First Things First : The Priority of Prayer
Directions
Below you will find the corresponding sermon’s small group discussion guide.
If you would like to reference the full length sermon via video, simply visit healingplacechurch.org/media and filter by date or use the
search option. Read over this guide prior to your meeting, pray, and discuss the content allowing time for each person to have input.
We know God will do amazing things!
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Luke 11:1 (NLT)
Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just
as John taught his disciples.”
Question : If you could ask Jesus to teach you one thing, what would it be?
Prayer isn’t just something we do, it’s the foundation of all of our doing.
1. Access
Question : What’s your attitude or demeanour when you pray?
Question : How do you think God wants us to approach Him and how does that effect your desire to do so?
Romans 8:15 (NLT) 
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his
own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
“Abba” was an Aramaic term of affection for your father. It could be translated as “Papa” or “Daddy.” God wants to be closely personal.
Question : Knowing that God wants you to approach Him in an endearing fashion, how should that effect your prayer life?
Question : How can this change how you pray currently?
2. Plan
Question : What time of day are you most focused to pray or what is your daily prayer pattern?
Question : When you pray, do you believe it’s going to make a difference? Why or why not?
James 5:16-18 (NLT)
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has
great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain
would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to
yield its crops
Here is one example of prayer’s impact, so be encouraged that God hears and responds.
This heavenly dialogue is an invaluable outlet and resource for our lives daily.
3. Perspective
Question : What is prayer all about?
Question : Why do we ask for things if God already knows what we need and the best way to get it to us?
Question : What should be our perspective on the outcome of our prayers?
Prayer must be submitted in faith and surrendered in trust.
Faith : that God CAN do it
Trust : that He KNOWS HOW
Let our interaction with God through prayer be a comfort as we live out our current reality with an assurance of the reality above.
Activity : If they feel comfortable, have a few people share of God’s comfort / guidance / power / etc. through prayer in their life.
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Closing
At this point, you can discuss and ask for any other thoughts, comments, and prayer needs.
When you’re done, simply pray that God deposits this truth in everyone’s hearts and gives the strength to live what was learned.