Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ: #6 Prayerfully Driven

Sparta Evangelical Free Church

Media

Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ: #6 Prayerfully Driven

April 14, 2024 • Pastor Doug Thuen

Give

Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ / Prayerfully Driven

April 14,2024

Nehemiah 1:5-11; Acts 4:23-31

Study Questions

1. What is your understanding of the purpose of prayer? Use Scripture to support your answer(s).

2. What do you find most difficult or frustrating in your prayer life?

3. What is the difference between self-focused prayer and God-focused prayer? Why/Why not? How can you redirect your self-focused prayers to focus on God’s will and desires?

4. In the Bible we see many examples of individuals who were extraordinary in their prayer lives. Identify how 1) praying God’s character 2) praying God’s will and 3) praying Scripture are evidenced and expressed in the following passages:

a. Nehemiah 1:5-11

b. Exodus 32:11-14

c. 1 Kings 8:22-56

d. Acts 4:23-31

5. How can you begin to integrate the attributes listed in question 4 into your prayer life? Without being rote, how has this study challenged you in your prayer life? How do you think these scriptural principles will help you pray?

6. Identify various passage of Scripture that you can apply as you pray for your needs and the needs of others. Use the following as a guide to God-focused prayer this week:

a. Monday | Praying for your Christian brother/sister: Philippians 1:8-11

b. Tuesday | Praying for hope: Psalm 71:14-21

c. Wednesday | Praying praise and adoration: Nehemiah 9:5-6

d. Thursday | Praying for forgiveness: Psalm 32:1-5

e. Friday | Praying for deliverance: 2 Samuel 22:1-7

f. Saturday | Praying for mercy: Psalm 119:145-149

g. Sunday | Praying for the lost: 1 Timothy 2:1-4

More from Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ

Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ: #7 Kingdom Focused (Colossians 3:1-4)

April 21, 2024 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Colossians 3:1–4

Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ / #7 Kingdom Focused April 21, 2024 Colossians 3:1-4 Study Questions 1. Read Colossians 3:1-4. Discuss the implications of being raised with Christ. (See also Romans 6:3-11; Romans 8:11; Philippians 3:20-21.) 2. What does “set your mind on things above” look like in the daily life of a Christ-follower? (See also Romans 12:2.) What does this look like in your personal walk with the Lord Jesus? 3. What are things you need to constantly “set aside” in order to “set your mind on things above”? (See also Colossians 3:5-9.) 4. How is your life “hidden in Christ”? Identify the theological truths about this statement. Discuss any other passages of scripture that may apply. 5. How does verse 4 affect the way we as Christ-followers ought to live every day? 6. Discuss the following points regarding being Kingdom-focused and what they look like practically in your life: a. Live for the Future b. Live in Community c. Live with Expectancy d. Live on Mission

Easter Sunday | Adopted by God (Galatians 4:1-11)

March 31, 2024 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Galatians 4:1–11

Adopted by God / Easter 2024 March 31, 2024 Study Questions Galatians 4:1-11 1. Read Galatians 4:1-2. In what way(s) are the slave and the master’s child the same? Before the Galatians believed in Jesus, how were they like slaves? (4:3) 2. Why was it necessary for God the Son to be born under the Law? (4:4-5) 3. How did the believers benefit by becoming part of God’s family? (4:5) Describe what this promise means to you. 4. How does the Holy Spirit allow believers to address God now? (4:6) 5. Identify some of the benefits of being an heir in God’s family. (4:7) 6. To what were the Galatians enslaved before becoming Christians? (4:8) After they became believers, how did the Galatians turn back to their paganism? What were the ‘weak and worthless elementary things’ Paul was referencing (4:9-10)? What lesson(s) can you apply from this text?

Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ: #5 Secure (Psalm 46)

March 24, 2024 • Pastor Doug Thuen • Psalm 46

Becoming Extraordinary Followers of Jesus Christ / #5 Secure March 24, 2024 Study Questions Psalm 46 1. In what ways do you feel like our world is being turned upside down? 2. What does verse 1 teach us about the Lord? How is He described? 3. What’s being described in verses 2-3? What does this Psalm promise in those situations? How can we redirect our fears into hope? 4. Read verses 4-7. What does this passage offer the person who trusts in the Lord? Can we claim the same promises as Christ-followers today? 5. Read verses 8-11. How does this passage teach us about the sovereignty of God? When you look at the instability of nations around the world today, what security do we have according to this Psalm? (See also 2 Chronicles 20:1-30.) 6. When you look back at the COVID-19 pandemic, did you live in fear, or did you find the Lord to be your safety and strength? Explain. 7. How do you as a Christ-follower find security in the Lord, especially in trials? How does this Psalm help you going forward in your walk with Christ? (See Genesis 32:24-30; Romans 5:10; John 10:29 and 17:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Ephesians 6:13.) 8. In what ways can you specifically take refuge in God right now in your life?