Heaven: Revelation 5:8-14

 

Heaven: Revelation 5:8-14

We want to become a praying church. A people who allows prayer to be the power of what we do together, who pray Scripture-fed and Spirit-led prayers, who seek intimacy with God that leads to fulfillment of his purposes in us, through us, and around us. We want to seek his face, cultivate his presence, and position ourselves to meet with him. To that end, we’re looking at biblical prayers from all across the Storyline of Scripture. Each week we’ll look at the context (understand where we are in the story and how that shapes the pray-er and his/her prayer), the content (what is emphasized, requested, described, etc.) of the prayer, and the connections (how we can or should use each prayer as a model for our own engagement with God). We’ll practice praying together each week, using the prayer as a model. This week we look at prayer in Revelation.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Revelation 5:8-14

  1. Read Revelation 4 and 5.

  2. What gets in the way of your "Amen"? How do you become distracted from worshiping God?

  3. What about this scene in heaven excites you? How do these prayers speak to your longing for restoration?

  4. What about God is truly lovely to you? What has Jesus accomplished for you? What makes him worthy to you?

 

Sept 3, 2023 - Gabe Shippam

 

Church: Acts 4:23-31

 

Church: Acts 4:23-31

We want to become a praying church. A people who allows prayer to be the power of what we do together, who pray Scripture-fed and Spirit-led prayers, who seek intimacy with God that leads to fulfillment of his purposes in us, through us, and around us. We want to seek his face, cultivate his presence, and position ourselves to meet with him. To that end, we’re looking at biblical prayers from all across the Storyline of Scripture. Each week we’ll look at the context (understand where we are in the story and how that shapes the pray-er and his/her prayer), the content (what is emphasized, requested, described, etc.) of the prayer, and the connections (how we can or should use each prayer as a model for our own engagement with God). We’ll practice praying together each week, using the prayer as a model. This week we look at a prayer for the Church in Acts.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Acts 4:23-31

  1. As the Church and as a community, why is it so important to engage God as, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them […]” when we pray?

  2. What is your first response to opposition and trials in your life? Is your response evidence that your hope is in Jesus and his finished work, or that your hope is in something else?

  3. What would mark your life if Jesus is sovereignly on the throne in the midst of trouble? How would others experience you during those times?

  4. As a community this week, make your needs known to one another, and then together spend time praying for boldness to speak the God’s word, for God to stretch out his hand and heal, for signs and wonders to be performed in Jesus’s name, and for the Holy Spirit to refresh and fill you as a people. 

 

August 27, 2023 - Matt Beumer

 

Nehemiah: Nehemiah 1:4-11

 

Nehemiah: Nehemiah 1:4-11

We want to become a praying church. A people who allows prayer to be the power of what we do together, who pray Scripture-fed and Spirit-led prayers, who seek intimacy with God that leads to fulfillment of his purposes in us, through us, and around us. We want to seek his face, cultivate his presence, and position ourselves to meet with him. To that end, we’re looking at biblical prayers from all across the Storyline of Scripture. Each week we’ll look at the context (understand where we are in the story and how that shapes the pray-er and his/her prayer), the content (what is emphasized, requested, described, etc.) of the prayer, and the connections (how we can or should use each prayer as a model for our own engagement with God). We’ll practice praying together each week, using the prayer as a model. This week we look at Nehemiah’s prayer.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Nehemiah 1:4-11

  1. What makes your heart break?

  2. Where are you uniquely positioned?

  3. What do you hesitate to hope for?

 

August 20, 2023 - Gabe Shippam

 

Daniel: Daniel 9:1-19

 

Daniel: Daniel 9:1-19

We want to become a praying church. A people who allows prayer to be the power of what we do together, who pray Scripture-fed and Spirit-led prayers, who seek intimacy with God that leads to fulfillment of his purposes in us, through us, and around us. We want to seek his face, cultivate his presence, and position ourselves to meet with him. To that end, we’re looking at biblical prayers from all across the Storyline of Scripture. Each week we’ll look at the context (understand where we are in the story and how that shapes the pray-er and his/her prayer), the content (what is emphasized, requested, described, etc.) of the prayer, and the connections (how we can or should use each prayer as a model for our own engagement with God). We’ll practice praying together each week, using the prayer as a model. This week we look at Daniel's prayer of confession in Daniel 9 which teaches us to seek God with our whole heart, with our Bible open, in humble confession, according to God's promises.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Daniel 9:1-19

  1. Read Daniel 9. What prompts Daniel's prayer (v.1-2)? Check out the backstory in Jeremiah 29.

  2. The first part of Daniel's prayer (v.3-15) is all confession. What do you notice about his prayer? What are the main themes?

  3. In v.16-19, Daniel "pleads God's promises," asking God to do what God has promised to do. What do you notice? What is he asking?

  4. What collective sin do we need to confess? What Biblical promises can we plead before God? Do it together!

 

August 13, 2023 - Steve Hart

 

Habakkuk: Habakkuk 3

 

Habakkuk: Habakkuk 3

We want to become a praying church. A people who allows prayer to be the power of what we do together, who pray Scripture-fed and Spirit-led prayers, who seek intimacy with God that leads to fulfillment of his purposes in us, through us, and around us. We want to seek his face, cultivate his presence, and position ourselves to meet with him. To that end, we’re looking at biblical prayers from all across the Storyline of Scripture. Each week we’ll look at the context (understand where we are in the story and how that shapes the pray-er and his/her prayer), the content (what is emphasized, requested, described, etc.) of the prayer, and the connections (how we can or should use each prayer as a model for our own engagement with God). We’ll practice praying together each week, using the prayer as a model. This week we look at Habakkuk's song of prayer from Habakkuk 3, teaching us to contend for joy in the Lord in the midst of suffering.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Habakkuk 3

  1. How does Habakkuk model bringing our full lament to God?

  2. In what way does Habakkuk’s prayer teach us to trust in God’s sovereignty and faithfulness?

  3. In your life, there will be times when Babylon is coming, and you cannot change the circumstances. According to Habakkuk, what does it look like to pray for strength to rejoice in the Lord in the midst of suffering?

 

August 6, 2023 - Joel Adams

 

Solomon: 1 Kings 3:1-15

 

Solomon: 1 Kings 3:1-15

We want to become a praying church. A people who allows prayer to be the power of what we do together, who pray Scripture-fed and Spirit-led prayers, who seek intimacy with God that leads to fulfillment of his purposes in us, through us, and around us. We want to seek his face, cultivate his presence, and position ourselves to meet with him. To that end, we’re looking at biblical prayers from all across the Storyline of Scripture. Each week we’ll look at the context (understand where we are in the story and how that shapes the pray-er and his/her prayer), the content (what is emphasized, requested, described, etc.) of the prayer, and the connections (how we can or should use each prayer as a model for our own engagement with God). We’ll practice praying together each week, using the prayer as a model. This week we’ll look at Solomon's prayer from 1 Kings 3:1-15.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read 1 Kings 3:1-15

  1. If God were to come to you like he did to Solomon, and say to you "Ask what I shall give you" - how would you respond? What is the thing that's most important to you in the world?

  2. How do you think Jesus would respond to you voicing your deepest desire? How do your prayers reveal what you believe about the generosity of God?

  3. What aspect of Solomon's prayer can you imitate and use in your own prayer life?

 

July 30, 2023 - Jon Schuler

 

Hannah: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

 

Hannah: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

We want to become a praying church. A people who allow prayer to be the power of what we do together, who pray Scripture-fed and Spirit-led prayers, who seek intimacy with God that leads to fulfillment of his purposes in us, through us, and around us. We want to seek his face, cultivate his presence, and position ourselves to meet with him. To that end, we’re looking at biblical prayers from all across the Storyline of Scripture. Each week we’ll look at the context (understand where we are in the story and how that shapes the pray-er and his/her prayer), the content (what is emphasized, requested, described, etc) of the prayer, and the connections (how we can or should use each prayer as a model for our own engagement with God). We’ll practice praying together each week, using the prayer as a model. This week we’ll look at Hannah’s prayer from 1 Samuel 2:1-10.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read 1 Samuel 2:1-10

  1. How does Hannah not disregard or hide her suffering, but engage God in the midst of it?

  2. Hannah completely surrenders her son to the Lord. Discuss what needs to be completely surrendered to God in your life for his glory and good purposes?

  3. What prevents you from brining your full self to God? What griefs do you need to pray to the Lord?

  4. What does Hannah’s hymn teach us about the limits of human sufficiency and the sovereignty of the Lord?

 

July 23, 2023 - Steve Hart

 

Paul: Ephesians 3:14-21

 

Paul: Ephesians 3:14-21

One of our priorities over the last few years has been to move from being “a church that prays” to being “a praying church.” We want prayer — turning to God in praise, dependence, confession, and supplication — to be the power of what we do together. We want to pray Scripture-fed and Spirit-led prayers, seeking intimacy with God that leads to fulfillment of his purposes in us, through us, and around us. We want to seek his face, cultivate his presence, and position ourselves to meet with him. “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” To that end, we’re taking 8 Sundays this Summer (July 16 - September 2) and looking at biblical prayers from all across the Storyline of Scripture. Each week we’ll look at the context (understand where we are in the story and how that shapes the pray-er and his/her prayer), the content (what is emphasized, requested, described, etc) of the prayer, and the connections (how we can or should use each prayer as a model for our own engagement with God). We’ll practice praying together each week, using the prayer as a model. This week we’ll look at Paul’s prayer for the church from Ephesians 3:14-21.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Ephesians 3:14-21

  1. What is your typical posture (of heart and physically) when you come to prayer? What does this reveal, if anything, about your heart?

  2. How do your prayers show you what you believe about the love and power of God? What room for growth is there when you think about living in the fullness of the love of God?

  3. What is your plan to engage in prayer this summer?

 

July 16, 2023 - Gabe Shippam

 

 

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