Love as a Way of Life
Study Series: The Power of Positive PrayingBy: John BisagnoLesson Title: “Prayer and the Will of God” (pp. 6-15)December 3, 2017Session 01The main point of this lesson is: Understanding and following the will of God is the key to answered prayer.Focus on this goal: To help adults seek and submit to the will of God.Key Bible Passages: Psalm 37:4-7; Romans 12:1-2To the LeaderContact adults who are not involved in a small group Bible study, give them a copy of this edition of MasterWork, and invite them to join you as the group begins this study of The Power of Positive Praying.Before the SessionObtain a key ring with several keys. (Steps 1, 7)During the SessionStep 1. Lead-in / Illustration Display the key ring. Ask adults what keys they consider absolutely essential for their daily lives. Declare prayer was essential to Jesus for daily living and should be for His followers as well. This study of The Power of Positive Praying will help adults follow Jesus’ example in prayer. In this session adults will examine some spiritual keys that can open doors and ignite power in their lives. Step 2. Day 1 – From My Bible, Part 1Invite participants to identify the key to answered prayer (Day?One,?p.?6). Write the divine formula on a large writing surface. Ask what difficulties adults might have with that formula. Acknowledge many people struggle with knowing God’s will. Request adults silently read Romans?12:1-2 and look for two keys to knowing God’s will. Call for responses. Explore: Why would offering our bodies to God as living sacrifices help us know His will? Discuss Day One, activity 1 (p. 7) in a general, rather than personally specific, sense. Complete Day One, activity 2 (p.?7). Ask: How can we reconcile the commands in James 4:4 and 1 John?2:15 with other Scriptures that tell us God loves the world and commands us to love others? Explain we are to love the people of this world, but not love this self-centered world system that is opposed to God. Evaluate how leading a separated life helps believers know God’s will.Step 3. Day 2 – From My Bible, Part 2Assert another key to knowing God’s will is knowing Jesus. Explore the statement: time plus proximity equals sensitivity (p. 8). Ask: How can we be certain we know Jesus? Walk through the plan of salvation on the inside front cover of this edition of MasterWork. Explain salvation is a commitment to follow Jesus. Discuss Day Two, activity 1 (p. 8). Evaluate what happens when believers consistently follow Jesus. Draw attention to the margin quote (p. 9). Invite volunteers to share how they have experienced a “holy hunch” or “holy hesitation.” Ask: How can we discern whether we are hearing Jesus or our own desires? State the key is to become one with Jesus so that His will becomes our will. Invite adults to read Psalm?37:4?5,7 (p. 9) aloud in unison, emphasizing the words commit, trust, silent, and wait. Ask: What is the key to receiving your heart’s desire? Invite a volunteer to read the last paragraph of Day Two (pp. 9-10).Step 4. Day 3 – From My Bible, Part 3Ask a volunteer to read John 7:17 (p. 10). Guide the group to determine from that verse another key to knowing God’s will. Draw attention to the margin quote of Day Three (p. 10). Analyze why that decision must be made in advance. Discuss Day Three, activity 1 (p. 11). Note when Jesus prayed “If you are willing” in Luke 22:42 He was not refusing to surrender to God’s will. He was asking that if there was any other way for humanity to be saved other than His death that God take that way. However, He submissively prayed that God’s will “be done” because He had determined in advance He would obey God’s will no matter what. Examine how other believers are keys for helping us discover God’s will. Discuss Day Three, activity 2 (p. 12).Step 5. Day 4 – From My Experience, Part 1Request adults read the first sentence and italicized statements in Day Four (pp. 12-13) and state additional keys to discerning God’s will. Emphasize believers must read circumstances through the filter of Scripture because God’s will never contradicts His Word. Discuss Day Four, activity 1 (p. 12). Note Scripture does not state how the Spirit prevented Paul from going where he’d planned. It could have been some common sense situations: roads were blocked, paperwork wasn’t in order, or Paul just didn’t have a sense of peace about it. Discuss Day Four, activity 2 (p. 13).Step 6. Day 5 – From My Experience, Part 2Ask adults to identify from Day Five (pp. 13-15) an absolutely essential key to knowing the will of God. Invite a volunteer to read 2?Timothy?3:16?17. Explore the two important factors to remember about God speaking to us through His Word (p. 14). Analyze the concept that learning the will of God is a progressive revelation (p. 14). Call for responses to Day Five, activity 2 (p. 15). Invite volunteers to share how the quote in the margin of Day Five (p. 14) encourages them.Step 7. Application / Make It PracticalDisplay the key ring again. Guide the group to review the keys to answered prayer discussed during the session. Encourage them to allow their physical keys to serve as daily reminders to seek and surrender to God’s will so they can experience the power of positive praying. Urge them every day this coming week to voice the personal prayer of surrender from Day Two, activity 2 (p. 9). Close in prayer. ................
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