Pray: Start With God - Redisovering Your Heavenly Father
Group Leader Guide
Sermon Recap 🎬
Have you ever felt tongue-tied when trying to talk to God? Pastor John Mark launches an enlightening series on prayer with a refreshing message: you don't have to be perfect at it. Drawing from the Lord's Prayer, he reveals how prayer isn't about impressive words or public performance—it's about a relationship with a loving Father. Through engaging research and personal honesty about his own prayer journey, Pastor John Mark shows how this divine conversation can reduce anxiety, extend life, and transform our daily experience. Whether you're a prayer warrior or prayer rookie, this message offers practical wisdom for connecting with God. Don't miss this chance to revolutionize your prayer life!
Ice Breaker 🧊
If you could pick a year to relive because of some incredible moment or experience, which year would it be and why?
Discussion Questions 💬
Pastor John Mark mentions that only 40% of Americans say they pray daily, with women being more likely to pray than men. Why do you think there is such a gap in prayer habits, and what might be some barriers that prevent people from praying regularly?
According to the sermon, about 40% of Americans pray daily, with 55% of women saying they pray at least once a day compared to a lower percentage for men.
What personal barriers have you experienced in developing a consistent prayer life?
The sermon emphasizes that the Lord's Prayer contains no personal pronouns (I, me, my) but instead uses collective words (our, us, we). How does this change your perspective on prayer and its purpose?
Pastor John Mark points out that Jesus didn't teach his disciples to pray with personal pronouns, but instead taught them to pray with a corporate attitude, recognizing others around the world who are also praying.
How might your prayers change if you focused more on collective needs rather than just personal requests?
In Matthew 6:5-7, Jesus warns against praying like hypocrites who pray to be seen by others. How can we ensure our prayers are authentic conversations with God rather than performances for others?
The sermon states that 'if your prayer requires a spotlight and a microphone, that's not a prayer, that's a recital.'
When have you felt pressure to pray 'perfectly' in front of others, and how can you overcome this pressure?
The sermon describes prayer as starting with a relationship rather than a ritual. How does viewing God as 'Father' rather than just a distant deity impact the way we approach prayer?
Pastor John Mark explains that Jesus revolutionized the concept of God as Father, referring to Him as Father over 65 times in the Gospels, making it personal rather than just national.
What aspects of your relationship with your earthly father (positive or negative) might influence how you view and approach God as Father?
The sermon discusses the structure of the Lord's Prayer, beginning with God (relationship, worship, guardianship, lordship) before moving to personal needs. Why is this order significant?
The sermon explains that the prayer hierarchy starts with focusing on God and others before addressing personal needs, similar to the structure of the Ten Commandments.
How might reordering your prayers to focus first on who God is, rather than what you need, change your prayer experience?
Prayer 🙏
Before we conclude, do you know if anyone has prayer requests they'd like to share?
Ask God to strengthen our relationship with Him through prayer.
Pray for the courage to communicate openly with God, just like a loving Father.
Request guidance in prioritizing God's kingdom and will in our daily lives.
Seek support in making our prayers about community and others, not just ourselves.
