Sermon — Rev. Dr. Michelle Bogue-Trost, Senior Minister — March 22, 2026
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Rev. Dr. Michelle Bogue-Trost delivers a powerful sermon on the biblical story of Lazarus' resurrection from John's Gospel, drawing deep parallels to the emotional turbulence the Asbury First UMC congregation has experienced in recent weeks. She reflects on how grief, anger, gratitude, and anxiety coexist in communities that care deeply, emphasizing that these emotions are not signs of weakness but evidence of love. The sermon centers on Jesus' delayed arrival to Bethany, his tears at the tomb, and the profound moment when he commands, 'Take away the stone,' followed by the call to Lazarus to come out—still bound in grave clothes. This story becomes a metaphor for the church’s current moment: loss is real, pain is present, and the future is uncertain. Yet, the core message is one of hope: resurrection is not about returning to the past but about God continuing to write the future, even in the midst of finality. The sermon concludes with a call to faithfulness, courage, and trust in God’s ongoing work, reminding listeners that the tomb does not have the last word—God does.
Grief and disappointment are valid responses when love is deeply invested in a community.
Jesus wept not because he lacked power, but because he entered fully into human suffering.
The call to 'take away the stone' is a metaphor for the courage to move beyond resignation and embrace hope.
Resurrection is not about undoing loss, but about creating new life where we thought the story had ended.
God’s voice still calls us forward, even when the future is unknown and the past is painful.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Emotions in the Life of the Church
“If this morning carries a little more emotion than an ordinary Sunday, that's not something to hide from. It's evidence that people love this church and the people who serve it.”
The Story of Lazarus and the Weight of Delay
The sermon unpacks John’s account of Lazarus’ death and Jesus’ two-day delay in arriving, highlighting how this delay intensifies the sisters’ grief and their accusatory yet faithful lament: 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.'
Jesus Weeps: A God Who Grieves
“Jesus wept. Shortest and most pointed verse in the Bible. Not a speech, not an explanation, not a fix. Tears.”
The Tomb of Grief and the Call to Move the Stone
“The question that ultimately matters... is whether we believe God is still able to bring life beyond it.”
Resurrection as a Future Written by God
“The tomb is not the end. It is good news. Thanks be to God for it.”
“The tomb is not the end. It is good news. Thanks be to God for it.”
“Jesus wept. Shortest and most pointed verse in the Bible. Not a speech, not an explanation, not a fix. Tears.”
“The question that ultimately matters in this story... is whether we believe God is still able to bring life beyond it.”
Host
Jesus
person
Lazarus
person
John's Gospel
book
Tomb
other
Rev. Dr. Michelle Bogue-Trost
person
Mary and Martha
person
Asbury First United Methodist Church
organization
Bethany
place
King James Version
book
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Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “Sermon — Rev. Dr. Michelle Bogue-Trost, Senior Minister — March 22, 2026” inside PodZeus.
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