Lean In // 5 minutes
What’s something you remember wanting so badly as a kid?
Leader Note: As a follow up you may want to ask whether the person received what they hoped for, what did it feel like to get that thing, what did it feel like not to receive it?
Look Down // 10 minutes
Read Luke 11:1-44
Leader Note: This week’s passage is a very long one. You may want to break it up in the following sections (11:1-16, 11:17-37, 11:38-44), asking the same question below after each section.
What do learn about Jesus from his response to Lazarus’ sickness and death?
Sample answers may include
- He was full of faith that Lazarus’s sickness wouldn’t end in death (v.4)
- Jesus believed that God would be glorified in this trial (v.4)
- Jesus doesn’t rush, he is patient, works on his timetable not ours (v.6-7)
- Jesus isn’t afraid to enter into dangerous places (v.8)
- Jesus looked forward to healing him so that others would really believe in him (v.14)
- Jesus has the power over physical death as well as spiritual/eternal death and life (v.23-26)
- Jesus experiences emotion, the death of his friend caused anger and sadness (v.33,35)
- Jesus does the impossible even when others doubt (v.39-40)
- The words of Jesus give life (v.43)
- Jesus invites us to participate in his healing work (v.39,44)
Look Out // 10 minutes
Where have you seen people remain hopeful in a desperate situation?
Where have you seen people lose hope in a desperate situation?
Commentary: Be it sickness, financial hardship, relational stress or praying for a loved one to come to Christ, most of us face situations where our hope and belief for change is challenged. Where have you seen that? What has that looked like in the world around us and in those close to you?
Look In // 20 minutes
Where have you endured in a desperate situation?
Where have you or where are you currently struggling to remain hopeful?
Leader Note: Help guide the individual and the group to identify what things enable them to remain hopeful (i.e. community, God’s word, remembering God’s faithfulness). What could it look like to allow those things to help guide you in present trouble?
Live It Out // 5 minutes
Where might Jesus be calling you to live out hope for others?
Commentary: Jesus involves those around him in this passage to have a hand in the miracle of raising Lazarus to life. He tells them “roll back the stone” and to “unwarp him and let him go.” Where is Jesus inviting you to roll back the stone and unwarp the stench and bondage of death? Jesus does the heavy lifting for us by his work on the cross. Death is already defeated! He calls us to join in with what he has already done.
Pray: Pray for the reality of the Holy Spirit, the comforter, to be near to those who are in the middle of situations that seem hopeless and desperate. Pray for God to be near and for your group to step in with love and courage to hold each person up. Pray for the eyes of your group to be opened to the places where Jesus is inviting them to join in his work or removing the stench of death that still remains in our world.