Prayer is one of the greatest gifts that God has given to us here on earth. Through prayer, we have direct access to Him. Even more, He wants to hear from us. In our Bible study today, we will take a deep dive into prayer and be reminded of just how powerful the gift of prayer is when we pray.
BREAK THE ICE
What is one of your big, hairy, audacious prayers that God answered?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study Questions
1. When do people today most often pray? Why?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read James 5:13-15. When are Christ followers called to pray? How does this challenge many people's perspective of prayer and what it is?
James 5:13-15
"Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven."
3. Read James 5:16-18. What promise does this verse give?
James 5:16-18
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops."
4. Describe Elijah's prayer life. What kind of example did he set for us regarding prayer?
Application
1. When you think about your prayer life, what is going well? What needs improvement?
2. How does praying at all times, happy, sad, sick, etc., impact your understanding of prayer and the purpose of prayer?
3. What is one big, hairy, audacious prayer you are currently praying for? (Designate one group member to write these down.)
MOVING FORWARD
Hopefully, you have all shared the big, hairy, audacious prayers you are praying for, and these prayers have been written down. Have each group member select one of these prayer requests and then pray until every member has prayed for their selected requests. Then, commit to pray over your selected prayer request throughout the week.
GOING DEEPER
There is no better person to teach us how to pray than Jesus. The books of Matthew and Luke record Jesus teaching His followers how to pray. Specifically, He taught them what attitudes to avoid when they pray, what to pray, and what to remember about God the Father when they pray. Let's take a few minutes to explore what Jesus teaches about prayer and learn from Him. He is the best teacher.
What to avoid when we pray:
Before Jesus taught about prayer in Matthew 6, He expressed certain attitudes to avoid when we pray. It is important to understand what attitudes we need to avoid before learning what to pray because our attitudes set the tone and foundation for our prayers.
1. Read Matthew 6:5-6.
Matthew 6:5-6
"When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."
2. Compare and contrast the two attitudes Jesus described in this passage of Scripture?
3. What are the results of praying pridefully versus praying humbly?
4. Read Matthew 6:7-8.
Read Matthew 6:7-8
"When you pray, don't babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!"
5. What attitude does Jesus call his followers to avoid in this passage of Scripture?
6. Why does Jesus call us to avoid this attitude in this passage of Scripture?
How to pray:
After Jesus explained what attitudes to avoid in Matthew 9, He taught us how to pray. He told us what to say and what to pray for when we come to God. Look at what Jesus teaches us how to pray in this passage of Scripture.
1. Read Matthew 9:9-13.
Matthew 9:9-13
9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth,as it is in heaven. 11Give us today the food we need, 12and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
2. Look back through this passage of Scripture. There are four different categories of things He says to pray for. Look for these four categories in Scripture and summarize each category when you find it.
3. What stands out to you about Jesus' model prayer?
What to remember when we pray:
Luke 11 also records Jesus teaching His followers how to pray. After teaching them how to pray, He told them a story. This story was meant to encourage His followers to pray consistently and confidently, remembering that they are praying to their Heavenly Father who loves them.
1. Read Luke 11:1-4. What prompted Jesus' disciples to ask Him how to pray?
Luke 11:1-4
"Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." 2 Jesus said, "This is how you should pray: "Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon.3 Give us each day the food we need,4 and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.And don't let us yield to temptation."
"Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
2 Jesus said, "This is how you should pray:
"Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon.3 Give us each day the food we need,4 and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.And don't let us yield to temptation."
2. Read Luke 11:5-10. Summarize Jesus' command when it comes to prayer and the result of following this command.
Luke 11:5-10
"Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 6 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' 7 And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' 8 But I tell you this-though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. 9 "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
"Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 6 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' 7 And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' 8 But I tell you this-though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.
9 "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
3. Read Luke 11:11-13. What did Jesus teach about God the Father. How does this understanding about God impact our prayers?
Luke 11:11-13
"You fathers-if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."
Reflect:
Take a few minutes to reflect on everything Jesus taught about prayer. 1. Of the different things Jesus taught about what to avoid when we pray, how to pray, and what to remember when we pray, what impacted you the most? Why? 2. What is something you have been holding off on praying for persistently? Will you commit to continue praying? 3. After reading Jesus' teaching on prayer, what is one step you can take to grow in your prayer life?
Finish your time together by praying. Ask God to give you the courage to grow in your prayer lives so that you have growing and thriving relationships with Him.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16
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