AFTER THE SERMON-Prayer Is Essential
We hope today’s message was encouraging and helpful. Take a moment to process and discuss what God may be trying to say to everyone in your home or in your community group. If no one is with you, have a personal conversation with God, He is with you.
Scripture: Matthew 6:7-13
(Other Scriptures referenced: Luke 11:5-13).
(If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read or paraphrase through some of the provided scripture to catch everyone up!)
Overview:
Pastor Ryan continued to cover essentials to the Christian faith and things we need to carry on into life as it reopens. COVID 19 sparked a renewal in prayer at Calvary and in our personal lives. Pastor Ryan said we’ve had more time to pray and more things to pray about. It doesn’t mean we all grew in our prayer life, but it definitely rose to greater importance in the church, as a whole. Pastor Ryan encouraged us to learn how to pray from the life of Jesus. Not only did Jesus model prayer but He even taught the disciples a simple prayer to help them get started. Overall, we learned that there are a number of benefits to having a prayer life such as a greater focus and faith in God. We learned prayer helps us to depend on God, be humble about ourselves, forgiveness toward others, and wise about facing our enemy. Pastor Ryan gave us a couple of reasons why we may struggle to pray but then a few practical ideas on how to jump-start our prayer life. The message ended with a powerful question and quote from Corrie Ten Boom: "Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"
Takeaways:
Our prayer life is a spiritual discipline that takes intentionality
“We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to be our first line of defense.” Oswald Chambers
Prayer is relational, it’s a way to enjoy fellowship with God, not a chore to check off a list.
Praying heaven on earth keeps us unsatisfied with the condition of our world and busy ushering in what is to come.
Praying God’s will means we are willing to be the instruments through which God accomplishes His will on earth.
Prayer keeps us humble about our own sin or else we become numb and blind to it.
Prayer keeps us “unoffendable”. The Lord’s prayer encourages the practice of forgiveness.
"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?" -Corrie Ten Boom
Discussion:
What stuck out to you from today’s message and why?
Prayer may be one of the hardest spiritual disciplines in the Christian faith outside of evangelism, why is it difficult?
What do you think is a spiritually healthy prayer life? What do you think that means?
What are some reasons people can get discouraged with their prayer lives?
What’s currently on your prayer list (Or what you’ve been praying about)?
Have you ever noticed it’s easier to pray with others…what’s the value and power of praying with someone?
What will you do this week to be more intentional about talking with God, praying for others, and praying for yourself?
Practice:
How to jump-start your prayer life:
Know that God loves His children, He loves to listen, He loves to give.
Don’t overcomplicate prayer, it’s simply talking with God.
Pray daily at a set time and pray at all times, on the go.
Use prayer journals and lists to stay focused.
Get a prayer partner. Praying with others is extremely powerful and fulfilling.
Go for prayer walks and drives.
Pray:
Ask God to show up in your prayer life this week. Ask God to give you eyes to see the prayers He has already answered. Trust God hears you this week, come boldly to the throne of God, knowing that He hears and cares about your requests.
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!