lazarus, we are Lazarus in the spiritual sense. Before Jesus calls us, we are spiritually dead.
General Discussion:
• How dead was Lazarus? (Four days dead with no hope of reversal.)
• At this point, is there anything Lazarus could have done to bring himself back to life? (No.)
• Without Jesus, how spiritually dead are we? (Eternally dead with no hope.)
• When Lazarus was dead did he know it? Are lost people aware they are lost? (Allow for discussion.)
• How hopeful are Lazarus’ sisters that his death is reversible? (Not very hopeful.)
• Do you know anyone who is extremely unlikely to follow Christ? (Allow for discussion.)
Without God’s intervention, we have neither ability nor desire to know Him. We simply are incapable of loving God without God first calling us to Him. Let’s see how this plays out in the story of Lazarus.
Re-read John 11:41-44
Discussion Questions:
1. What was Lazarus doing when Jesus, “with a loud voice,” called out to him? (He wasn’t doing anything, just a corpse laying in a tomb; he lacked the ability to walk towards Jesus.)
When Jesus calls us to Himself, we are nothing more than spiritual corpses. We lack the ability to move towards Him.
Discussion Questions (Continued):
2. Why do you think John makes it a point that Jesus used “a loud voice” when calling out to Lazarus’ corpse? (To emphasize the power of Jesus’ word to destroy physical death as well as spiritual death.)
3. How did Lazarus’ corpse react to Jesus’ calling? (It came back to life and he came out of the tomb wrapped up in his burial clothes.)
4. When Jesus calls us we also come roaring to life, spiritual life, and respond to His call by walking towards Him and eventually with Him. Lazarus in a sense had a second birth here; do you see why Jesus used the phrase “born again” in describing the conversion experience back in chapter 3? (Allow for discussion.)
Lazarus eventually died again and stayed dead. However, he will rise to live again eternally when Jesus returns. When Jesus calls us to come to Him and we follow Him we will also be with Him one day.
However, we don’t have to wait for that day to live a life marked by Jesus’ transformative power.
If you have been raised from spiritual death by Jesus, how does your life reflect this? If your life doesn’t reflect this, why not?
CLOSING PRAYER (3 minutes)
Pray for those who are in a state of spiritual blindness, that they will hear Jesus’ call and respond by walking out of their spiritual tomb and towards Him. Pray also that God grants you the courage to speak up and tell others about what Jesus can and will do.
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