絕望中的盼望 Hope in the Midst of Despair
拉撒路復活的故事預示著我們能在耶穌基督的復活里擁有盼望。本週，張國強牧師深入的分享在絕望、盼望和復活的時候怎能使復活的故事變得更加清晰。
The story of Lazarus foreshadows our ultimate hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This week, Rev. Jeremiah Cheung helps us see Lazarus’s experience as a journey from despair to hope—and ultimately—to resurrection.
Read Today’s Scripture Passage
約翰 John 11:1-44
Life Group Discussion Guide
1. Start with a prayer
2. Engage one another (15-30 mins)
• Share a time you experienced despair. How did your faith (or lack of it) influence your response to that situation?
3. Engage the mind (15-20 mins)
• Read the passage. What is the significance of Jesus’ delay? How does it challenge your understanding of faith?
• What does Jesus’ proclamation, “”I am the resurrection and the life”” (v.25) mean? Identify the theological implications of this Truth.
4. Engage the heart (15-20 mins)
• Examine yourself: Do you find it challenging to maintain hope when faced with despair? Do you find yourself complaining or praying? Why do you think this is your response?
• How is God asking you to deepen your trust in His ability to bring hope in moments of despair?
5. Engage the hands (15-20 mins)
• In what specific situations/aspects of your life do you need to follow the order of believing in Truth first before faith and feeling? Identify how you accomplish this with God’s help.
• Reflect on past instances when you might have hindered someone’s faith journey unintentionally or intentionally. Have you confessed and repented for these instances? What is God asking you to do about it?
• Identify someone in your life who is born again but might still have a lot of baggage and stuck to their old ways. How can you help them grow and mature?
6. Engage with God in prayer (20-30 mins)
• Praise God for His unfailing love and the hope He brings in the midst of despair. Thank Him for the story of Lazarus, reminding us of His power over death and His ability to bring resurrection and life. Praise Him for being the source of our hope and for never abandoning us, even in our darkest moments. Pray that your life be a testament to His glory as you trust in His promises.
• Humbly acknowledge your shortcomings and the times you have faltered in faith. Ask for forgiveness for the moments when you have allowed doubt and despair to overshadow God’s Truth and promises. Repent for the times you have hindered others from knowing and believing in Him by your actions or words. Ask God to help you remove the stones of doubt and unbelief from your heart and to trust in His sovereignty and goodness. Pray that God grants you the strength to walk in faith, even when circumstances seem bleak and that your life reflects God’s love and brings glory to His Name.
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