Sermon Notes
Questions on prayer:
1. Since God knows everything, why should I talk to God and tell him something that He already knows?”
2. Why should I talk to God and ask him to do something if He has already predestined all things.
3. Is the only value of prayer the inward emotional strength it gives the person or does prayer change circumstances?
Jesus’ attitude towards prayer:
4. He would deny his body sleep in order to pray!
5. His praying isn’t passive in his life, but active as he makes time for prayer and places a priority on it!
Jesus teaches us that:
6. Prayer is relational communication with God.
7. Prayer is the means by which God gets His will done on earth.
8. Prayer cannot change the nature of God, but prayer is used by God to implement His will to change people and things.
9. Prayer is not a means to get our will done in heaven, but it is a means by which God gets His will done on earth!
Follow-up Questions from Sunday:
Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Introduction question for groups:
Who do you think is the person who has prayed for you most in your life?
Digging Deeper:
1. If someone was to ask you what prayer is, what would you say?
2. When you read Ephesians 6:10-18, are you surprised that once you put on the Armor of God, He calls you to pray? What would you say to someone who sees this as kind of anti-climactic?
3. Pastor Frank shared on Sunday what the big 3 questions his students at Biola had on prayer. What do you think is the greatest mystery of prayer and what would you say are your biggest questions about prayer?
4. Pastor Frank shared on Sunday that if there was ever a person who prayed, viewed, and approached prayer correctly it is Jesus. Do you believe this is true? Why or why not?
5. What do we learn about Jesus and His prayer life from Luke 5:16; 6:12-13; Mark 1:35-38?
6. Why do you think He began His ministry in prayer (Luke 3:21), ended his ministry in prayer (Luke 32:46), and everywhere in-between at every crossroad Jesus made prayer a major priority?
7. How does the example of Jesus’ life and His teachings help us answer our questions on prayer? How does Jesus’ example and teachings most inspire you in your prayer life?
8. In Ephesians 6:18, Paul teaches us to pray at all times in the Spirit. On Sunday, Pastor Frank encouraged us to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and to pray the Scriptures into our lives because the Word of God and the Spirit of God work together. What do you think it would look like to pray Ephesians 6:10-17 into our lives? Please give this a try this week along with Romans 8:1; John 3:13.
Taking it Home:
Spend some time this week meditating on Ephesians 6:18-19 and ask the Lord to teach you about the power of prayer.
Questions to consider:
Is prayer an active or a passive thing in your life?
Is prayer a critical part of your day or do you just fit it in?
Do you rely heavily on your prayer time in your Christian faith?
Are you motivated in your prayer life?
Are you satisfied with your prayer life?
Prayer:
Pray for each other in your group that God would help all of you to see how powerful and important prayer is.