THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. This week, we’re kicking off a seven-week series called Powerful Prayers. We’ll look at some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible—from the Lord’s Prayer to Daniel’s cry in crisis—and discover what happens when ordinary people bring their real lives to God. To coincide with this exciting series, we have created a companion, 50 DAYS OF PRAYER. Over the next seven weeks, every devotion sent to your inbox via Beyond the Weekend will include a prayer prompt for us to pray together as a church (with a bonus prayer on Saturday and Sunday!). Register for Beyond the Weekend so you can follow alongside your church HERE.
GROUP VALUES. Coinciding with the launch of our new series on prayer, we will spend the next month talking about the group value of PRAYER. Small groups are committed to a lifelong pursuit of trust and surrender to God. This involves developing the spiritual habits that Jesus modeled, including prayer. This is why we find it important for small groups to pray together. Make a commitment to focus intentionally on the value of prayer as a group. Consider ways you can prioritize prayer together this month.
GROW AS A LEADER. Praying is one of the most important things you can do as a small group, but sometimes groups face challenges around prayer, both in praying together and in gathering requests. Grow in praying as a group with these tips! Click HERE.
SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to the first week of our new sermon series, POWERFUL PRAYERS, where we explore some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible! This week, Pastor Aaron Buer begins this series by looking at how prayer is not just a religious habit, but a relational connection where we bring our real lives before a real God.
ICEBREAKER
What’s something you’ve had to learn over time that didn’t come naturally at first but now you’re proud to be good at?
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read Matthew 6:9-13 aloud.
What stands out to you in the way this prayer is structured?
What does this passage reveal about God’s character?
What does this passage teach us about our dependence on God?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
In the first week of POWERFUL PRAYERS, Pastor Aaron introduced the idea that prayer is meant to be a regular, meaningful part of our relationship with God. First, as a group, name the main points you remember from the sermon.
Prayer is something many people talk about but struggle to practice consistently. How does our culture typically view or approach prayer, or even something like meditation?
Even among believers, prayer can feel difficult, awkward, or inconsistent. What are some common challenges people face when it comes to an active prayer life?
We are invited to approach God personally, not just formally. Why do you think we view it as hard to be honest or real with God in prayer? Do certain factors make it more difficult?
Prayer is meant to shape our relationship with God, not just get things from him. How does that shift the way you think about prayer?
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus models a way of praying that is both intentional and relational. What stands out to you about the way he teaches us to pray?
Sometimes prayer becomes routine or surface-level, and we can say common words or phrases but never go deeper. What helps move prayer from a habit to something more meaningful?
As a group, we are called to grow in prayer together. What could it look like for our group to prioritize prayer more intentionally this season?
While we obviously want to grow as a group, the reality is that growth in our prayer life usually starts with small, personal, and intentional steps. What is one practical way you can grow in your own personal prayer life this week alongside our group?
WRAP UP
This week, we discussed the importance of a thriving and active habit of prayer. What from this conversation or the sermon encouraged or challenged your approach to prayer the most?