Talking Points....
8/25/2026
This week's discussion will focus on God's revealing series to Pastor Doug for our church, "Why is This Happening?"
I. Part 1.
A. The ones who Jesus loves.
1. John 11:1-6 - A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days.
2. Jesus heard that the one He loved was sick, yet He did not rush to be by his side and heal him.
3. He knows what He is doing and when it needs to be done for God's glory.
4. Share a time when you were looking for Jesus to help you with a problem immediately, but He had different plans and timing.
B. Proper perspective.
1. John 11:11-15 - Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”
2. Too often we get caught up in earthly discussions over Heavenly issues.
3. When you find yourself having the wrong perspective of what and when God is doing something in your lives, what things have you found helpful to change that?
C. Childlike faith.
1. Mark 11:24 - I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
2. How does hearing how Addie prayed for the pool equipment encourage you to be more bold in your prayers and faith?
D. Get your thoughts and mind on Heavenly things.
1. Colossians 3:2 - Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
2. How has keeping your mind on Heavenly things helped you to not get discouraged when a problem came up?
E. He is in control.
1. No matter what you are going through, there is a throne, someone is sitting on it, and it isn't you.
2. How does it make you feel to know that there is someone who is in control, and it isn't you?
F. Know and rely on His love.
1. 1 John 4:16 - We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
2. Do you feel that you are loved the same, more, or less than when you were first saved, and why?
G. Rough seasons can have purpose.
1. Some of us are going through rough seasons.
2. It is because He loves us.
3. He is giving us an opportunity to show and demonstrate to the world how faithful His love is during tough times.
4. Share a rough season that you went through, you relied on His love, and how that helped demonstrate His love to someone else.
H. Have the proper revelation of His love.
1. Is there something that you are going through that can go from a burden to a blessing, if you learned to go from earthly to heavenly conversations, and get a revelation of how much He loves you?
This week's discussion will focus on God's revealing series to Pastor Doug for our church, "Why is This Happening?"
I. Part 1.
A. The ones who Jesus loves.
1. John 11:1-6 - A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days.
2. Jesus heard that the one He loved was sick, yet He did not rush to be by his side and heal him.
3. He knows what He is doing and when it needs to be done for God's glory.
4. Share a time when you were looking for Jesus to help you with a problem immediately, but He had different plans and timing.
B. Proper perspective.
1. John 11:11-15 - Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”
2. Too often we get caught up in earthly discussions over Heavenly issues.
3. When you find yourself having the wrong perspective of what and when God is doing something in your lives, what things have you found helpful to change that?
C. Childlike faith.
1. Mark 11:24 - I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
2. How does hearing how Addie prayed for the pool equipment encourage you to be more bold in your prayers and faith?
D. Get your thoughts and mind on Heavenly things.
1. Colossians 3:2 - Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
2. How has keeping your mind on Heavenly things helped you to not get discouraged when a problem came up?
E. He is in control.
1. No matter what you are going through, there is a throne, someone is sitting on it, and it isn't you.
2. How does it make you feel to know that there is someone who is in control, and it isn't you?
F. Know and rely on His love.
1. 1 John 4:16 - We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
2. Do you feel that you are loved the same, more, or less than when you were first saved, and why?
G. Rough seasons can have purpose.
1. Some of us are going through rough seasons.
2. It is because He loves us.
3. He is giving us an opportunity to show and demonstrate to the world how faithful His love is during tough times.
4. Share a rough season that you went through, you relied on His love, and how that helped demonstrate His love to someone else.
H. Have the proper revelation of His love.
1. Is there something that you are going through that can go from a burden to a blessing, if you learned to go from earthly to heavenly conversations, and get a revelation of how much He loves you?