Sermon Based Group Homework
For the message on February 6, 2022
Passage: Ephesians 3:14-21
QUICK REVIEW
In part 2 of our Pray Like Paul series, Mike shares three keys for praying for God’s power found in Paul’s powerful prayer for the Ephesian church.
Looking back at your notes from Sunday’s message, was there anything you heard for the first time, caught your attention, or challenged you?
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
What truth have you learned since coming to know Christ that has helped you most in your journey?
LET’S GO DEEPER
1. In the message, Mike said that praying for God’s power or strength in our life should be a daily practice rather than just something we do on Sundays. The inner person is renewed day by day as we pursue a close relationship with Jesus in prayer. According to the following passages, how did Jesus maintain a close connection with the Father?
Matthew 14:23 (NLT2)
23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Luke 5:16 (NLT2)
16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
Mark 1:28-35 (NLT2)
28 The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee. 29 After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31 So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them. 32 That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. 33 The whole town gathered at the door to watch. 34 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak. 35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
What principles can you learn about developing an intimate and powerful prayer life from these passages about Jesus?
In the message, Mike mentioned three tips for getting your prayer life off the ground and running: Keep it simple, Keep it honest, and Keep it up. Discuss how these three tips could help improve your prayer life.
2. In verses 16-19, Paul prays that these believers would understand and grasp how much Jesus loves them. What do these verses tell us about Jesus’ love for His followers? Why do you think this is important to building a powerful prayer life? How has Jesus’ love changed the way you see and treat others?
3. When we pray for God’s power in our lives, Mike encouraged us to pray for big things! He noted that Paul described the God we are praying to as “the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth” who has “glorious, unlimited resources” and “who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Paul didn’t want us to miss what a big and powerful God we have!
According to Paul’s description of God in the phrases just listed, what might limit God from working powerfully in our lives? (Hint: there are two. He is able and can accomplish more than we might _______ or _______.”
How big is your God according to the prayers you usually pray?
What big thing have you prayed for in the past that God has answered or gone beyond what you thought He could do?
What big request do you want us to pray with you about as a group?
TAKE IT HOME
1. What is your biggest takeaway from this sermon and study?
2. Do you have any prayer requests for your group?
Prayer Requests:
