Be Humble: Prayer Lessons from Jesus

 

Study Guide for Week of October 16, 2022 

This Week's Scripture: Luke 18:9-14 and Matthew 6:1-7

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 (Optional): Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: Yes and Amen  (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)

D. Video Message                                                                   

       

E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website        

F. Review:

1. How did you do with what you want 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 your best definition of humility? On a scale of 1-10 how Humble are you? 1 being not at all and 10 being very humble

H. Background Information for this study: 

In Luke chapter 11 verse 1 the disciples came to Jesus and asked jesus to teach them how to pray. There was something different about the way Jesus prayed. His followers had seen many people pray and most likely they themselves prayed but no one prayed like Jesus. People were healed and people were delivered from evil when Jesus prayed. They wanted to pray just like that also.

Throughout Jesus ministry He teaches His followers how to pray both by example and by instructing them. Jesus used stories to make a point. In this study Luke 18:9-14 is a story of two men and how they prayed. In Matthew 6:1-7 Jesus teaches the same point as the story He tells in Luke.

Notice that there are two men. Both came to the temple and both prayed. Note also that Jesus only accepted the prayer of the tax collector. What were the characteristics of each? How can you apply what you discover in practical ways in your life?

 

First Section: Luke 18:9-12. This is the first man the Pharesee. A Pharasee was a religious person who did everything they could to live to please God. In general the people looked up to them as very spiritual people.

Second Section: Luke 18:13-15 This is the tax collector. He was seen as a terrible person by the people since he cheated people and stole money from them. he cooperated with the Romans.

Section Three: Matthew 6:1-7 This is Jesus teaching on the importance of humility in prayer and the danger of pride. How can you apply this to your life?

In this study be sure to make a practical application to each section. Make application to your life including what you will do to tell other people the message.

J. Word: Read the scriptures above by section. 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.