Transformative Prayer - Missional Prayer

TAC - Transformative Prayer - Missional Prayer by Tacblogs on Mixcloud

1. Have you ever been locked out of your house? Share this story. How did you get back in? Where were your keys?

2. What is a key? What does a key do? What does a key represent? What are the benefits of having a key? What does it mean if you don’t have a key?

3. Pastor Bill shared two keys in relation to prayer: 1. Prayer in the name of Christ and 2. Prayer in the Spirit.

4. Read John 14:12-14.

5. What does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus? Discuss some of the points that Pastor Bill made. [To not pray in our own name; Only the fingerprint/handprint of Christ opens the door to answered prayer; The credit card of prayer has Christ’s name on it; We must be in Christ and love Him; Christ is our means of access; We can pray with confidence even in the midst of accusations by the enemy]

6. Read Ephesians 6:10-20 (18a) and Jude 20.

7. What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? Discuss some of the points that Pastor Bill made. [Not limited to praying in tongues; Dependent upon the Spirit; Slow down and listen to the Spirit; Need His strength to pray and protection while we pray; God wants to make our prayers like bullets (clarity)].

8. What do you think God wants you to do as a result of hearing this message and participating in this small group?

9. Have everyone in the group share the name of one person who needs to believe in Christ. End your time to together with missional prayer for these individuals.

Transformative Prayer - For the Leadership

TAC - Sunday March 23 2014 by Tacblogs on Mixcloud

1. Who are the people you pray for most often. Why these people?

2. Read Colossians 4:12-13.

3. What have you learned about prayer so far throughout this series? Has your prayer life changed throughout this series? In what ways?

4. Is there a story or illustration from the sermon that stands out for you (cell phone, church praying for their unbelieving pastor)? Which one? Why does it stand out for you?

5. Do you find that a prison is a hindrance or that it is just another place where God leads you to minister to people you'd otherwise never be able to meet - or do you have another view?

6. How should we pray for our pastors - what are the key areas of their lives and ministries that need to be lifted up to God on a regular basis?

7. Finish the small group by spending an extended period of time praying for the leadership of TAC.

Prayer That Brings People into Maturity

TAC - Prayer That Brings People into Maturity by Tacblogs on Mixcloud

1. What are a few things that you are absolutely convinced of (eg. the world is round(ish); you exist; etc.)? What gives you confidence in these things? 

2. Read 1 John 5:13-21.

3. What does John say in verse 13? What gives you confidence in your faith? What can negatively affect someone’s confidence? What do you do in times of doubt?

4. What questions do you have in regards to verses 14-15? How have you seen the truth of these verses in your life?

5. What do you learn about our responsibility to pray for other believers in this passage? What might keep us from praying for someone who has sinned?

6. What do you think God wants you to do as a result of hearing this message/reading this passage/participating in this small group? 

7. Who are some family members or friends caught in sin who your group could pray for? Finish the night by praying for these names.

Intercessional Prayer

TAC - Intercessional Prayer by Tacblogs on Mixcloud

1. Can you think of anyone who regularly prays for you (or who used to regularly pray for you)? What difference did their prayers make?

2. What does intercession mean?

3. Is there a time when you pestered someone to get what you wanted or when you were pestered? Share this example.

4. Read Luke 11:1-13.

5. What most stands out to you from this passage?

6. Where do Torontonians turn when they are in need? How do we make God the first Person we turn to in our need? Should we make Him the first Person we turn to? Why or why not?

7. Shameless and stubborn persistence in prayer – do we have it? Why do many people lack persistence in prayer? Why is it a good thing?

8. Read this short story about the great man of faith: George Mueller:

One day George Mueller began praying for five of his friends. After many months, one of them came to the Lord. Ten years later, two others were converted. It took 25 years before the fourth man was saved. Mueller persevered in prayer until his death for the fifth friend, and throughout those 52 years he never gave up hoping that he would accept Christ! His faith was rewarded, for soon after Mueller’s funeral the last one was saved.

What insights/encouragements do you gain from this story? How are you challenged to grow in your own prayer life?