This week's Life Group Questions
1. REVIEW
A. Mary’s experience in John 11 indicates that the death of her brother caused her to feel deep sorrow, disappointment with Jesus, and distance from Him. She did not understand that Jesus was intending to redeem her suffering later. As in the case of Mary and Martha, have you ever resented God for not preventing certain suffering in your life? Tell us about it.
B. When Jesus saw his friends suffering the effects of mortality and blaming him for it, He was moved to tears. His friends did not realize that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to give His life to destroy the power of Satan and death. How does the image of Jesus weeping and being deeply moved by the suffering of His friends speak to you? Tell us about it.
2. APPLICATION
Mary went through three phases as she experienced her pain. In which one of these phases are you today?
___ From Tragedy to Disappointment:
I resent God for allowing a painful experience in my life, and I often ask him why.
___ From Disappointment to Gratitude:
I feel gratitude because I know that God loves me and will redeem my suffering one day.
___ From Gratitude to Worship:
I trust God and I worship him because I know who He truly is.
3. GET DEEPER
A. God wants you to know that He is not indifferent to your pain, and that there are significant purposes that He wants to accomplish in our tears. Which one of these three life implications do you struggle embracing the most? Tell us about it.
___ Redemption: God will wipe away my tears and turn my suffering into praise.
___ Empathy: God is not indifferent to my pain, but He cares for me deeply.
___ Purpose: God will use my pain to accomplish important things in me and through me.
B. God wanted to use the death of Lazarus to bring glory to His name. Eventually, many people believed in Jesus as a result. In a similar way, think about the deadly accident of actress Pattaratida “Tangmo” Patcharawirapong. How do you see God in her tragedy?
4. PRAYER
Read the words of Revelation 21:3-5. “3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”5 He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” As these words resonate in your heart, take time to pray with each other:
a. Thank God for not being indifferent to our pain but for caring deeply about us.
b. Renounce any distortion that you have believed about God that is preventing you from drawing closer to Him.
c. Invite God to meet you in your suffering and ask Him to turn your pain into praise.
d. Thank God for the way He will redeem your suffering and tell Him that you will trust His heart no matter the outcome.
A. Mary’s experience in John 11 indicates that the death of her brother caused her to feel deep sorrow, disappointment with Jesus, and distance from Him. She did not understand that Jesus was intending to redeem her suffering later. As in the case of Mary and Martha, have you ever resented God for not preventing certain suffering in your life? Tell us about it.
B. When Jesus saw his friends suffering the effects of mortality and blaming him for it, He was moved to tears. His friends did not realize that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to give His life to destroy the power of Satan and death. How does the image of Jesus weeping and being deeply moved by the suffering of His friends speak to you? Tell us about it.
2. APPLICATION
Mary went through three phases as she experienced her pain. In which one of these phases are you today?
___ From Tragedy to Disappointment:
I resent God for allowing a painful experience in my life, and I often ask him why.
___ From Disappointment to Gratitude:
I feel gratitude because I know that God loves me and will redeem my suffering one day.
___ From Gratitude to Worship:
I trust God and I worship him because I know who He truly is.
3. GET DEEPER
A. God wants you to know that He is not indifferent to your pain, and that there are significant purposes that He wants to accomplish in our tears. Which one of these three life implications do you struggle embracing the most? Tell us about it.
___ Redemption: God will wipe away my tears and turn my suffering into praise.
___ Empathy: God is not indifferent to my pain, but He cares for me deeply.
___ Purpose: God will use my pain to accomplish important things in me and through me.
B. God wanted to use the death of Lazarus to bring glory to His name. Eventually, many people believed in Jesus as a result. In a similar way, think about the deadly accident of actress Pattaratida “Tangmo” Patcharawirapong. How do you see God in her tragedy?
4. PRAYER
Read the words of Revelation 21:3-5. “3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”5 He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” As these words resonate in your heart, take time to pray with each other:
a. Thank God for not being indifferent to our pain but for caring deeply about us.
b. Renounce any distortion that you have believed about God that is preventing you from drawing closer to Him.
c. Invite God to meet you in your suffering and ask Him to turn your pain into praise.
d. Thank God for the way He will redeem your suffering and tell Him that you will trust His heart no matter the outcome.