Thaw
- What are three issues about prayer that you still would like to have talked about?
Leader note: Please send this list of ideas to sdaugherty@crosspointe.org, as Steve and Jonathan will be producing a podcast series that deals with more specific issues regarding prayer that you can download and listen to. Who am I praying to, Jesus or the Father? and What is fasting about? are a couple of issues we'll try and tackle.
- Would anyone like to share what God has taught them, or what they sense God has been saying in recent weeks though these series?
- What is something that stuck with you from Sunday?
Read
- Acts 16:6-10
- Thoughts?
Leader note: Make sure and discuss as a group how even good, Biblical, gospel-proclaiming intentions got shut down by God. The main point is that finding an answer to what God wanted required Paul and his companions to be on the move, already within the expressed will of God. This increased their sensitivity to God's leading and cleared up what they were praying to be part of. They didn't "just pray". They remained so tuned in as they moved about within what God had already said He wanted.
Additionally, it's interesting to note that in verse 10, Luke, for the first time in his letter we now call Acts, includes the word "we". Apparently, Troas is when Luke joins the campaign. From Here, Luke is not recounting His best research into Jesus and this movement of God, but is a firsthand witness.
- Verse 10 says that Paul "concluded" that God had called them to go to Macedonia. What's the difference between concluding or gathering what God wants, and being given a direct command?
- How does this passage affect how you interpret God speaking to you?
- Are you encouraged or confused by the fact that "concluding" is how Christians are often to decide what God wants and how He is answering prayer?
- Read verse 10 again. Does it seem that Paul concludes alone, or the group together?
Leader note: You may note that the conclusion is connected to the "we got ready" and "God had called us". You can imagine Paul detailing the vision, the others discussing and the group realizing together that God had spoken.
- What's the danger in trying to discern God's answers alone?
- What are the benefits of sharing your prayers and hopes with others, as well as all the weird stuff that you feel may be God's response?
Read
- Matthew 16:13-18
- Thoughts?
Discuss
- How are gates used?
Leader note: Gates are defensive. Jesus is calling an offensive. But be sure and keep the group centered on Jesus, and not on attack-mentality. We are to be prayerful lovers of people that are constantly moving into the world according to His mission and vision of self-sacrificial love.
- How does this view of the Church change the way you think about praying and moving throughout your life?
- How does this affect you view about the ease at which prayer is answered?
- Are there things you feel like you have been ineffectively praying about because you haven't been on the move and on the offensive against darkness at the same time? What specific changes need to occur with regard to how you are praying to God about these things?
- What's the biggest thing you are praying about right now? Consider that Jesus says in John 14 "you may ask Me for anything in My Name [according to my reputation and character] and I will do it." When we consider that Jesus moved constantly within God's will as He prayed, teaching us what it looks like to do the same- what do you think it looks like to pray about what's important to you "in Jesus' Name"? Describe it.
- How can the group help you move and orient yourself to pray "in Jesus' name", as Paul did in Troas? What do you need to do to be well positioned to receive what your are asking for, and to be part of what God is doing?
"Action without prayer is arrogance,
prayer without action is hypocrisy."
- Jose Zayas
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