READ TOGETHER:
John 11:1-44
DISCUSS:
- Today’s teaching focused on different responses to different prayers. Share a few a times when God has answered you prayers.
- Share a few times God did not, or has not yet, answered one of your prayers. If you're comfortable, share how that has shaped your spiritual journey.
- How did today's teaching affect your understanding of God works in the midst of our pain?
- Of the different reactions to the raising of Lazarus, which one do you identify with the most?
- If God performed miracle (miracles in the sense that God is temporarily reversing the laws of nature) all the time, would that change the way we as a society think about the concept of "miracles"?
PRAY:
- Pray that we would grow closer to God and one another through trials, difficulties, and pain as we strive to be a community following Christ.
PRACTICE (on your own):
- Gratitude: Take some time this week to list 5 to 10 things that you are grateful for. Spend a few minutes each morning in thankful prayer to God for these things. Gratitude indexes our heart towards what is right in the world, and away from our propensity to focus on the negative.
- Solitude: Find one time this week you can spend a few minutes completely alone and away from digital distractions. Allow yourself to come to a stop and spend some time in prayer and listening for the Holy Spirit. Solitude allows us to hear tings that we sometimes can't in the hustle and bustle of life.
- Prayer for healing and those suffering: Write down 1 to 3 people who are seeking healing or who you know are suffering from either pain or the result of evil in the world.
DIVE DEEPER (on your own):
- As followers of Christ, Jesus promised we would see and also suffer from evil in this world. Take time to write down and meditate on what happens in your inmost being and thoughts when you encounter pain and suffering.
- Further reading: Romans 8, John 16:33, 2 Corinthians 4, Revelation 21-22, Romans 12:19-21.
Thanks for listening in to The Ridge's Sunday Audio podcast! Although we hope you are greatly blessed by listening to this message, we also believe it's important to belong to a local body of believers. If you live in our area, we would love to worship with you on Sunday mornings at 8:00a, 9:30a, or 11:15a!
