Big Idea:
Turn laments into joy by understanding the resurrection and return of Jesus and making requests to the Father in His name.

1. The LAMENTS of believers will turn into JOY!

a. To lament is to bring our pain, anger, grief and confusion to God in prayers of faith.

2. Our LAMENTS turn into JOY by looking back to Jesus' resurrection and forward to His return.

3. Our LAMENTS turn into JOY by understanding Jesus!

4. Our LAMENTS turn into JOY by making requests to the Father in Jesus' name.

Good laments are pleadings and yearnings directed to God with submissive hearts that hope in His unfulfilled promises.

"To pray 'in Jesus' name' is to pray by means of the access that Christ alone provides and to pray under His authority." - Edward Klink

Next Step Takeaway
With God:
- Spend time “lamenting” to the Father in the name of Jesus this week related to the suffering and trials in your life.   
- Attend the “Reasons to Believe” Apologetics Conference with Dr. Sean McDowell at Good Shepherd May 3-4 to help strengthen your faith.
• True for you, not true for me.
• Evidence for the New Testament
• Evidence for the Resurrection
• If God, why evil?

Next Step Takeaway:
With Other:
Spend time with some brothers and sisters in Christ this week sharing your struggles with each other and “lamenting” to the Father in the name of Jesus together.

Next Step Takeaway
On Mission:
- Continue to engage with our “Invitation to Hope” initiative this week.
• Prayerfully write down the name of someone to invite, post it on our HOPE board in the lobby, and commit to praying for them.
• Take an Easter invite card and personally give it to them.
• Invite them to attend the “Reasons to Believe” conference with you.