Read Luke 11:5-13. What does Jesus teach us about God and about prayer in this passage (multiple answers)?

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1 Questions for Pray BIG Sermon #1 These questions are designed to help individuals, families, and small groups dig deeper into our Prayer Sermon Series. Leaders: don t limit yourself to these questions or feel that you need to answer all of them. Pick and choose and create your own based on the needs of your group. Observe & interpret the passages: Read Luke 11:5-13. What does Jesus teach us about God and about prayer in this passage (multiple answers)? Read Mark 14: What do you learn about Jesus prayer-life from this passage (multiple answers)? When,where, and with whom did Jesus pray according to the following passages? Matthew 19:13; Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16; 6:12; 9:28-29; 11:1. According to the following passages, what are some of the reasons why God might not give us what we ask Him for? o James 4:3 o 1 John 3:21-22; Psalm 66:18; 1 Peter 3:17 o 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Romans 8:28

2 o Luke 18:1-7 Apply it to your life: How often do you pray and for how long? Do you ever feel intimidated, discouraged, or disinterested in prayer? If so, why? Where do you see differences between your prayer life and Jesus prayer life? What will you do this week to grow your prayer life? Get specific. What time will you give it? Where will you go? What will you pray for? Memorize: The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16b

3 Questions for Pray BIG Sermon #2: The Disciples Prayer These questions are designed to help individuals, families, and small groups dig deeper into our Prayer Sermon Series. Leaders: don t limit yourself to these questions or feel that you need to answer all of them. Pick and choose and create your own based on the needs of your group. Observe & interpret the passages: Read Matthew 6:1-18. o What is the main idea of this paragraph? Read Matthew 6:5-8. o What are some of the things we should or should not do in prayer? o What does sincere prayer look like, as opposed to hypocritical prayer (cf. Luke 18:9-14)? o How does the posture of our body both reflect and direct that attitude of our hearts (cf. Ps 5:5, 7; 95:6; Luke 17:11-16; 18:9-13)? o What does Jesus mean by meaningless repetition? Does He mean that we should never ask for the same request more than one time (cf. Mt 7:7-11; Luke 18:1-5)? Read Matthew 6:9-10 o What are the God-centered priorities of this prayer? o What is the significance of the fatherhood of God? What does a good father do for us?

4 o Why should the Church pray for the kingdom and will of God to be accomplished on the earth? Read Matthew 6: o What are the man-centered priorities of this prayer? o What do these three requests reveal about the character of our heavenly Father? Apply it to your life: Reflect on the model prayer that Jesus gave to His disciples. How will you pray differently this week as a result of studying this prayer? Memorize: Matthew 6:9-13 or Matthew 7:7-8 Additional study questions: Does God actually care about our daily needs (cf. Mt 6:25-34)? What is the meaning of hallowed (cf. Ezek 36:23)? What is the significance of the name of God?

5 Why did the early Church pray so fervently for the return of Jesus Christ to the earth (cf. Rev 22:20; Mt 23:39; 1 Thess 5:23; James 5:7-8; 2 Pet 1:16)? What is the relationship between our forgiveness of others and God s forgiveness of us? What is the meaning of Mt 6:13? Does God lead us into tempting? Does God lead us into testing?

6 Questions for Pray BIG Sermon #3: The High Priestly Prayer (John 17) These questions are designed to help individuals, families, and small groups dig deeper into our Prayer Sermon Series. Leaders: don t limit yourself to these questions or feel that you need to answer all of them. Pick and choose and create your own based on the needs of your group. Observe & interpret the passage: As Jesus prays, what does He know is about to happen to Him? See chapter 18. How does this reality affect our understanding of this prayer? Read John 17:1-5 where Jesus prays for Himself. o What all does Jesus reveal to us about Himself in these verses? o What does He ask God to do? Why does He want this? Read John 17:6-26. List everything that Jesus prays for on behalf of His disciples and those who would come to faith through their witness. What does it mean to keep them in your name (v11)? Notice how name is used in v6, 26. Jesus prays for our protection from the evil one, Satan. What danger does Satan pose for believers? How is he trying to harm us? See Matt 4:1-11; John 8:44; 1 Thess 3:5; Rev 12:9.

7 What does it mean to sanctify them in truth (v17)? What is the truth? Note that sanctify can also be translated make holy. Apply it to your life: Compare the list of what Jesus prays for in John 17 to what you typically pray for. What adjustments do you need to make in how you pray for yourself, your family, and our church? Jesus prays for our unity in v o What would it look like for His prayer to be answered for your small group and for our church? o How can you personally contribute to the unity of our church? Take ten minutes to pray through Jesus requests on behalf of yourself, your family, and our church. Memorize: John 17:3

8 Questions for Pray BIG Sermon #4: Gethsemane Prayer These questions are designed to help individuals, families, and small groups dig deeper into our Prayer Sermon Series. Leaders: don t limit yourself to these questions or feel that you need to answer all of them. Pick and choose and create your own based on the needs of your group. Observe & interpret the passages: Read Matthew 26: o What is the big idea of this paragraph? What qualities do you observe in Jesus prayer (cf. Dan 3:17-18; Luke 18:1-5)? What was the cup that Jesus wanted to avoid (cf. Is 51:17, 22; Rev 19:19)? What was God the Father s answer to Jesus request (cf. Heb 5:7; Luke 22:43)? What attitudes and behaviors do you observe in the disciples that led to their failure (cf. Mt 20:20-22; 26:30-35)? Apply it to your life: Why does God say no or wait to some of our requests? How can we learn to become more alert, aware and vigilant in prayer (cf. Eph 6:11; 2 Cor 2:11)? Are there specific lies that Satan tempts you to believe? Are there specific vulnerabilities that he attempts to exploit?

9 When and where are you most vulnerable, and how can prayer help? Memorize: Matthew 26:41