L O R D T E A C H U S T O P R AY SEPTEMBER 3 & 6 FA C I L I TAT O R LEADER INFO: • Please initially reach out to your people by PHONE CALL OR TEXT. Once you meet gather all contact info and discuss best ways to communicate with the group (Facebook page, group text, email). • If you need personal emails of members please email
[email protected] [email protected]
GROUP ANNOUNCEMENTS: • Check out the Daniel Fast Devos and Recipes on our website and app: coe22.com/saturated. • Saturated 2015 will be September 16-20. We fast and pray with expectation that we will grow into a deeper relationship with the Lord during this time. • The Before All Things Album will be on sale starting this week! $15 for a CD and $11.99 on ITunes. Come check out the booths before and after services!
TEXTS: Luke 11:1-13, Matthew 6:5-13, Philippians 4:4-7
BIG IDEA: PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!! Prayer is not about information. It is about
intimacy with the Father. Prayer is the means by which our Sovereign God accomplishes “on Earth as it is in Heaven.” ACTION STEP FOLLOW UP (5 MINUTES)
Last Week: Take a few minutes right now to write down how you can leverage the things below for the Kingdom of God. Which one do you need to really focus on first? EyesMouthTimeTalentsTreasure-
ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS 1. What plan have you put into place to leverage your eyes, mouth, time, treasure, and talent for the Kingdom of God?
THE RECAP (10 MINUTES) In this sermon about prayer, Pastor Joby talked about the attitude of prayer and intimacy it brings with the Father. Prayer is not about what God can do for us, but rather it is about our dependence on Him. God knows what we need and what we will even say before we know. He desires to be in relationship with us like a good dad is with his children. He has given us direct access to Him, through the blood of Christ and has even given us a model of how to pray in Matthew 6. QUESTIONS (FROM THE WEEKEND SERMON) 1.What does your prayer life consist of right now?
TEACHING & DIALOGUE Facilitator, direct participants to confine discussion to the passage being studied. You can redirect comments back by asking “where does it say that in the passage?”
THINK: Have someone read Luke 11:1-13 out loud. 1. When and where do you usually pray? 2. What stirs up inside of you when you pray? (adoration? frustration?) 3. What are you asking God for right now? Are you persistent with that prayer? 4. Do you believe that God hears your prayers? Why or why not? Have someone read Matthew 6:5-8 out loud. 5. When has your prayer life become more about you and less about God’s glory and promises? Matthew 6:5-8 is not teaching us that the only way to prayer is alone in a quiet room. It is addressing the issue of those that pray in vain to win the approval of man and those that babble on with words that have no heart behind them. Have someone read Matthew 6:9-13 out loud. 6. What stands out to you about the flow of this prayer model Jesus teaches?
Have someone read Philippians 4:4-7 out loud. 7. How have you seen God change you/others through prayer? 8. What anxieties do you need to bring to Him in prayer?
MOMENT OF TRUTH
“Life is war. That’s not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world.” – John Piper ACTION STEP: Remember, prayer is talking and listening to God. He has invited you to sit with Him. Set aside intentional prayer time each week for one month. See what happens. -Put it on your calendar (Example: Every Tuesday & Thursday on your lunch break for 15 minutes). -Remove distractions (Turn off phone, go somewhere quiet)
PRAY:
**Spend the last 10 minutes of group time in quiet prayer.
