Pray In The Spirit

 

Study Guide for Week of January 23, 2021 

This Week's Scripture:  Ephesians 6:18-23 and Luke 11:1-13

Crossroads Community Group Guide

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud the purpose of your group.

B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: As The Deer  (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)

D. Ten Minute Message Recap                                                                  

       

E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website        

F. Review:

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):

• What is one experience you have had with prayer that has impacted your life?

H. Background Information for this study: 

This study looks at the importance of prayer in our everyday lives. Notice the importance that Paul the writer of Ephesians puts on prayer in Ephesians 6:18-23. Notice jesus' teaching about how to pray in Luke 11;1-13. Make this very practicle to your everyday life. 

We look at 3 Understandings about prayer  

1. Prayer is a conversation with God through the Holy Spirit. - Ephesians 6:18 

2. Prayer is horizontal, not just vertical. – Ephesians 6:19a and 21-22 

3. Prayer has an underlying purpose. – Ephesians 6:19 -20

I. Verse Outline: Key Points to Discuss

1. Understanding 1: Prayer is a conversation with God through the Holy Spirit. - Ephesians 6:18 

• Key Concept: To be a follower of Jesus without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. – Martin Luther  

• Key Verse:  Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   

• Community Group Application: In community groups we learn and develop the basics of prayer. We continue to grow when we participate in times of prayer with others at church.  

 

Prayer is a conversation with God through the Holy Spirit.

2. Understanding 2:  Prayer is horizontal, not just vertical. – Ephesians 6:18c, 19a and 21-22 and Luke 11:1-4

• Key Concept: The most important thing we can do for others and they can do for us is to pray.  

• Key Verse: Luke 11:2-4 - He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”

• Community Group Application: We learn to pray by praying together in a community group for each other and for others to come to know Jesus. 

 

3. Understanding 3:  Prayer has an underlying purpose. – Ephesians 6:19 -20 and Luke 11:5-13

• Key Concept: Preaching is important but prayer is the key in building Jesus’ kingdom. – Jim Cymbala  

• Key Verse: 1 John 5:11-12 - And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 

• Community Group Application: Every follower of Jesus has a purpose - to reach others; every community group has a purpose - to multiply new groups; every church has a purpose - to expand Jesus' Kingdom.

 

J. Word: Read the scriptures above. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words; keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses.)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.

3. What are the details?

4. What jumps out at you and catches your attention?

5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for more than 30% of the time; let the group discover what God is saying to them.)

1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application

(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.) 

1. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

M. Prayer Time:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

1. Pray for your group to multiply.
2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group.

N. For Next time: Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.