Icebreaker
Share a time when you experienced disappointment in your faith journey. How did you handle it?
Key Takeaways from Sermon
Disappointment often stems from bringing both our situation and our solution to God.
Jesus reveals Himself more fully through our disappointments.
Our deepest devotion can grow out of our deepest disappointments.
The glory of God is more significant than any miracle we might witness.
Discussion Questions
The sermon explores Mary’s journey from desperation to disappointment to discovery and finally devotion. Can you relate to this progression in your own faith walk? Explain.
How does bringing our own solutions to God, rather than just our situations, lead to disappointment? Share examples from your life.
The pastor says, “It is a humble posture to sit before the Lord and bring our situation and then invite his solution.” How can we practically cultivate this attitude in our prayer life?
Discuss the statement: “The most incredible thing they saw that day was not Lazarus walking out of the grave… but the glory of God.” How does this perspective challenge our view of miracles and God’s work in our lives?
Mary’s act of devotion involved both her time and a costly offering. What might extravagant devotion look like in our current context?
The sermon emphasizes the importance of inviting Jesus into our story. In what areas of your life do you need to more intentionally invite Jesus’ presence and involvement?
How might our perspective on suffering and difficult circumstances change if we viewed them through the lens of God’s promise that they are ‘for the glory of God’?
The pastor suggests that disappointment can be a catalyst for spiritual growth and discovery. How can we maintain hope and faith when facing disappointments in life?
Practical Applications
This week, practice bringing a situation to God in prayer without suggesting a solution. Journal about the experience.
Identify an area of disappointment in your life. Spend time reflecting on how God might be revealing Himself more fully through this situation.
Consider a way you can express devotion to God this week, either through dedicated time or a sacrificial offering of some kind.
Meditate on John 11:40: “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” How might this verse apply to a current situation in your life?
Closing Prayer
Lord, help us to trust You in our disappointments. Reveal Yourself to us in new ways, and deepen our devotion to You. May we learn to bring our situations to You without demanding our own solutions. Teach us to see Your glory in all circumstances. Amen.