When You Pray… (Matthew 6:5-15)

Intro / Review:

When You Pray… (Matthew 6:5-15)

Four Marks of Real Prayer.

PRIVATE (Mat 6:5-6)

PERSONAL (Mat 6:7-8)

PROPORTIONED (Mat 6:9-13)

PRACTICAL (Mat 6:14-15)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Spiritual Disciplines - Part 2 - When You Pray

Jeff Miller

Download

Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 6:5-15

GROUP

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?

2. “Your secret prayer life is your real prayer life” (v5-6). Do you agree or disagree? Why?

3. How balanced are your prayers (Praise, Purpose, Provision)?

4. What do you think motivates people to pray in a way to be noticed / applauded by others (v5)?

BREAKOUT

According to Jesus’ instructions (the 4 P’s in the sermon - Private, Personal, Proportioned, Practical), rate your prayer life so far in 2019 on a scale of 1-10. What do you need to do to give yourself a better score?

Pray for one another - to grow as prayers in these areas.

Harvest DNA – Part 3: Unceasing Prayer.

Review / Introduction:

James 4:2-3 - You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Three Powerless Prayers:

1. The "pray it Safe" prayer.
2. The "Santa Claus" prayer.
3. The "public Performance" prayer.

How to Have Your Prayers Answered, Every Time (Matthew 7:7-11):

1. Pray in Humility. (Matt 7:7-8)
1. I need your Provision.
2. I need your Wisdom.

Proverbs 2:4 - if you seek it like silver and search for it as hidden treasure

James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

3. I need to Serve you.

Acts 14:7 - ...they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 16:9 - ...for a wide door for effective work has opened to me...

2. Receive like a Child. (Matt 7:9-11)

Psalm 62:11-12 - Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Harvest DNA: What Kind of Church is This - Unceasing Prayer

Jeff Miller

Download

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Matthew 7:7-11

1. Why do you think prayer is such a struggle for many sincere Christians?

2. How would you respond to someone who says, "I tried praying, and it didn't work."

3. State Jesus' teaching in Matt 7:7-8 in your own words, regarding "asking... seeking...  knocking".

4. How does Jesus' parent / child illustration help you understand prayer in a better way (Matt 7:9-11)?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for each other, using Jesus' instructions here!

Prayer: How to Throw a Mountain

1. Why do I pray? Because no prayer = no FRUIT . (Mk 11:12-16)


2. Why do I pray? Because Jesus says it's PRIORITY . (Mk 11:17-19)


3. How do I pray?

1. REMEMBER God's history. (Mk 11:20-21)


2. RECOGNIZE prayer is about God. (Mk 11:22)


3. RAISE your expectations. (Mk 11:23)


4. RECEIVE the answer by Faith. (Mk 11:24)


5. RECONCILE with people who need forgiveness. (Mk 11:25)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above with your cursor for answers!

The Lord The Lamb The Life - Prayer How to Throw a Mountain

Jeff Miller

Download

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 11:12-25

As a group, explain why Jesus cursed the fig tree.

1. What does it mean to pray "according to God's will". How does that empower your prayer? What is NOT "praying according to God's will"? (give an example)
    
2. Share ways you/we can all make prayer more of a priority in our own lives.
    
3. Is your church a "house of prayer"? How can you improve the prayer priority at your church?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another. Take turns seeing who can throw their mountain the furthest!

Highly to Be Praised

Guest Speaker: Mark Ort

Effects of Psalm 145:

1. We gain a PROPER VIEW of God.



2. God receives glory through our PRAISE .



3. Our PRAYER LIFE is enhanced.



4. We become EFFECTIVE WITNESSES of His greatness.

Mark Ort - HBCPN Elder

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Highly to Be Praised - Psalm 145 - Guest Speaker Mark Ort

Jeff Miller/Mark Ort

Download

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Psalm 145

1. What did you learn about the character of God in this passage that you did not know before?
    
2. What aspects of your prayer life need to change in light of Psalm 145?
    
3. Is it important or necessary to recite God's attributes back to Him in our prayers?
    
4. How does Psalm 145 affect your evangelism? Who do you need to talk to specifically and what will you tell them?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another!

Homework:
Write your own four or five sentence prayer of exultation and post it on the refrigerator as a reminder to praise God! Maybe even start your own prayer and praise journal.
Read 1 Kings 8 (prayer for the temple)

Prayer: First Priority

When I live under the authority of Jesus:

1. Prayer is the PRIORITY. (Mk 1:38)


2. How to make prayer MY priority: (Mk 1:35)


1. Don't make prayer the LAST thing you do.
   Make prayer the FIRST thing you do.


2. Don't hope that you get a CHANCE to pray.
   Be INTENTIONAL about praying.


3. Don't allow DISTRACTIONS. Go somewhere where prayer is all you FOCUS on.

Matthew 6:6 - But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!
Sermon Audio: (no recording)

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Mark 1:35-39

1. Does prayer seem like a chore to you? Why or why not? Why do you think most Christians struggle with prayer?
    
2. What stands out to you about Jesus’ example in prayer? Why do you think Jesus made prayer such a priority? What does that tell you about the way we should make prayer a priority?

Breakout Questions:

1. What is your “prayer plan”? Do you have one? What changes do you need to make to pray like Jesus’ example: first, intentional, and distraction­-free?
    
2. Pray for one another.