Prayer

QUESTIONS ONLY Summary at END

Goals for this Week’s Study:

  • Review Sunday Morning’s Message.
  • Help everyone have a REAL prayer life.
  • Encourage everyone to continue reading their plan. See what struggles they may be facing and help them overcome them.

Getting Started:

Open your group with prayer. Pray that the Holy Spirit helps you connect with God in a real 2-way conversation of prayer.

DISCUSS: If you were able to get a 15-minute face-to-face meeting with Jesus, what would you ask him?

  • Would it be for clarification of something He said, OR
  • To do something for you?

Recap:

Quickly recap Sunday’s message for those that missed Sunday or do not attend Better Life Church (if everyone in your group was there for Week 1 of BASIC, feel free to skip the recap).

Jesus’ disciples had this opportunity, and they asked him “to teach us to pray” in Luke 11.

1. Why do you think this was what they asked Him? Was it possibly because they saw a connection between the power Jesus had and prayer?

Basics of Prayer – Pastor Daniel taught the following things about Prayer:

  • Biggest misconceptions about Prayer – It's a religious duty. When this is our mindset, we are motivated to pray out of Guilt.
  • Prayer – 2-way communication with God. Talking & Listening
  • Most of our problem with prayer is that we are communicating poorly. The majority of problems in our life are caused by of POOR COMMUNICATION (marriage, parenting, career, etc.).
  • God cares about you. Our problem many times is that we don't believe He's interested in our life.

2. What are some practical ways we can turn prayer from talk "to" God to talk "with" God?

Scripture:

Nehemiah’s Prayer – Nehemiah 1:1 – 10

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. 8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ 10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.

Pastor Daniel answered the following questions about When, Why, and How we should pray: 

When?

Anywhere, anytime. Should I have a set time? Absolutely, but you can pray anywhere and anytime!

Why?

  1. It shows my dependency on God. In the good AND bad. I am the branch and you are the vine. Without you I am nothing.
  2. It lightens my load. Jesus longs for us to say "I can't handle this!" Come to me...run and not grow weary. The believer finds strength on our knees. We have to "let it go!"
  3. It releases God's power. James 5:16. Feelings don't move God, FAITH does. If Jesus is a friend, need to go talk to your friend. Be REAL!

Question - Why should God answer my prayer? Is it for His name and His Glory, or mine?

How?

  • Give God Praise! - Nehemiah 1:5. No matter what. When you begin to worship, God begins working in your life.
  • Confess the Sin in my Life - Sin in my life breaks fellowship (NOT relationship) with God. Nehemiah 1:6b
  • Claim the Promises of God - Over 7000 promises in the Bible that says if you, then I will. Nehemiah 1:9. It's our prayer that transforms God's promises into performance from God.
  • Be very specific in what you ask for. Nehemiah 1:10. He asked, Grant me success and give me favor. His request was audacious. 

S.O.A.P.

Explain to everyone that in today’s group we are going to study God’s Word using the SOAP method. This series is all about getting back to the basics and helping people STUDY and APPLY God’s Word!

S – Scripture

O – Observation

A – Application

P – Prayer

Click HERE for an article that describes the SOAP method in greater detail. I would encourage you to print it off or send the link out to your group members.

Scripture:

Look below to determine what scripture you will use for your group (feel free to use another day’s scripture based on the needs of your group members).

Sunday/Monday (Day 6) – John 10:1 – 18

Tuesday (Day 7) – John 11:1 – 44

Wednesday (Day 8) – John 12:1 – 11

Thursday (Day 9) – John 13:1 – 17

Friday/Saturday (Day 10) – John 14:1 – 14

Read the scripture aloud. You can read the entire selection out loud, ask different ones to read, ask everyone to read silently, or whatever feels most natural in your setting.

Observation:

After reading the day’s scripture, ask the following questions to “observe” the text. NOTE: Not all questions may be able to be answered about every passage.

  1. WHO is present in the scripture?
  2. WHAT is happening in the scripture?
  3. WHEN is this happening?
  4. WHERE is this taking place?
  5. WHY is this taking place?
  6. HOW is this taking place?
  7. After answering the above questions, make an observation statement. Ask group members to share if they are comfortable.

Application:

For application, there is only question:

8. What do you need to do NOW to apply what you’ve learned to life?

Prayer:

Take some time to allow group members to share how they are going to apply these truths to their life. Pray for strength to take these steps!

Invite everyone to come back next week to Week 3 of Basic series as Pastor Daniel teaches us to make a plan to withstand temptation.

QUESTIONS ONLY Summary

1. DISCUSS: If you were able to get a 15-minute face-to-face meeting with Jesus, what would you ask him?

  • Would it be for clarification of something He said, OR
  • To do something for you?

2. Why do you think this was what they asked Him? {Was it possibly because they saw a connection between the power Jesus had and prayer?}

3. What is the difference between talking "to" God and talking "with" God? Which do you feel you do most of the time?

4. What are some practical ways we can turn prayer from talking "to" God to talking "with" God?

5. S.O.A.P. – Go to the previous page to walk through the SOAP for the day your group is meeting.

Adam Eldridge