1. Reimagining Prayer | 06/01/25
Study Questions
Opening Prayer: Begin by asking God to open your hearts and minds to a deeper understanding of prayer and His presence in your lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Prayer is more about longing for and experiencing God's presence than just talking to Him or asking for things.
- God's constant presence means we can pray anytime, anywhere, as we are.
- Prayer is an invitation to rest in God's love and be real with Him.
- Our prayer life evolves as our relationship with God deepens and as we go through different life experiences.
Discussion Questions:
1. The sermon described prayer as "longing, thirsting, and gazing" on God. How does this description compare to your current view of prayer?
2. Reflect on the image of a child resting with their mother. How might this metaphor change your approach to prayer?
a) Kim shared her personal prayer journey. How has your own prayer life evolved over time?
b) Share any significant moments or changes.
3. How comfortable are you with the idea of coming to God "as you are" in prayer?
a) What might be holding you back from being completely real with Him?
4. Kim talked about "practicing the presence of God.” What practical steps could you take to be more aware of God's presence throughout your day?
5. How does the concept of prayer as “rest” resonate with you? In what areas of your life do you need to experience this rest?
a) Discuss the statement: “Shame will keep you from where He wants you to be.” How might shame be affecting your prayer life or relationship with God?
Practical Applications:
- This week, try to incorporate more “gazing” into your prayer time. Spend a few minutes each day simply being still in God's presence without words.
- Choose one everyday activity (e.g., commuting, doing dishes) and practice being aware of God's presence during that time.
- Write a prayer expressing your honest thoughts and feelings to God, without filtering or trying to use “proper” language.
- Reflect on any areas where shame might be hindering your relationship with God. Bring these to Him in prayer, asking for His perspective.
- Set a reminder on your phone to pause briefly throughout the day and acknowledge God's presence with you.
Closing Prayer: Close by reading aloud together the hymn Nearer, Still Nearer that was shared at the end of the sermon, as a collective prayer of longing for God's presence.
Nearer, still nearer— close to Thy heart,
draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art;
fold me, O fold me close to Thy breast;
shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest.
Nearer, still nearer— nothing I bring,
naught as an off'ring to Jesus, my King–
only my sinful, now contrite heart;
grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.
Nearer, still nearer— Lord, to be Thine,
sin with its follies I gladly resign–
all of its pleasures, pomp and its pride;
give me but Jesus, my Lord crucified.
Nearer, still nearer— while life shall last,
till safe in glory my anchor is cast;
through endless ages, ever to be
nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee.
2. Transformative Prayer | 06/08/25
Study Questions
Opening Question: Share a time when you prayed for something and God's answer surprised you or was different from what you expected.
Key Takeaways:
- Prayer itself isn't powerful; the God we pray to is powerful.
- God's agenda in prayer is to make us more like Jesus, not just to make us happy or comfortable.
- Prayer transforms us by aligning our will with God's will.
Discussion Questions:
1. Read Luke 22:39-46. Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane is a powerful example of surrender to God's will. Reflect on areas of your life where you're struggling to let go of control. How might your perspective change if you approached these challenges with Jesus' attitude of "not my will, but yours be done”?
2. 'Prayer isn't powerful. The person we pray to is powerful.' Do you agree/disagree? Why?
a) How might this perspective change the way you think about prayer?
3. Reflect on the examples of Paul, Habakkuk, Job, and Gideon. Which one resonates most with your current life situation and why?
a) How have you experienced prayer as an "antidote" to pride, anger, or fear in your own life?
4. Read Philippians 4:4-9. When we bring our concerns to God, His peace guards our hearts and minds. How might regularly engaging in prayer transform your thought patterns?
5. Dave said "Prayer is the antidote to self-centeredness." In what ways can prayer shift our focus from ourselves to God?
6. Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Often, we pray for God to remove our struggles, but sometimes His answer is to give us strength to endure them. How might God be using a challenging situation in your life to cultivate humility and dependence on Him?
a) Discuss the statement: "God wants to use those situations to draw you into prayer, into a conversation with Him, so He can do His deep healing work in you."
b) How have you previously seen this play out in your life?
7. Read Galatians 5:16-25. What are some practical ways we can move from being led by our emotions to being led by God's Spirit through prayer?
a) Which of these qualities do you most need to cultivate in your life right now? Ask God to develop this fruit in you as you surrender to His transforming work.
Practical Applications:
- This week, commit to spending 10 minutes each day in silent prayer, focusing on listening to God rather than just talking.
- Identify an area in your life where you're struggling to accept God's will. Write it down and pray daily for God to align your heart with His in this situation.
- Start a prayer journal. Each day, write down your prayers and any insights or changes you notice in yourself as you pray.
- Partner with someone in the group to pray for each other daily this week, focusing on areas where you each need transformation.
Closing Prayer: Close the session by praying together, asking God to transform each group member through deeper, more authentic prayer conversations with Him.
3. Experiential Prayer | 06/15/25
Study Questions
Opening Question: Share about a time when you prayed for something specific but didn't receive the answer you were hoping for. How did that experience affect your faith?
Key Takeaways:
- Prayer is not just a religious ritual, but a genuine interaction with the living God.
- God's primary agenda in prayer is to form Christ's character in us, not necessarily to make our lives easier.
- Surrendering to God's will in prayer allows us to experience His purpose for our lives.
- God's "No" can be good, even when we don't understand it, because God offers Himself instead and He’s always enough.
- Faith means believing God is good enough to tell us "No" and still be enough for us.
Discussion Questions:
1. Read Luke 22:39-46. True faith isn't about getting what we want, but aligning ourselves with God's purposes. How do your expectations typically shape your prayer life?
a) Do you tend to expect specific outcomes or struggle with expecting answers at all?
b) Reflect on areas in your life where you're struggling to accept God's will. How might surrendering these areas to God transform your perspective and deepen your trust in Him?
2. Read Romans 5:1-5. God's primary goal isn't our comfort, but our transformation into Christ's character, and character comes through enduring hardship and suffering. How have you seen this play out in your own life or the lives of others?
3. Discuss the statement: "Faith in Christ is believing that God is good enough to tell you 'No', and instead of giving you what you want, He's good enough to give you Himself." What challenges or encouragements does this perspective bring?
4. Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-11. There is a season for everything under heaven. When we're waiting on God, it's crucial to trust His perfect timing and sovereign plan. Reflect on a situation where you're waiting for God to act. How might this period of waiting be preparing you for something greater?
a) How can we develop a relationship with God where we boldly ask for what we desire and still remain surrendered to God's will?
5. Read Ephesians 3:14-21. Our prayers and expectations of God are often limited by our understanding, but God invites us into a deeper, richer experience of His love and power. How might your prayer life change if you truly believed God could do more than you can imagine?
a) Share an experience where God's "No" or "Not now" eventually led to something better than what you originally prayed for.
6. Read Philippians 4:10-13. When we pray, we often focus on what we want God to do for us. But true contentment comes from wanting God Himself more than His gifts. How does this change your perspective on unanswered prayers or difficult circumstances?
a) How might our prayer lives change if we focused more on wanting God Himself rather than just the things we ask Him for?
Practical Applications:
- This week, try praying like Jesus in Luke 22:42: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Reflect on how this approach impacts your interactions with God.
- Keep a prayer journal this week. Write down your requests, but also reflect on how God might be shaping your character through your circumstances.
- Practice "listening prayer" by spending a few minutes in silence each day, asking God to reveal His will and being open to His guidance.
- Identify an area of your life where you've been resistant to God's "No." Commit to surrendering that area to Him this week.
- Look for opportunities to encourage someone who is going through a difficult time, sharing the perspective that God can use challenging circumstances to develop our character.
Closing Prayer: Close the session by praying together, focusing on surrendering your wills to God and asking for His will to be done in your lives, even if it means facing challenges or receiving unexpected answers to prayer.