When God s People Pray SIX SESSION TEACHING PLAN

Transcription

1 When God s People Pray SIX SESSION TEACHING PLAN April 13-May 25, 2014

2 First Baptist Church of Norfolk exists to glorify God by winning and leading all the people within our reach to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Life Groups at First Baptist Norfolk exist to REACH people for Christ, TEACH them the Word of God, CARE for them in the name of Jesus, and SEND them out to serve where God leads them to use their gifts.

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4 When God s People Pray SIX SESSION TEACHING PLAN April 13-May 25, 2014

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6 Life Groups at First Baptist Norfolk exist to REACH people for Christ, TEACH them the Word of God, CARE for them in the name of Jesus, and SEND them out to serve where God leads them to use their gifts! With that thought in mind, it is imperative that we are diligent in teaching the entirety of the Bible, not just selected texts where we are comfortable. For the teacher of God s Word, this is one of the reasons we choose to utilize a curriculum a prescribed plan for our teaching. With each of us being gifted in various ways, having differing personalities and preferences, it would be the habit of most teachers, without direction from the church, to teach in the area of the Bible where we feel we had the most Bible knowledge and are comfortable. We might even avoid difficult passages of scripture that requires greater study to feel prepared to teach or possibly there are places in our lives where we struggle with obedience and have no desire to teach on issues that confront and challenge how we are living. Such is the curriculum you hold in your hands today. This is the second in a series of unique lessons designed for our church. With direction from our pastor, the decision was made to focus on Prayer in the life of our church. This is a discipline that is expected in the life of followers of Jesus. In the same way that Jesus said, when you give (Matthew 6:2), He also said, when you pray (Matthew 6:5). Let me be clear on this one point God does not need our prayers. He is God and does not NEED anything from us. The truth is that He desires something for us. In this case, He desires the fellowship that we can share with Him in prayer. Jesus said that we were to Love God first. A part of loving God is developing the discipline of spending time with him in solitude and prayer. It is in these special moments alone with God that we find peace that passes understanding, guidance, direction, hope, comfort and yes even conviction of sin. All of these and more, God provides through the experience of prayer. As LIFEgroup leaders, we need to help our group members explore the depths of God s Word and learn from Him about how to grow in this area of our lives through prayer. One final word I pray that this study changes you- the teacher, as well as the group members in your Life Group. The very best teaching that ever happens is teaching that has first gripped the heart of the teacher then teaching comes with great passion. As with every curriculum, it must be tailor fitted to the user. There will be supplemental resources available online at as we begin this study. Remember, God s Word is true. Challenge your groups to grow this quarter to become more like Jesus as they spend time with Him in prayer. Expecting God to change lives, Phillip Herring Associate Pastor of Education

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8 TEACHING PLAN WHEN GOD S PEOPLE PRAY APRIL 13 - MAY 25, 2014

9 FIRST NORFOLK WHEN GOD S PEOPLE PRAY CONTENTS WEEK APRIL 13. A PRAYER OF EXALTATION...3 God delights in prayer that displays His greatness. WEEK APRIL 27. A PRAYER OF FAITH God values and answers the prayer of faith. WEEK MAY 4. A PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS...26 God is eager to receive the prayers of the humble. WEEK MAY 11. A PRAYER OF PERSISTENCE...39 God desires persistent and confident prayer from His people. WEEK MAY 18. A PRAYER FOR BOLDNESS...50 God will act on prayers offered for the sake of the gospel. WEEK MAY 25. A PRAYER FOR US...63 Knowing that Jesus prays for us gives us confidence in prayer.

10 FIRST NORFOLK EXODUS 33:12-23 A PRAYER OF EXALTATION APRIL 13, 2014 PREPARATION > Spend the week reading through and studying Exodus 33: Consult the commentary provided and any additional study tools (such as a concordance or Bible dictionary) to enhance your preparation. > Determine which discussion points and questions will work best with your group. > Pray for our pastors, the sermon series, the upcoming group meeting, your teaching, your group members, and their receptivity to the lesson. HIGHLIGHTS BIBLICAL EMPHASIS: Moses requests for the Lord to confirm in some way that His presence would be with Moses and the Israelites throughout their journeys. TEACHING AIM: God delights in prayer that displays His greatness. 3 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

11 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 13, 2014 INTRODUCTION As your group time begins, use this section to help get the conversation going. 1 What famous person past or present would you most like to get to know better and why? 2 If the opportunity presented itself, how would you accomplish this? 3 Do you wish you knew God better? How could you know Him more deeply? As our Father, God wants us to know Him intimately. He desires to continue teaching us about Himself, but in order to know God better we must desire to know Him and spend time in His presence. Prayer is a key to being in His presence, and we will spend several weeks discovering some of the great prayers of the Bible. Moses is a great example of someone who sought to know God better and had times of intimate prayer with Him. While the Israelites worshiped an idol instead of God, Moses desired a deeper relationship with the one true God. UNDERSTANDING Unpack the biblical text to discover what Scripture says or means about a particular topic. The events recorded in Exodus 33 occurred shortly after the Israelites miraculous exodus from Egypt in which God sent 10 plagues on Egypt and parted the Red Sea so that the Israelites could escape Pharaoh s army. Moses then led the Israelites to Mount Sinai, where God gave them the Ten Commandments and many other laws (Ex ). The incident in Exodus 32, however, interrupted the giving of God s commands because the Israelites made a golden calf that 4 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

12 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 13, 2014 Moses destroyed, along with the tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments that God had just given him. At that time God judged the Israelites harshly, resulting in the immediate deaths of about three thousand people. Moses pleaded for forgiveness for the Israelites. The Lord sent a plague on them to complete His punishment for the idolatry. Moses then set up a tent of meeting outside the camp so that he could meet with the Lord (Ex. 33:1-11). > Have a volunteer read Exodus 33: Moses needed God s presence to guide the Israelites to the promised land. So he asked God to clarify His relationship with him and to reveal more of His ways. What was Moses single request of God in verses 12-13? What was his purpose for requesting this from God? Moses wanted to make especially sure God s presence would be with him each step of the way to Canaan. Moses then recalled God s reassuring words that He knew Moses by name and that he had found favor in the Lord s sight. Moses reminded himself of God s calling in his life and the availability of God s presence to fulfill the task. Like Moses, we need the Lord s reassurance that we will not be alone as we seek to live on mission for God. Often, as Christians, we want God s presence and power but do not take time to get to know God and learn His ways. Why would Moses have felt the need for God s presence? What previous events in his life might he have remembered as he sought the presence of God? On a scale of 1 to 10, how insistent was Moses that God s presence be evident? Do we desire that strongly for God s presence to go with us throughout our days? Why or why not? 5 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

13 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 13, 2014 How literally had Moses believed God s truths that he repeated back to God in verse 12? To begin his special request, Moses alluded to the words the Lord previously had spoken to him at the incident of the burning bush (3:1-10). God had told Moses to lead the people, but God had not yet revealed whom He would send with Moses to assist him in the journey to Canaan. God had called Aaron to serve as Moses spokesperson before Pharaoh (4:14-16) but that was then. The challenge of leading the Israelites through the desert to Canaan was another matter entirely. Do you think Moses faith in God s Word gave him assurance that God would answer his request favorably? Why or why not? If the Lord were to withdraw His presence from your life tomorrow, would you notice a difference? Would anything be different in First Norfolk if God were not here? 6 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

14 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 13, 2014 Moses was not afraid to ask God to demonstrate His presence among His people. He needed the assurance of God s presence to lead him before he could lead the people. Often people in the church undertake ministries without a sense of God s presence, approval, or blessing. All Christians who lead in the church should take Moses plea for God s presence to heart. They can pray in a similar fashion that God will grant His presence for the tasks He has called them to do. > Have a volunteer read Exodus 33: What is the significance of the similarities in the words of verses 12 and 17? What two reasons did God give for allowing His presence to go with Moses? Was it to Moses or to God s credit that the request was granted? God favorably answered Moses request. He promised that His presence would go with Moses as he led the people. He had found favor (or grace) in God s sight. The Old Testament writers referred to both Noah and Moses as those who had found favor in God s eyes. Because Moses was favored by God, he received the Lord s grace to help him lead the people from Egypt. We too need God s favor on our lives so we can continue living for and serving the Lord. God had revealed His personal name Yahweh to Moses at the burning bush (Ex. 3:15), but God also knew Moses name. God knows each of His children by name and stands ready to display His favor toward them. 7 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

15 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 13, 2014 God told Moses that he was favored in His sight. How have you experienced God s favor on your life? Have you seen this reflected in your prayer life at all? Why do you think Moses asked to see God s glory? Moses, confident because of God s answer to his first request (Ex. 33:13), made a second request of the Lord. He asked God to let him see His glory. This word in other passages related to God often indicated God s manifest presence. Perhaps Moses needed a greater assurance that God would keep the promise of His presence. What types of requests do you tend to make in your prayer life when you need assurance of God s presence? What do God s words in the second half of verse 19 tell us about His greatness and power? What is the significance of the hand of God, the back of God, and the face of God in this passage? The Lord told Moses that when His glory passes by the rock, He would cover Moses with His hand. In this way the Father protected Moses from the infinite strength of His presence so that Moses would see the Lord s back but not His face. Both back and face are metaphorical, so the idea is that Moses did not and could not experience God s full presence (His face) but only the afterglow God s manifested presence (His back). 8 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

16 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 13, 2014 In what ways do we have the opportunity to see or experience God s glory without seeing His face? When they read the Word, Christians can experience God s presence as He speaks to them. When an unbeliever receives Christ and is changed by His power, Christians witness God s presence in the world. When a Christian reaches out to someone in love, God s presence becomes visible in the world. None of these examples fully represent God s presence that we will experience in eternity, but they are snapshots of His grace and glory. APPLICATION Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives. 1 If God allowed you to see His goodness, what things do you imagine you would see and experience? 2 Moses had a special encounter with God. Reflect on a special encounter with God you have experienced and explain how it changed the way you think about God. 3 What things keep people from really getting to know God? What is keeping you from being as close to God as possible? 4 In what ways can you better know the Father this week? 9 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

17 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 13, 2014 P R A Y Close in prayer. Offer a few moments of silent prayer for group members to praise God for His glory, His goodness, and allowing us to see even a glimpse of that glory. Pray that we would be faithful to seek God s glory in our lives, and that we would pray boldly for God s greatness to be shown through our lives. REMINDERS Remind all to pray for God s presence to be made known next week during all weekend worship gatherings to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Call on group members to pray by name for those they are seeking to bring with them on Easter. Also remind all to invite friends to visit your LIFEgroup for Open House on Sunday April 27. Lead them to pray by name for those they will seek to bring with them in two weeks to experience this LIFEgroup. 10 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

18 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 13, 2014 FOLLOW UP Midway through this week, send a follow-up to your group with some or all of the following information: > Questions to consider as they continue to reflect on what they learned this week: How have you seen God s glory this week? Pray that God s presence would guide you daily. In what ways are you seeking to know the Father better this week? > A note of encouragement, following up on any specific prayer requests mentioned during your group gathering. > The challenge to memorize Exodus 33:17. > Next Sunday is Easter Sunday. We will gather only for morning worship opportunities at 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 and 12:30. LIFEgroups will resume on Sunday April When God s People Pray First Norfolk

19 COMMENTARY APRIL 13, 2014 EXODUS 33: :12. To begin his special request, Moses alluded to the words the Lord previously had spoken to him at the incident of the burning bush (3:10). God had told Moses to lead this people up, but God had not yet revealed whom He would send with Moses to assist him in the journey to Canaan. God had called Aaron to serve as Moses spokesperson before Pharaoh (4:14-16) but that was then. The challenge of leading the Israelites through the desert to Canaan was another matter entirely. God earlier told Moses that He would send an angel to go before him (33:2). Apparently Moses was expecting, in addition to the angel, a human person to be at his side. But whatever person Moses thought God had in mind now to assist him in the journey, Moses also wanted to make especially sure God s presence would be with him each step of the way to Canaan. Moses then recalled God s reassuring words that He knew Moses by name and that he had found favor in the Lord s sight. Anyone who seeks to serve the Lord likely feels inadequate for the task. The same was true of Moses. Moses needed the Lord s reassurance that he would not be alone as he fulfilled the mission God had for him. So Moses reminded himself of God s calling in his life and the availability of God s presence to fulfill the task. Notes: 33:13. Moses also wanted God to teach him His ways so he could continue to lead God s people successfully. Moses request was not for his own glory but for God s glory among His people. Moses prayer shows that he had in mind the big picture. He wanted God to bless him because the nation of Israel was His people. Those who seek God s presence for their benefit alone only do so selfishly and not for God s kingdom. 33:14. God assured Moses that His presence would go with him and that He would give His people rest. The word translated rest in the Hebrew language means quietness or absence of strife. Also, it sometimes referred to the satisfaction that came from one s table. God s presence that brought rest included both peace and provision for those who would enter the promised land. 33:15. Even after hearing God s promise, Moses responded by letting the Lord know he could not lead the people without His presence. And even though Moses had yet to encounter all the difficulties that lay ahead for him and the Israelites, he knew that leading the people was a task too great for him to do alone. Moses committed himself to walk with God rather than against Him. Leaders today who depend on God s presence can lead His people effectively. Churches that depend on God s presence serve God victoriously because His strength, wisdom, and guidance are with them. 33:16. Moses recognized that the Lord s presence was the defining mark of this nation of former slaves. The Israelites would be distinguished from every other nation on earth because of their commitment to the Lord and His presence with them. God s presence to lead and guide the 12 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

20 COMMENTARY APRIL 13, 2014 Israelites would serve as a testimony to the nations of the one true God and His mighty power. Israel s distinction among nations did not elevate them above those nations. Rather, it gave the Israelites an opportunity to testify to those nations about the one true God. Moses was not afraid to ask God to demonstrate His presence among His people. He needed the assurance of God s presence to lead him before he could lead the people. Notes: 33:17. God favorably answered Moses request. He promised that His presence would go with Moses as he led the people. He had found favor (or grace) in God s sight. The Old Testament writers referred to both Noah and Moses as those who had found favor in God s eyes. Because Moses was favored by God, he received the Lord s grace to help him lead the people from Egypt. We too need God s favor on our lives so we can continue living for and serving the Lord. God said He also knew Moses by name. God was not too busy to take notice of Moses or to become involved in his affairs. God had revealed his personal name Yahweh to Moses at the burning bush (Ex. 3:15), but God also knew Moses name. He knows yours too. God knows each of His children by name and stands ready to display His favor toward them. 33:18. Moses, confident because of God s answer to his first request (Ex. 33:13), made a second request of the Lord. He asked God to let him see His glory. This word in other passages related to God oft en indicated God s manifest presence. Moses had first prayed that God s presence would be with him, but then he prayed that God would allow him to see His visible glory. Perhaps Moses needed a greater assurance that God would keep the promise of His presence. 33:19. God once again answered Moses request in the affirmative. Moses had made two bold requests, and God answered his bold prayers. God promised that His goodness would pass in front of Moses. The goodness of God in this verse appears to be a synonym for God s presence or His glory. While passing by Moses, God also promised to proclaim the name Yahweh before him. This would reaffirm Moses call received at the burning bush. He had first learned God s name there, but he would encounter that name once again, this time in another visible manifestation of God s presence. God also said to Moses, I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. In other words, God s grace and compassion are His alone to give to whomever He wishes. Upon hearing these words, Moses and Israel (and Christians today) could only marvel and give thanks that the sovereign God had chosen them as objects for divine mercy. No doubt Moses now felt great reassurance that God, who had decided to be gracious to him, would be with him all the way to the promised land. 33:20. God placed one restriction on Moses. Moses could not see God s face because no person can see God and live. Obviously Moses could not have handled the fully manifested presence of God s glory, so God shielded Moses from seeing His essence. 13 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

21 COMMENTARY APRIL 13, : God placed Moses in the crevice of a rock when He passed by. God also covered Moses with His hand so he would not see God s face. Obviously God is not limited to a personal body like that of a human, but God manifested Himself to Moses in terms he would understand. God s hiding of Moses was yet another way Moses experienced God s grace. Notes: 33:23. When God passed by the rock, He promised to remove His hand, allowing Moses a glimpse of His back. Evidently the glory of God was so great that Moses could only see its after-effects. Probably all Christians would like to experience God s presence as Moses did, but believers today get to know God and experience His presence by spending time with Him praying, reading the Bible, and worshiping Him in church. Hopefully we know God better than we once did, but we also do not know Him as we will one day when we bow in His presence to offer praise to our great God. 14 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

22 FIRST NORFOLK 1 KINGS 18 A PRAYER OF FAITH APRIL 27, 2014 PREPARATION > Spend the week reading through and studying 1 Kings 18. Consult the commentary provided and any additional study tools (such as a concordance or Bible dictionary) to enhance your preparation. > Determine which discussion points and questions will work best with your group. > Pray for our pastors, the sermon series, the upcoming group meeting, your teaching, your group members, and their receptivity to the lesson. HIGHLIGHTS BIBLICAL EMPHASIS: On Mount Carmel, Elijah proposed a contest between the Lord God and Baal. Identical sacrifices would be prepared and the deity who would send fire to consume his sacrifice would show Israel whom to worship. The prophets of Baal tried all day to coax their god to send fire, but nothing happened. After Elijah offered a simple prayer of faith, God responded with fire. The people recognized God s reality and power and put to death the prophets of Baal. TEACHING AIM: God values and answers the prayer of faith. 15 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

23 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 27, 2014 INTRODUCTION As your group time begins, use this section to help get the conversation going. 1 Did you or anyone in your family convert to Christianity from another religion? Describe that experience and who influenced you. If not, how did you first encounter Christ? 2 Other than Christianity, what religions or spiritual belief systems are prevalent in Norfolk? In the United States? 3 What situations make people seek spiritual answers in life? What does that reveal about humanity? The focus of today s study is on a particular moment in the prophet Elijah s ministry. His prophetic role constantly placed Elijah in opposition to the majority of the people of his nation. Their toleration of polytheism the worship of many gods was the ongoing reason for Elijah s prophetic denunciations. The people of Israel needed to be reminded of the need for faith that their God was the one true God. UNDERSTANDING Unpack the biblical text to discover what Scripture says or means about a particular topic. Elijah was a resident of Tishbe in Gilead when he received a revelation from the Lord (17:2). He became active as the Lord s prophet in confronting Ahab, the king of Israel. King Ahab was sympathetic to Baal worship in part because his wife, Jezebel, was a devoted follower of Baal. In such an environment, the people increasingly mixed Baal worship with their worship of the Lord and the Lord s prophets went into hiding in fear of their lives (see 18:13). In an act of bold faith, Elijah determined to challenge the king and people to decide once and for all whom they would serve either the Lord or Baal. 16 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

24 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 27, 2014 > Have a volunteer read 1 Kings 18: Ahab did exactly what Elijah asked. He sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Perhaps Ahab hoped some might take out their anger against the Lord for the drought on Elijah, killing him and eliminating Ahab s enemy. More likely, since Elijah s prophecy concerning the drought had come true, Ahab feared not doing what Elijah asked. What was the need for prophets such as Elijah who were called by God to confront the king? What was Elijah s charge against the people? Why did the people need to decide whether the Lord or Baal was God? Why don t the people say anything in response to Elijah (v. 21)? What attitudes could account for their silence? Addressing the Israelites, Elijah accused them of indecisiveness. Rather than choosing to serve God or Baal, they wavered between the two. The presence of Ahab and the prophets of Baal might have frightened others into silence. Whatever the reason, when challenged to choose, the people refused. Hesitating between two opinions is often a convenient way of delaying our submission to God. In what ways might our hesitation to give God our worship alert us to hidden idolatries in our life? 17 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

25 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 27, 2014 Read aloud Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13. Have you ever tried to serve two masters? What was it like? What does serving a master other than God feel like? How does it affect your faith? What are some ways we attempt to serve God and other things? Every person faces a challenge similar to the one Elijah presented on that day. Will we choose God to be Lord of our lives or will we be content to rely on our own abilities and resources? When we accept Christ as Savior, we still face daily choices of whether to seek and follow the Lord s guidance and to rely on His strength. > Have a volunteer read 1 Kings 18: Elijah proposed a contest between Baal and God. Neither the prophets of Baal nor Elijah, however, would set fire to the sacrifice. The deity who heard the prayer of his people and responded by sending fire to consume the sacrifice would demonstrate his power and win the contest. What do you learn about Elijah from these verses? What message was God sending to the people that day on Mount Carmel? Before the Lord sent rain on the parched land, He wanted to demonstrate that He, not Baal, controlled the weather and sustained His people. Had the rain come without such a contest, Ahab, Jezebel, and many others would have claimed Baal finally had responded to their prayers and ended the drought the Lord had sent. For them, Baal would have proved to be the ultimate power. All Israel needed to understand Baal was not a real god and thus had no power. 18 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

26 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 27, 2014 What are some examples of situations that may require you to stand for the Lord against opposition? What prepares you to take a courageous stand? What promises are given to the believer? We need the same kind of faith Elijah demonstrated to stand for God when facing opposition. Elijah invited the many prophets of Baal to go first. He gave them their choice of the bulls, allowing them to select the one they believed Baal would accept. He instructed them to prepare the bull and call on Baal, but not to light the fire. Having chosen and prepared their bull, the prophets of Baal began to call on Baal to send fire and consume the sacrifice. They prayed from morning till noon but received no response. At noon Elijah taunted the prophets of Baal and their god. Elijah s words sound harsh, but he intended to use every available weapon to prove Baal did not exist and could not help his followers. Name some of the powerless gods people worship today. These gods tempt us to depend on something other than God. Where do these idols leave us in times of crisis? > Have a volunteer read 1 Kings 18: Following the failure of Baal to respond, Elijah invited the people to come near him. He repaired an altar to the Lord that once had stood on Mount Carmel but had fallen into ruins. When Elijah completed his preparations, he offered a simple, sincere prayer. What is significant to you about Elijah s prayer? Why was Elijah asking God for a miracle? In your opinion, does God still do miracles today? Explain. 19 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

27 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 27, 2014 How important was Elijah s faith in asking God to act against Baal? Elijah did not seek personal fame or justification. He wanted Israel to know the Lord still participated actively in their daily lives by providing guidance through His prophets. Elijah finally asked God to answer his prayer so the Israelites would know that the Lord is God. The people had been content to waver between commitment to Baal and the Lord God. Elijah wanted the Lord to demonstrate His power so the people would clearly see, turn from their sin, and follow the Lord. In what ways does the God-glorifying purpose of Elijah s prayer life influence the way we pray for God to work? Are you willing to entrust your reputation to God if it will bring Him greater glory? What are some examples of negative motives believers might have in asking for a miracle today, in contrast to Elijah s motive? Elijah shared God s concern for the people of Israel. Their disobedience grieved the Lord, and the purpose of the drought and the contest was to turn the people s hearts back to the Lord. God and His servants take no pleasure in the suffering and punishment of others. God answered Elijah dramatically. God sent fire from the sky that consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stone altar, the dirt, and the water filling the trench. The bull offered to Baal still lay atop the wood, undoubtedly with flies swarming around the carcass. Nothing remained of the offering for God. He had claimed it totally demonstrating the power God and the power of prayers of faith. Look again at verse 39. What stands out to you about the people s response to Elijah s miracle? What do they affirm about God? What had changed between this verse and verse 21? 20 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

28 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 27, 2014 Think back on your spiritual journey. What is one moment that stands out to you when you proclaimed with confidence, The Lord, He is God? While God s dramatic response to Elijah s prayer may seem the climax of the contest, the actual climax occurred when the people responded by recognizing God s sovereignty. Seeing the fire and its effects, the people ceased their wavering. They fell prostrate in God s presence and confessed, The Lord, He is God. APPLICATION Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives. 1 In this story, God clearly showed Himself as the Higher Power. What is your biggest struggle in submitting yourself fully to God in faith? What are some ways we can keep our hearts from drifting toward other gods? 2 This text reminds us that there is no middle ground in our relationship with God. We are either living for Him in faith, or we are not. What stuff in your life tends to pull your attention away from God most easily? How can you counteract that tendency? 3 What convinces you that God is more powerful than anything else? How does your prayer life reflect this belief? 4 Where do you need strength right now to trust God in faith? How can our group help? 21 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

29 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 27, 2014 P R A Y Invite the people in your group to express prayer concerns. Pray for the concerns mentioned. Ask that God will grant wisdom and strength to trust Him against overwhelming odds. Pray for Christians who face strong opposition and threats because of their faith in God. Pray that ours would be true prayers of faith. 22 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

30 TEACHING PLAN APRIL 27, 2014 FOLLOW UP Midway through this week, send a follow-up to your group with some or all of the following information: > Questions to consider as they continue to reflect on what they learned this week: Can you rely on God to do what He promised? In what ways you feel weak in your faith? How can our group be praying for you this week? > A note of encouragement, following up on any specific prayer requests mentioned during your group gathering. > The challenge to memorize 1 Kings 18: > The text for next week s study, so group members can read it in anticipation of next weekend: 2 Samuel 11-12; Psalm When God s People Pray First Norfolk

31 COMMENTARY APRIL 27, KINGS 18 In an effort to call the people of Israel back to the Lord, Elijah boldly challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest on Mount Carmel. After vanquishing the prophets of Baal, Elijah learned that Queen Jezebel had put a price on his head. The prophet fled south to the wilderness, where the Lord encouraged and instructed him concerning his ministry. Notes: 18: When the two men meet, Ahab calls Elijah the troubler of Israel, blaming the drought on him, but he does not attempt immediately to have him killed. Elijah returns the accusation, stating fearlessly that Ahab s family s commitment to Baal has forced Yahweh to withhold rain, thus proving the Lord s power over the storm god. Now Elijah suggests a contest to determine who benefits Israel and who troubles the land. The site will be Mount Carmel, a place that may have long held significance for both worshipers of Yahweh and adherents of Baalism. What better place to decide who is God, what prophets tell the truth, and what leaders benefit or harm the people? 18: Ahab apparently is satisfied with the odds and expects this to be an excellent way to rid himself of this troublesome prophet and separatistic Yahwism at the same time. So Ahab obliges Elijah by sending for the people and the prophets. They wait to see who will win and who can help them the most. Will it be Baal or Yahweh? The prophet challenges the people to stop limping between two opinions to decide who is God and then act on that decision. The people are noncommittal at best. They limp along without conviction, wanting to follow halfheartedly one god and then the other. 18: Only Elijah and, ironically, the prophets of Baal have any conviction. Both Elijah and his counterparts believe their god to be the solution to Israel s problems. Elijah is supremely confident that there is no god but Yahweh. His experiences in Phoenicia have confirmed to him this truth. Despite what some scholars argue, Elijah does not accept the existence of many gods, thinking only that Yahweh is the strongest. Elijah wants to eliminate Baal from consideration whenever Israel decides theological matters. To achieve this goal Elijah suggests a contest. He says that a sacrifice should be offered and that the real God must come take it by fire. The people like this contest, and the text does not indicate the Baalists object at all. Again, at least the prophets of Baal do not lack conviction. As storm god Baal was thought to be responsible for lightning as well as rain, it ought to have been an easy contest. 18: Baal s prophets attempt to rouse him from the dead. They shout, but no one responds. Next, they dance or limp around the altar, again trying to get the god s attention. This ritual dance also gets no response. At noon Elijah begins to taunt them, suggesting Baal is preoccupied in some manner. Desperate now, their authority at stake, the Baalists cut themselves and practice frenzied prophesying, not unlike self-hypnosis. 24 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

32 COMMENTARY APRIL 27, 2014 Though they try for hours, the text says as explicitly as it can that their god is unable to answer because he is not real. 18: Very dramatically, Elijah rebuilds the altar now damaged by the frantic Baalistic rites. He then soaks it with water to remove any doubt about the miracle that will soon occur. When he prays for the fire to fall, he asks the Lord to remind the people that he is the covenant God of Israel. Without Yahweh there would be no Israel. Elijah also prays that he will be vindicated as the prophet of the covenant God. Finally, he asks that the people know Yahweh is God and that they have the opportunity to repent at once. This prayer incorporates concern, then, for God s reputation, the validity of the prophet s work, and for the people s well-being. Fire falls without delay. It consumes the altar and the sacrifice. In the immediacy of the moment, with fear in their hearts, the people confess, The Lord is God! They see no validity in any of Baal s claims at this point and have become, temporarily at least, strict Yahwistic monotheists. Thus, Elijah has taken the first step in showing the people who is God. Notes: Word Study: Know (1 Kings 18:37) When Elijah prayed to God, he expressed his desire that God s response to his prayer would cause the people of Israel to know God. We often use know to indicate an awareness of facts about a subject or someone. Elijah used know to indicate a relationship. According to the Bible, the greatest knowledge we can pursue is knowledge of God (Prov. 9:10). God desires us to know Him personally (Jer. 31:34); marriage illustrates the depth of that knowledge and relationship (Hos. 2:19-20). God knows us by our actions (1 Sam. 2:3) and our hearts (Acts 15:8). The Lord helps His people know Him by acting on their behalf (Ex. 6:7; 16:12). Through His involvement in our lives, we come to know His nature and trust ourselves to Him. 25 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

33 FIRST NORFOLK 2 SAMUEL 11-12; PSALM 51 A PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS MAY 4, 2014 PREPARATION > Spend the week reading through and studying 2 Samuel and Psalm 51. Consult the commentary provided and any additional study tools (such as a concordance or Bible dictionary) to enhance your preparation. > Determine which discussion points and questions will work best with your group. > Pray for our pastors, the sermon series, the upcoming group meeting, your teaching, your group members, and their receptivity to the lesson. HIGHLIGHTS BIBLICAL EMPHASIS: In 2 Samuel 11 and 12, David sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband killed in battle in an attempt to cover up his adultery. After having his sin revealed to him, David repented and soon thereafter wrote Psalm 51 to express his desire for restoration. TEACHING AIM: God is eager to receive the prayers of the humble. 26 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

34 TEACHING PLAN MAY 04, 2014 INTRODUCTION As your group time begins, use this section to help get the conversation going. 1 How would you define sin? What is the difference between being tempted and sinning? 2 When we sin, who are some of the people who are likely to be hurt? Why do we still sometimes choose to sin, knowing the pain inflicted on others? 3 Come up with a general list of consequences from sinning. How do these consequences differ from the life God wants us to live in Him? Sin is real, and it s something we face countless times every day. But as demonstrated in David s life, God s forgiveness and grace has the power to break our patterns of sin and restore us to a right relationship with Him. UNDERSTANDING Unpack the biblical text to discover what Scripture says or means about a particular topic. > Have a volunteer read 2 Samuel 11:1-13. At the start of spring, David sent Joab and his troops to fight the Ammonites while he remained behind in Jerusalem. What three issues tempted David in verses 1-13? How could he have acted in the face of each temptation? 27 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

35 TEACHING PLAN MAY 04, 2014 Why does God allow us to be tempted? What power do we have to resist temptation? Read 1 Corinthians 10:13 for insight. David was tempted by: 1) a beautiful woman, 2) the desire to keep their encounter secret, and 3) fear of retaliation from Uriah. We, like David, face many temptations, yet we always have the choice to give in to the temptation or resist it. The Bible doesn t go into detail about Bathsheba s role in the affair, but the word choice in the story indicates she was bathing for a ritual cleansing. Rather than flaunting her beauty, as is often assumed, she was actually preparing for worship. What does that show about David s actions? Who was affected by David s sin, both directly and indirectly? Read 2 Samuel 23:8,39. Who was Uriah the Hittite? Describe David s first cover-up attempt (vv. 6-13). Why didn t it work? Who was affected by David s plot to make Uriah appear to be the father of Bathsheba s child? David tried to cover his sin, making it worse. He hatched a plan to have Uriah come home from war, sleep with his wife, and think that he was the father of David s child (11:6-13). David s plan would have worked except for one thing Uriah was so loyal to his job as a soldier in David s army that he would not sleep with his wife when he returned because it would have been unfair to the other soldiers in the field. 28 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

36 TEACHING PLAN MAY 04, 2014 > Have a volunteer read 2 Samuel 11: Describe David s second cover-up attempt (vv ). What were the results? This time David wrote Uriah s death warrant, commanding Joab to put Uriah on the front line of battle. Uriah was killed, and David married Bathsheba (11:14-27). Temptation again hit him without his refusing it. He murdered one of his better soldiers to cover his own sin. Read 2 Samuel 11:25-27 again. What does David s response to Uriah s death reveal about his spiritual state at that time? How did God feel about what David had done? Why is our sin always ultimately against God? Psalm 41:4, a psalm of David, encourages us to realize God s knowledge of our sin. Temptation can be deceptive, and even the most committed Christians are vulnerable to the progression of sin as they yield to temptation. But God is proactive in convicting us of our sin and bringing us back to Himself. This process often involves the intervention of a fellow brother or sister in Christ, which was the task God gave the prophet Nathan in David s situation. > Have a volunteer read 2 Samuel 12:1-15. To confront his sin, the Lord sent Nathan the prophet. Nathan told David a parable of two men who had livestock. One man was rich and had plenty of sheep and cattle. The second man had only one small ewe lamb, a family pet that drank from his cup and slept in his arms (v. 3). When a traveler visited the rich man, the rich man killed the poor man s one lamb and served it to his guest. 29 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

37 TEACHING PLAN MAY 04, 2014 Why do you think Nathan used a parable to confront David? What was the meaning of the parable? How did David react to it (vv. 5-6)? Refer to the commentary to fill in the details. How would you have felt in Nathan s position, bearing the responsibility of confronting the king? Have you ever had a similar responsibility in someone s life? How do you think David felt when he suddenly was accused of sin by Nathan (vv. 7-12)? How do you feel when you your sin is exposed? The parable was intended to evoke David s reaction and move him toward confession and forgiveness. According to verses 5-6 and 13, it worked. David confessed his sin to God and was moved to repentance after Nathan brought him face to face with his sins and their consequences. What is repentance and how does it affect our relationship to God? According to verses 10-14, what would be the consequences for David s sins? Did David s repentance have any affect on his sin s consequences? God s leader had committed a very public sin, a fact that contributed to God s verdict: the son born to you will die, the first of many disasters the royal family would face. God wouldn t allow this child a reminder of David s adultery and murder to live. We too need to confess our sins to the Lord. By doing so we become more sensitive to the ways we rebel against Him and hurt others and ourselves. We also experience in a far greater way His mercy and cleansing power. Once we have confessed and experienced forgiveness, we then need to recommit ourselves to faithful obedience. 30 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

38 TEACHING PLAN MAY 04, 2014 David recorded his repentance in Psalm 51, expressing his desire to be restored to the Lord. > Have a volunteer read Psalm 51. What does a repentant person long for? In the Psalm, did David try to hide any of his sin from God? Do repentant people hide their sins from God? In what ways did David s prayer illustrate humility? David felt the weight of his sin and did the only thing possible: He appealed to God to show His mercy and love, and to forgive him. David was a king and did not have to beg anyone for anything until he realized the gravity of his sin. David longed to be right with God again and did not hide his sins any longer. Hiding sins seems illogical from the outside because God knows everything, but we still try to pretend that we are not sinners even when we talk with God. Was David s repentance about his actions or his heart? What is the difference? Why is it important for restoration to start with the heart and not to start by changing actions? In verse 13, how did restoration change the way that David saw other people? David s repentance started with his heart and his inward being. Merely correcting actions is legalism and does not solve the problem. 31 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

39 TEACHING PLAN MAY 04, 2014 The only way to deal with sin is through the transformation of the heart. In the end, David no longer saw people as a way to get what he wanted. Instead he longed to share God s ways with others. APPLICATION Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives. 1 How does David s story remind us of the importance of confession and forgiveness? 2 How should we treat others as a result of the freedom and forgiveness God has shared with us? 3 We all need someone like Nathan in our lives, who cares enough to speak truthfully with us. Who has acted as a Nathan in your life? Who has God called you to be a Nathan for? 4 What needs to change for us to demonstrate true humility in our prayer life? What makes this so difficult for us? 5 How can our group be a place where we can confess sin to one another and remind one another of God s repentance? What steps do we need to take in order to be a confessing group? 32 When God s People Pray First Norfolk

40 TEACHING PLAN MAY 04, 2014 P R A Y Close with prayer, inviting God to help your group members recognize His willingness to forgive and their need to ask His forgiveness. Thank God that He does not hold sins against us but that He is faithful and just to forgive. Pray that the group would be known for their confession and repentance and that as a church, First Norfolk would honor God by the content of their hearts. FOLLOW UP Midway through this week, send a follow-up to your group with some or all of the following information: > Questions to consider as they continue to reflect on what they learned this week: Is your story similar to David s in any way? As you read these biblical truths, what specific sins are you aware of in your life now? How have you found freedom in forgiveness? How can you seek to be a better example for other Christians and unbelievers? > A note of encouragement, following up on any specific prayer requests mentioned during your group gathering. > The challenge to memorize Psalm 51:1-2. > The text for next week s study, so group members can read it in anticipation of next weekend: Luke 18: When God s People Pray First Norfolk

41 COMMENTARY MAY 04, SAMUEL :1. David earlier had defeated the Ammonites (2 Sam. 10:6-14), but had not eliminated the threat they posed. Under Joab, David sent the king s men (and the whole Israelite army to crush the Ammonites. The Israelites quickly defeated the Ammonites in battle and besieged Rabbah, their capital city. Some Bible students suggest David no longer wished to go into battle, preferring the luxurious life of the royal court. More likely, Joab and his troops insisted David remain in Jerusalem. Notes: 11:2-3. The roof of the palace was probably on the highest ground, providing the king a commanding view of Jerusalem. He saw a woman bathing ( washing ); the text does not suggest she did so intentionally to lure David into an encounter. David discovered the woman s identity she was Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam (one of David s elite warriors; 23:34) and the wife of Uriah the Hittite (another of David s elite soldiers; 23:39). At any rate, her married status rendered her off-limits to the king. 11:4. David... slept with her meaning he had intercourse with her. The narrative is silent about Bathsheba s feelings about coming to the palace and submitting to the king s wishes. Apparently the intent of the biblical writer was to place ultimate blame where it belonged with Israel s king. 11:5-8. The news of Bathsheba s pregnancy presented special problems for the king because her husband Uriah had been away fighting the Ammonites and thus could not be the father of the child. David sent orders to Joab without revealing the reason he was summoning Uriah. The words of the king to Uriah, wash your feet, suggested a time of gentle relaxing at Uriah s house, where Bathsheba might arrange an evening with her husband to make it appear that he was the baby s father. 11:14. When David s plan failed, he devised a new strategy. Uriah s actions made a cover-up impossible, so the king decided to eliminate Uriah. David wrote a letter to Joab to send with Uriah. Uriah probably assumed the letter bore instructions about the siege. A loyal soldier of his general and king, he did not break the seal of the letter to read it. Uriah s obedience to his king contrasted sharply with David s disobedience to the King of kings. 11: David s initial sin drew him into a series of more desperate actions. He devised a plan to make Uriah s death look like a terrible tragedy of war. David s letter instructed Joab to place Uriah in the front line where the fighting would be fiercest and then withdraw from him so he would be struck down and die. Joab had to attack the strongly fortified city and ensure Uriah s death while seeking to minimize his losses. Uriah never knew or suspected he carried his own death sentence. Uriah became a casualty of war. 11:26. The text s description of Bathsheba only as Uriah s wife is probably intentional to accent David s sin. She mourned for Uriah, probably putting 34 When God s People Pray First Norfolk