Pray: Inviting God’s Kingdom into Your Everyday Life
Group Leader Guide
Sermon Recap 🎬
Have you ever felt stuck between wanting God's will and clinging to your own? Pastor John Mark tackles this tension through a fresh look at the Lord's Prayer, revealing how "Your will be done" transforms from our hardest prayer to our greatest comfort. Through compelling research on prayer's health benefits and vivid examples like Daniel in the lions' den, he shows how surrendering to God's plan brings unexpected peace. Whether facing health challenges, relationship struggles, or daily uncertainties, this message offers practical wisdom for moving from "God, get me out" to "God, get me through." Don't miss this encouraging guide to finding strength in submission and purpose in life's overwhelming moments.
Ice Breaker 🧊
If you could travel anywhere in the world for a week-long vacation, where would you go and why?
Discussion Questions 💬
Pastor John Mark discusses how direction is more important than desire in determining destiny. How have you seen this play out in your own spiritual journey?
He uses the example of desiring to be in shape but walking towards the Oreos, showing how our actions (direction) matter more than our wishes (desires)
What specific directions in your life need to change to align with your desired spiritual destiny?
The sermon emphasizes praying for 'God to get you through' rather than 'God to get you out' of difficult situations. Why is this distinction important?
He uses the example of Daniel in the lions' den, who didn't pray to avoid the situation but trusted God through it
What current situation are you facing where you might need to shift from praying 'get me out' to 'get me through'?
Based on Romans 8:15 discussed in the sermon, how should understanding our position as children of God (rather than slaves) change our approach to prayer?
Pastor explains we aren't praying as peasants begging for relief, but as sons and daughters with 'daddy level trust.'
In what ways do you sometimes approach God more like a slave than a child, and how can you change this mindset?
The sermon discusses praying for God's agenda rather than our preferences. What makes this aspect of prayer particularly challenging?
He mentions how easy it is to pray 'Our Father' and 'Give us daily bread' but how difficult it is to truly pray 'Your will be done.'
What personal preferences are you currently struggling to surrender to God's agenda?
How does the ACTS prayer method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) help maintain a God-centered rather than self-centered prayer life?
The sermon mentions how this method puts God first through adoration before moving to personal requests
Which aspect of the ACTS prayer method do you tend to rush through or skip, and why might that be significant?
Prayer 🙏
Begin by asking if anyone has specific prayer requests:
Ask God to help us remember that prayer is about building a relationship, not just seeking relief from troubles.
Pray for the courage to trust God's direction even when it is challenging or unexpected.
Seek guidance in aligning our desires with God's will to bring about His purpose in our lives.
Request strength and endurance to carry through earthly pressures with heavenly wisdom.
