Transformative Friendship: Embracing Jesus in Our Struggles
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we took a moment to pause from our busy lives to connect with God in prayer, emphasizing the importance of friendship in our relationships, both with our spouses and with God. Just as a strong friendship can help overcome marital conflicts, a deep friendship with God can help us navigate life's challenges. We then transitioned into our ongoing series on Lazarus, focusing on the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
We recapped how Jesus, despite being called to heal Lazarus, waited two days before going to him, illustrating that God is not a "lawnmower parent" who removes all obstacles from our path. Instead, He allows us to experience hardship but is always with us in our pain. Jesus wept with Mary and Martha, showing His deep empathy and presence in our suffering.
Today's focus was on the moment of resurrection. Jesus commanded the stone to be rolled away from Lazarus's tomb, despite the odor of death, demonstrating that nothing, not even death, can keep Him away. This act symbolizes that Jesus is willing to confront the darkest parts of our lives to bring transformation. We often think some people, or even ourselves, are too far gone for Jesus to reach, but He knows our stories and sees us as the children we once were, deserving of love and healing.
We also discussed the importance of recognizing Jesus' voice, much like Lazarus did when he was called out of the tomb. This voice has been calling us since childhood, and if we quiet our hearts, we can hear it. Jesus calls us to come out of our metaphorical tombs, to leave behind the grave clothes of our past, and to embark on a journey of transformation and life.
Finally, we acknowledged that the process of shedding our grave clothes—our old habits, addictions, and pains—is a lifelong journey. Church is not a place for perfect people but a community where we learn to follow Jesus and take off our grave clothes together.
### Key Takeaways
1. Friendship with God: Just as a strong friendship can resolve many marital conflicts, a deep friendship with God can help us navigate life's challenges. This relationship allows us to be honest, even angry, with God, knowing He will never back down from being our friend. [22:23]
2. God's Presence in Pain: God is not a "lawnmower parent" who removes all obstacles from our path. Instead, He allows us to experience hardship but is always with us in our pain, empathizing deeply with our struggles. [29:54]
3. Jesus Confronts Our Darkness: Jesus is willing to confront the darkest parts of our lives, symbolized by His command to roll away the stone from Lazarus's tomb despite the odor of death. This act shows that nothing, not even our deepest brokenness, can keep Him away. [37:22]
4. Recognizing Jesus' Voice: Embedded in us is the ability to recognize Jesus' voice, which has been calling us since childhood. If we quiet our hearts, we can hear this voice calling us out of our metaphorical tombs and into a life of transformation. [50:20]
5. The Journey of Shedding Grave Clothes: The process of shedding our grave clothes—our old habits, addictions, and pains—is a lifelong journey. Church is a community where we learn to follow Jesus and take off our grave clothes together, not a place for perfect people. [55:14]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[21:22] - Importance of Friendship in Relationships
[27:30] - Recap of Lazarus Series
[31:22] - Jesus at Lazarus's Tomb
[34:15] - Ministry Contexts and Challenges
[37:22] - Jesus Confronts the Smell of Death
[39:10] - Personal Journey in Counseling
[42:14] - Jesus Knows Our Stories
[43:22] - Jesus Calls Lazarus Out
[46:50] - Personal Story of Lost Cat
[50:20] - Recognizing Jesus' Voice
[52:13] - Jesus Calls Us to Follow
[53:28] - The Journey of Shedding Grave Clothes
[55:57] - Church as a Place for Transformation
[56:49] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 11:38-44 (NIV)
> Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
#### Observation Questions
1. What did Jesus command to be done at Lazarus's tomb, and what was Martha's concern? ([31:53])
2. How did Jesus respond to Martha's concern about the odor from the tomb? ([31:53])
3. What did Jesus do before calling Lazarus out of the tomb, and why did He do it? ([43:22])
4. Describe Lazarus's condition when he came out of the tomb. ([43:50])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus waited two days before going to Lazarus, despite knowing he was sick? ([28:23])
2. How does Jesus' willingness to confront the odor of death in Lazarus's tomb symbolize His approach to our personal brokenness? ([37:22])
3. What does it mean to recognize Jesus' voice, and how can this recognition lead to transformation in our lives? ([50:20])
4. How does the process of shedding our "grave clothes" relate to the lifelong journey of following Jesus? ([55:14])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current relationship with God. How can you deepen your friendship with Him, especially during challenging times? ([22:23])
2. Think about a time when you felt God was not removing obstacles from your path. How did you experience His presence in your pain? ([29:54])
3. Are there areas in your life that you consider too dark or broken for Jesus to reach? How can you invite Him into those areas for transformation? ([37:22])
4. When was the last time you felt you recognized Jesus' voice calling you? How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([50:20])
5. Identify one "grave cloth" (old habit, addiction, or pain) you are currently struggling with. What steps can you take this week to begin shedding it? ([55:14])
6. How can you support others in your church community who are also on the journey of shedding their grave clothes? ([55:14])
7. Church is described as a place for transformation, not perfection. How can you contribute to making your church a supportive environment for others on their journey? ([56:49])
Devotional
Day 1: Friendship with God: A Lifeline in Life's Challenges
A deep friendship with God can help us navigate life's challenges, much like a strong friendship can resolve many marital conflicts. This relationship allows us to be honest, even angry, with God, knowing He will never back down from being our friend. In our busy lives, we often forget to pause and connect with God, but this connection is crucial. Just as we invest time and effort into our human friendships, we must also invest in our relationship with God. This friendship is not about perfection but about authenticity and vulnerability. When we are honest with God about our struggles, fears, and doubts, we open the door for His guidance and comfort.
God desires a relationship with us where we can be our true selves. He understands our pain and is always ready to listen. This friendship with God is a source of strength and resilience, helping us to face life's challenges with hope and courage. By nurturing this relationship, we can find peace and direction, even in the most difficult times. [22:23]
John 15:15 (ESV): "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."
Reflection: Think about a time when you felt distant from God. What steps can you take today to reconnect and strengthen your friendship with Him?
Day 2: God's Presence in Pain: He Walks with Us Through Hardship
God is not a "lawnmower parent" who removes all obstacles from our path. Instead, He allows us to experience hardship but is always with us in our pain, empathizing deeply with our struggles. This concept challenges the notion that a loving God would prevent all suffering. Instead, it shows that God's love is demonstrated through His presence and empathy in our suffering. He does not abandon us in our darkest moments but walks with us, offering comfort and understanding.
In the story of Lazarus, Jesus wept with Mary and Martha, showing His deep empathy and presence in their suffering. This act of weeping illustrates that God is not distant or indifferent to our pain. He feels our sorrow and is with us in our grief. By recognizing God's presence in our pain, we can find solace and strength to endure. We are reminded that we are never alone, and God's love is a constant source of comfort and support. [29:54]
Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent hardship you faced. How did you sense God's presence with you during that time, and how can you seek His comfort in your current struggles?
Day 3: Jesus Confronts Our Darkness: Nothing Can Keep Him Away
Jesus is willing to confront the darkest parts of our lives, symbolized by His command to roll away the stone from Lazarus's tomb despite the odor of death. This act shows that nothing, not even our deepest brokenness, can keep Him away. Often, we believe that certain aspects of our lives are too messy or shameful for Jesus to address. However, Jesus' willingness to face the stench of death in Lazarus's tomb demonstrates His commitment to our healing and transformation.
Jesus knows our stories and sees us as the children we once were, deserving of love and healing. He is not deterred by our past mistakes, addictions, or pains. Instead, He calls us to confront these dark areas with Him, trusting that His love and power can bring about transformation. By allowing Jesus to enter these hidden and broken parts of our lives, we open ourselves to His healing and redemption. [37:22]
Isaiah 61:1 (ESV): "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."
Reflection: Identify a dark or broken area in your life that you have been hiding. How can you invite Jesus into this space to begin the process of healing and transformation?
Day 4: Recognizing Jesus' Voice: A Call to Transformation
Embedded in us is the ability to recognize Jesus' voice, which has been calling us since childhood. If we quiet our hearts, we can hear this voice calling us out of our metaphorical tombs and into a life of transformation. In the story of Lazarus, Jesus called him out of the tomb, and Lazarus recognized His voice. This moment signifies the power of Jesus' call to bring us from death to life, from darkness to light.
Jesus' voice is a constant presence in our lives, guiding us towards growth and transformation. However, the noise and busyness of life can drown out this voice. By intentionally creating moments of silence and reflection, we can attune our hearts to hear Jesus' call. This call invites us to leave behind our old ways and embrace a new life of purpose and fulfillment. [50:20]
John 10:27 (ESV): "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
Reflection: Take a few moments of silence today to listen for Jesus' voice. What is He calling you to leave behind, and what new path is He inviting you to follow?
Day 5: The Journey of Shedding Grave Clothes: A Lifelong Process
The process of shedding our grave clothes—our old habits, addictions, and pains—is a lifelong journey. Church is a community where we learn to follow Jesus and take off our grave clothes together, not a place for perfect people. This journey requires patience, perseverance, and the support of a loving community. As we walk this path, we gradually shed the layers of our past that hinder our growth and embrace the new life Jesus offers.
The church plays a crucial role in this process, providing a safe space for individuals to grow and heal. It is a place where we can be vulnerable, share our struggles, and receive encouragement from others who are on the same journey. By supporting one another, we can collectively move towards the wholeness and freedom that Jesus promises. [55:14]
Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV): "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Reflection: Reflect on an old habit or pain that you are struggling to let go of. How can you seek support from your church community to help you in this journey of transformation?
Quotes
1. "That the one thing that's needed In a relationship Is a friendship That you could actually get past Mostly all the other conflicts If you just had a friendship See? It's simple as that When it comes to marriages But interestingly enough In a relationship with God It is the exact same thing We're asking for God to be different Or God to do this And God to do that Or maybe we should be different But the reality is All we need is a friendship." [21:54] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "He is a lawnmower God That he allows us Because of the freedoms that we live in this world God allows us to go through hardship and pain We would really like him to be a lawnmower God But he allows us to go through hardship and pain But then we saw That Jesus came to Mary and Martha And they were so mad They let him have it They yelled at him And he said Let me see where Lazarus is And he goes to the tomb With Mary and Martha And he's with them And he cries alongside them." [29:26] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus is not afraid Of death Not even the death of our lives And he's the only one Who can answer what happened to this person So let's move on Let's move to our next place Verse 41 So they took away the stone Then Jesus looked up and said Father, I thank you That you have heard me I knew that you always hear me But I said this for the benefit Of the people standing here That they may believe that you sent me." [43:22] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus calls out Lazarus from the tomb He doesn't physically go in there And pull him out He says, Lazarus, come out It's as if Lazarus knew his voice Right? It's like Lazarus knew his voice Lazarus, come out The dead man came out His hands and feet wrapped I love how they called him the dead man still Right? He's walking And they're like, the dead man Like saying, like, he wasn't alive waiting in there He was a dead man He was dead for four days He stunk and everything The dead man knew the voice and came out." [50:20] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The best part of this story Is that Lazarus comes out And he still has His grave clothes on See? When you Back then When you die They prepare your body for death And they put grave clothes On your body Right? And so he comes out And he's still got the grave clothes on Right? And I believe that Many people Like when they They think of following Jesus Right? And you follow Jesus And you become a believer That as soon as you become the believer Or you get baptized Or whatever it is And you say I'm going to follow Jesus That all of a sudden Your whole life And all your decisions And everything just changes right away And the reality is That's not always the case." [53:28] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Church is not a place For perfect people And I will tell you I am not a perfect pastor I am broken like anybody else Church is a place Where we learn to take The grave clothes off We find that the rest Of our lives Is dedicated To following Jesus And learning how to do that At this time I am going to invite The band to come on back up Listen In hardships And pain We saw That God Is walking with us Never leaves us Never lets us stand there In all of it But then We hear this voice That's always been Calling out to us Come out Come out We hear that voice And then we start to follow The one that can bring us From death to life And then the rest of our life Is dedicated To taking those grave clothes off And following in the way of Jesus The rest of our lives Is dedicated to that Amen." [56:23] (81 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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