Before Pastor Greg began to tackle some of the questions we all have on prayer, he spent some time giving us a foundation to work from, starting with the existence of God. Here is where we start:
There is a God who caused this unlikely
universe to come into being. And a planet fine-tuned for life. A God who
does not fit into our finite categories.
He is, the prophet Isaiah tells us the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity,
whose name is Holy . . . Is. 57:15 He
is the holy God who dwells in eternity and for His own good reason, created all
of this . . . not out of loneliness or need, but out of love. And finally, He has a desire to communicate with us. One of His principle forms is through the Bible, a book like no other. The internal consistency, the
manuscript evidence, archeological evidence, and fulfillment
of prophecies made in this book all separate it from other religious
writings. We believe that the eternal,
transcendent Creator of all speaks to us through these words.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
Luke 11:9-10
Connect
What are some questions your group has regarding prayer? This is not the time to solve or try to give definitive answers. Just listen. Perhaps encourage the stories behind the questions that need sharing. Take the time to listen.
Read
1 Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 6:6; Jeremiah 33:3; Philippians 4:6; Isaiah 14:24; John 14:13-14; James 4:2-3; Romans 8:26
Discuss
Read and discuss each of the scriptures out loud. What do they reveal to you about how God treats our prayers? Do some of them address some of the questions your group had about prayer? Finally read and discuss the the parable from Luke 11. How are you doing with being persistent in prayer? How are you doing with dealing with a loving, faithful and yet at times mysterious God? How can you encourage one another in those head-scratching, faith-testing times?
Pray
Take some time in your group to write down prayer requests and then spend time praying together. But don't just leave it there in your group. Make a point to figure out how to continue to pray for one another throughout the week. Create a text thread. or email. or just call to check in. Pray without ceasing.