Prayers We Don’t Mean | Week 4

Prayers We Don’t Mean | Steve DeFrain | “God Help Me”

“GOD HELP ME”

OFTEN TIMES WE DON’T WANT HELP, WE WANT A HANDOUT”…

In order for God to help you OUT He needs you to allow Him to put you IN

Jonah 1… 1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Jonah 1… 17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 2…From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me,the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

A SPIRITUAL BREAKDOWN INVOLVES…

(POINT ONE) CONFESSION

Isaiah 66… “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

(POINT TWO) CLARITY 

2 Corinthians 1…Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

(POINT THREE) CERTAINTY

Luke 9…23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

(POINT FOUR) CONTROL 

Psalms 34…18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit

Key Points:

  • Summarize the main points or key messages of the sermon.
  • Highlight any memorable quotes or phrases from the sermon.

Scriptural Foundation:

  • Discuss the Bible passage(s) that were the basis of the sermon.
  • Explore the context and significance of the chosen scripture.

Personal Reflection:

  • Share your personal thoughts and feelings about the sermon.
  • How did the sermon impact you? What resonated with you?
  • Were there any moments of conviction, inspiration, or clarity?

Discussion Questions:

List a set of open-ended questions to facilitate discussion. These questions can help attendees engage with the sermon’s content on a deeper level.

Example questions:

1. What do you think the main message or takeaway was from the sermon?

2. How does the scripture relate to the sermon’s message?

3. Were there any practical applications or actionable insights that stood out to you?

4. Did the sermon challenge any of your beliefs or perspectives?

5. How can we apply the sermon’s teachings in our daily lives?

Group Sharing:

  • Encourage participants to share their thoughts, questions, or personal experiences related to the sermon.
  • Create an open and respectful environment for discussion.

Additional Resources:

  • Provide information about any recommended books, articles, or further readings related to the sermon’s topic.
  • Mention upcoming events or opportunities for Group members to explore the sermon’s theme further.

Conclusion:

  • Summarize the key takeaways from the discussion.
  • Emphasize the importance of applying the sermon’s teachings in daily life.
  • Announce any follow-up actions or future discussions related to the sermon.

Closing Prayer:

  • Take the time to ask members of the Group if they have any prayer requests.
  • Conclude the discussion with a brief prayer, asking for guidance and wisdom in applying the sermon’s message to be on mission.

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