Small Group Guide
TIME IN PRAYER
The Church at Brook Hills Matt Mason January 8, 2017 Psalm 65
MAIN TRUTH
Message Outline
To download the outline for this week’s sermon, visit brookhills.org/media.
Message Summary
In this mini-series on “Strengthening Your Grip,” Pastor Matt equips us to take next steps with studying the Bible and with prayer because these are the two primary ways we deepen our relationship with God. Because our hearts have been changed by the Holy Spirit, every Christian desires to pray, but this does not mean that we are always faithful to pray. We often struggle with boredom and distraction with prayer, and because these struggles are normative, it is helpful to be reminded of why we pray and to think through how we can continue to grow in this area. Prayer serves as both a demonstration of faith and an as a test of faith, and essentially, we pray – not because there are things we want – but because, through prayer, God gives us Himself. Not only does He listen to us and rescue us, God graciously provides and satisfies. He alone is worthy of praise and worthy to be prayed to, and through prayer, He changes us – our burdens, our attitude, and our thinking.
WHY IT MATTERS
Digging Deeper
During small group time, consider doing what Pastor Matt did during the sermon where you pick a daily psalm, read it, and pray through it. Break into groups of 2-4 people of the same gender to do this, and give each person a verse in the psalm to pray. If someone is uncomfortable with praying out loud, let them know that they can just pray silently. Ask if anyone missed Sunday’s sermon on prayer, and if they did, give a brief explanation to the whole group of how to pray through Scripture using the sermon outline.
Also, while the people are in their smaller groups, encourage them to share with each other about any specific ways that the group can pray for them, and take time to do so during group time. While none of us (including small group leaders) are experts in prayer, offer to talk more with people in the group who are struggling with prayer or who want to grow more in the area of prayer. You can also, before group time, ask 2-3 people to come ready to share with the group what prayer looks like in their life in order to provide more examples of what this can look like for different personalities, life stages, etc. As a group, discuss one next step each person can take this week to grow in the area of prayer.
NOW WHAT DO WE DO?
Group Discussion & Application
Use the following questions to examine what the sermon and its text mean, to apply the Word to your life, and to guide how you pray. Please note that you don’t have to use all of the questions. These are just options (along with the digging deeper section) to help you frame the group discussion.
1. Why should we as Christians pray?
2. As a Christian, what can you do if you lack the desire to pray? How can you cultivate this desire?
3. Two common struggles with prayer include boredom and distractions, which easily lead to frustration, inconsistency, and guilt with regards to prayer. How have you experienced these struggles in your own life as you pray? What have you done to address these struggles?
4. Why doesn’t prayer come easy? Why is it a spiritual discipline?
5. How is prayer a true test of faith?
6. How do our prayers express our beliefs? Think about over your prayers this past week. What do those prayers indicate about your beliefs in God, yourself, others, etc.? What do your prayers indicate about where you are in your relationship with God?
7. Why is it staggering to think that God listens to you when you pray to Him?
8. How do our motives affect our prayers? What is your aim when you pray? Why do you pray? What are you hoping to gain from praying? Are there false motives for praying? If so, what would they be?
9. How should we respond when God does not answer our prayers the way that we would like?
10. How have you seen prayer change you?
11. Read Romans 12:12; John 15:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:16. Practically, what does it look like to pray at all times or to pray “without ceasing”? What keeps us from doing this as we go about our day? How can we abide with God throughout our day?
12. While we do not have to pray Scripture every time we communicate with God, why is it important and helpful to do so?
13. In the sermon, Pastor Matt mentioned A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) and W.A.R.M. (Worship, Admission, Request, and Mission). While ACTS and WARM are not the only way to structure times of prayer, how can these acronyms and categories be helpful as we approach prayer?
14. What does prayer currently look like in your life?
15. What is one way in which you can take a step to grow in prayer this week? How will you take that step?
16. Moving forward, what can prayer look like when the group gathers together to meet?
17. How can this small group be diligent in specifically praying for each other?
Resources for Small Group Leaders
Weekly Prayer Focus (from Our Worship Guide)
· Pray for Our Church:
o Thank God for hearing and answering our prayers.
o Pray for those in your life you know are in need of God’s sustaining grace.
o Pray for the Spirit’s guidance as you seek to follow God.
· Pray for Our City:
o Pray for racial unity within the Body of Christ in Birmingham for the sake of gospel advancement, credible witness, local church strength, and to accurately display God’s character and glory in Birmingham.
o Pray for Greater Shiloh Baptist Church and Pastor Michael Wesley.
· Pray for Our World:
o Pray for two Brook Hills families who are being commissioned this week: Britten and Brook serving with their family in the Middle East and Phillip and Stacie serving with their family in East Asia.
“Time in Prayer” January 8, 2017 | Page 1