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The online groups guide is designed as a teaching series companion to foster discussion, study, and prayer, especially in a group setting.
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Love
Teaching Text: Luke 11: 1-13
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Themes
Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:
Jesus teaches us how to pray
kingdom presence practice
Watch or listen to the sermon. Then take a moment of silence and think about these questions:
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
Ask: When thinking about the evil of this world….
For ourselves: Where am I tempted to excuse my own sin?
Where am I tempted to go along with the ways of the world instead of the ways of Jesus?
Temptation to despair?
For others: Pray for those experiencing food/housing insecurity
Listen - an invitation to grace, invitation to courageous faith, invitation to look for ways the kingdom is breaking in now
Give: be prepared to give something to houseless neighbors (most of us spend a significant amount of time walking through this city, and we see people in need. For one week, we could plan to be generous to those we see on a regular basis. Or if we are aware of a nearby community in need, we can plan to provide a necessary good or financial assistance to those people.)
Words of encouragement?
Formation
Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:
What intimidates you when you think of prayer?
What are the obstacles that get in the way of your prayer? (Think mental, physical, cultural)
Through practicing this prayer Jesus offers us:
Increasing walk of intimacy relationship
Freedom by being under his authority as opposed to other masters
Partnership in being the answer to this prayer
Use the Lord’s prayer as prompts to pray through:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
About what things in your life can you say: Look at how good you have been.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
A prayer for things to be made right.
In your life
In your family
In your neighborhood
In our city
In our country
In our world
Give us today our daily bread.
God cares about your daily needs. He is a father.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Confess sin and confess to God those who have hurt you.
Who could you go to to ask forgiveness from?
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
What are the temptations you face that you could ask God for grace?
What are you trying to satisfy apart from the ways and love of Jesus?
For yours is the kingdom, the power,
and the glory now and forever.
Amen.
