Don’t Quit - Reflection Questions

We all have moments where we feel l ike giving up and 1. sometimes we do give up. Not giving up in prayer is diff icult when we don’t see anything is happening. Think of a t ime where you felt l ike giving up in prayer? What encouraged you to keep going? When you didn’t keep going, what was the main reason/feeling you had that caused your discouragement?

When you look at the stories of Abraham or Jacob or the 2. Syrophoenician woman (Gen 18:16-33 / Gen 32:22-32 / Mk 7:24-30), what makes them stand out as they speak to God/Jesus? Why didn’t they take ‘no’ for an answer?

Why did Jesus tel l this parable of the judge and the widow? 3. (cf. , v.1) Why do you think this story was preserved in the Bible for us to read?

Given this parable, what would you say to someone who 4. believes they only need to pray once and drop the matter, knowing that God wil l answer? Obviously, God hears us the first t ime we ask him for something so why do you think he want us to continue asking?

How does Jesus’ f inal question (v. 8) help us understand 5. the parable? How does this question connect believers of al l t imes to the story and the original disciples?

How wil l you apply the final section of the message (cf., 6. outl ine) to your l ife?

Luke 18:1-8, NIV

1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Don’t Quit - Message Outline

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Luke 18:1

Who do you think you are?Abraham’s Haggle (Gen 18:16-33)

Jacob’s Scrap (Gen 32:22–32)

The Foreigner’s Comeback (Mark 7:24-30)

Why Do We Quit at Prayer?God: ‘Angry’ or ‘Absent’ -- We don’t know who God isMe: “Too Much” or “Too Little” - We don’t know who we are

The “Don’t Quit” Attitude in PrayerKnows God is CloseShares life with God through PrayerListens to Jesus when he says: “always pray and not give up” (v.1)

Believes Love and Prayer draws us closer to God

Strong Enough to Pray - Reflection Questions

Matthew 26:36-46 was a pivotal moment in Jesus’ l ife. 1. What is your init ial reaction to pivotal moments in your l ife? How has it changed over the years? What role does prayer play?

When Jesus was in great need he asked his closest disciples 2. (Peter, James, & John) to come with him and stay awake with him while he prayed. In what ways can the company of close Christian friends help you through a trial? Give an example of when this happened for you.

Jesus said the disciples had spirits that were eager but 3. they were not strong enough to stay awake. Why do you think their ‘eagerness’ was not enough? Assuming we are not stronger than Peter, James, & John, what can we learn from this story about your own struggles in prayer?

If being strong requires exercise and training, what do we 4. need to do to overcome our weakness in prayer?

Dallas Wil lard has said that “grace is not opposed to effort” 5. (cf. , Eph 2:8-10). How does being strong enough to pray fit this grace/effort idea?

How wil l you “wake up” and “get f it” for prayer in 2019?6.

Matthew 26:36-46, NIV

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Strong Enough to Pray - Message Outline

So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray…

Matthew 26:40–41, NRSV

ARE WE STRONG ENOUGH TO PRAY?

Pivotal MomentsEffort is requiredWe are weak

Overcoming WeaknessWake Up

Be alert to what God is doing around youGet Fit

The habit of prayer gives us the spiritual muscle to push through tough times.

“Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action.”

Dallas Willard The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’ Essential Teachings on Discipleship

Learn From The Best - Reflection Questions

In Matthew, Jesus gives a model or pattern to follow yet 1. in Luke (11:2-4), it is presented as a “set prayer” -- one to be repeated. When have you found set prayers helpful? When have you found a template for prayer helpful? Why do you think the church has found both types of prayer helpful over the centuries?

Jesus begins his teaching on prayer with “don’t do this” 2. before he taught “do this”. Why do you think it is important to point out what not to do? How does this help us as we learn to pray?

Why do you think it is important that Jesus tel ls us to3. address God as “our Father in heaven”? What is the difference between approaching God as a daughter or son and approaching God as our Creator (both are true)?

Jesus divides his prayer into showing love for God through 4. our worship of him and our receiving God’s love by asking for his help. How does understanding the prayer as rooted in this relational love help us to understand prayer better and help us to pray?

There are lots of other kinds of prayer that we learn about 5. in the Bible (1Tim 2:1-2; 1Th 5:25, Eph 6:18, Jas 5:14, etc.). Why do you think Jesus is not being more exhaustive in his teaching on prayer? Do you think other kinds of prayer f it under the umbrella of this prayer?

How wil l Jesus’ teaching on prayer Matt 6:5-15 help you on 6. your path of prayer? What is the most helpful part of this prayer for you?

Matthew 6:5-15, NIV

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by oth-ers. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Learn From The Best - Message OutlineThis, then, is how you should pray:

Mt 6:9

Hollow Prayer (vs. 5-8)Public PerformanceManipulating Words and ActionsEmpty Wishes

The “Our Father” Connection Prayer that Reveals my love for God (v.6)Prayer that Reveals God’s love for me (v.6)

Jesus’ Path for PrayerLearning to talk with the God who loves us“One star at a time”

Giving Worship- God’s Name,- God’s Kingdom,- God’s Will

Asking for Help- Provide for our needs- Forgive us as we forgive- Protect us from evil

Know Your Enemy - Reflection Questions

The disciples in this story fai led to help the father and his 1. son. How does Jesus deal with their fai lure? Do you find your response to those who fai l more l ike Jesus or l ike the scribes?

Do you think our generation more or less of a “faithless 2. generation” than the one Jesus confronted? Why do you think our generation does not even acknowledge the spiritual world presented in this story?

What is the relationship between praying and faith? What 3. is the relationship between prayer and carrying out the mission Jesus has given you?

The father in this story equates bring his son to the disciples 4. to bringing him Jesus (v. 17). How does this fact help us understand our ministries to lost and hurting people?

In what situations do you feel l ike this father crying out to 5. God to help his unbelief ? What is it about these situations that causes your faith to shrink? How does Jesus’ response to this father help you in your doubt?

How does this story help you serve in Jesus’ name?6.

Know Your Enemy - Message Outline

“This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Mark 9:29

Reality and Effect of Dark Spiritual Forces“Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid…” (vs.17)

Faith Struggles“I believe” - “There has got to be more to this”“Help my unbelief” - Our spiritual Faraday Cage: “Jesus is not able because God is not willing”

Powerful PrayerBelieving that Jesus is strong enough...the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

1 John 4:4, NIV

Mark 9:14-29, NIV14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”