02-13-2022
02-13-2022
Dr. E. Dale Locke (LOX & Online), Rev. Jose Marrero (WPB), Rev. Efrain Silva (COH Español)
Sermon Series: How Life Works
Week 6: Let Us Pray
English PDF file for printing.
Para imprimir el archivo PDF en Español
Read our theme verse from this series, Matthew 7:24 - Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Read the following passages from Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 6:5-15 - “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins….
Matthew 7:7-12 - “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 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 good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
1. What questions or comments come to your mind as you read Jesus’s teaching on prayer?
2. If you’ve ever struggled with prayer or been confused by it in any way, you’re not alone! Share with your group about what your experience with prayer has been.
Jesus gave us this prayer not so much to memorize and repeat, but as a model to teach us how to pray. Here are four ideas about prayer that Jesus seems to want us to notice:
Intimacy and Reverence:
3. Note in Matthew 6:9 that Jesus encourages us to call God our dad. What is he intending to communicate with that?
4. Even though we’re invited to have an intimate, close relationship with God as our Father, it’s also important to approach him with reverence, remembering that he’s “in heaven” and his name is to be “hallowed.” We don’t have much reverence for anything anymore in our culture. What helps you keep that balance of intimacy and reverence for God?
Request and Surrender:
5. Jesus makes clear in Matthew 6:10-11 that what’s going to happen in our world is not all predetermined. God has chosen, in his sovereignty, to limit some of what he does on this earth to our prayers. He designed things to be a partnership with us, so our prayers actually make a difference regarding whether or not his will is done. What is your reaction to that idea?
6. We’re invited in verse 11 to ask for what we need, yet verse 10 reminds us to surrender the outcome of our requests to the will of our infinite and powerful God. How does it feel to yield and be willing to accept whatever God’s will is, when there’s something you really want?
Giving and Receiving:
7. In Matthew 6:12-15, Jesus reminds us that each of us needs to receive God’s forgiveness on an ongoing basis, and we also need to offer forgiveness to others who hurt us. Which is more challenging for you, remembering to ask God for forgiveness, or being ready to give forgiveness to others? Explain your answer.
Effort and Grace:
8. In Matthew 7:7–8, Jesus tells us to keep asking, seeking and knocking. Prayer requires effort! And Jesus urges us never to give up, even if we don’t see evidence that our prayers are working. What helps you to keep praying and believing that prayer makes a difference?
9. In Matthew 7:9-11, Jesus reminds us that our gracious God is full of goodness like a loving dad who’s eager to give good gifts to his children. How does knowing this impact your prayer life?
10. What might help you be more confident and consistent in prayer?
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Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages, is coming to the Community of Hope West Palm Beach Campus (2341 S Military Trail) on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 from 7-9pm! Space is limited! Purchase tickets online at https://moody.regfox.com/date-night-west-palm
Human Trafficking Conference - February 17, 6pm - View Place of Hope's film, "Invisible" and learn how to be part of the fight against this very real issue of human trafficking in our area. Learn more at https://communityofhope.church/cht
Women’s Spring Tea - Saturday, March 5, 11:30am - 2:30pm - All women 18 and older are invited to enjoy brunch, laughter, and fun at our Women’s Spring Tea! Invite your friends, mom, sister, or neighbor to this encouraging and faith-filled event! If you’d like to take part in our DIY Tea Party Hat Competition, wow us and wear your creation to the Tea! Prizes will be awarded for most beautiful, most creative, funniest, most glamorous, and best themed. Leah Johnston will be speaking at our Loxahatchee Campus and Haley Weaver at our WPB Campus. Register at https://communityofhope.church/events/springtea by the March 2 deadline. Cost is $12 and includes a delicious brunch. Please provide a name for each attendee during registration.
Thank you for your regular financial support, which makes it possible for us to minister to you and to our community! If you haven’t already, consider setting up automated giving to help you be consistent even when you’re traveling. To give to Community of Hope go to https://communityofhope.church/give.