Knocking on Heaven’s Door: No One’s Answering
Luke 18:1-8
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Discuss how resolutions made last week in “growing more like Jesus” worked themselves out— what did God do in and through you (Phil 2:13)? Celebrate those together!
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Read:
Review: Remind the group of the focus of this series:
o This series takes us deeper into our walk with God through focusing on prayer— not only talking to God, but listening!
o This week’s message dealt with “unanswered prayer”, going over the scriptural teachings on this.
Read the passage together: Luke 18:1-8
Reflect:
Pastor Scott opened with the stat that the single biggest reason people don’t pray is “un answered prayer”. Talk about that for a few minutes.
The passage we just read in Luke 18 talks about the need for persistence in prayer. Discuss the following questions:
o God is not unjust— the very notion of justice stems from His Nature! What was Jesus trying to teach us by using this example?
o Persistence in prayer keeps our attention focused on God as life happens; Talk about a time where you prayed “long and hard” about something. What did God reveal to you about Himself?
Read Ps 66:18-19 and 1 Peter 3:7. Discuss this passage.
o What is the difference between struggling with sin (like everyone does) and “cherishing sin in [our] hearts”?
o Our culture has a view that private sin is normal— hey “No one’s perfect, I’m only human!” How does this view of sin allow a foothold that interferes with our prayers?
Read Daniel 10:12-13. Discuss this passage
o How can the Devil and his demons get in the way of God Almighty and His angels in answer to a prayer offered in faith?
o If Spiritual warfare is real, how does that affect the way we live as believers? (Eph 5:15-20, 6:11-17)
Read 2 Cor 12:7-9. Discuss the passage
o How is God’s grace more evident to us and through us when God’s answer to our prayer is “No” or “Not yet”?
o What do you think it means that God’s power is “made perfect” in weakness?
Respond:
o Pastor Scott ended the message this week with the statement that an unanswered prayer is at the heart of the Gospel (when Jesus prayed that the Father would take the cup of suffering from Him in Gethsemane).
Spend some time in prayer together thanking God for the incredible love of God, and committing ourselves and each other to His purposes in us… and through us!
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