Prayer

Skeleton discussion lesson on prayer:

1. What does it mean to pray to you personally?
2. What was your last prayer?
3. What are some sort of prayer answers do we get for prayer?
4. Why do prayers become ineffective?
5. Who are your prayer warriors in bible or your fellow brothers and sisters?

Prayer: Various for individual, unique and special like all relationships, spiritual hunger is met, changes our lives and situations. ACTS: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication.

Answers in prayers can be Yes, no and wait. He hears and answers all prayers just maybe not the answers we want to hear because he can not act in a way that is inconsistent to his character. Discuss what are some Yes, no's and wait answers.

Prayers become ineffective when things in our life separate us from God, choosing to reject God's truth or help, knowingly rebelling against God. Having the wrong motives of what we ask.

Some prayer warriors in the bible, moses, david, daniel+friends, micah, prophets, samuel, Paul and ultimately Jesus.

Example prayers Daniel 9:4-19, 2 Samuel 7:18-29, Matthew 6:9-13

Specific examples:
1. Jehosophat:
Prayer type - 2 Chronicles 20:1-14 War raging in the land
Answered Prayer - 2 Chronicles 20:20-30
What type of prayers do you see in these verses?

2. Shadrah, Mesach, Abednego
Prayer type - Daniel 3:17-18
Answered prayer - Daniel 3:26-27
Prayed no matter circumstance, food matter, forced to worship idol and gold -> fire furnace, outlawed prayer but still prayed -> lions den. He stood strong for conviction in God and continued to trust in God

3. Paul
Prayer type - ephesians 3:14-21

Prayer is not a set of rules or repetitions, it is unique communication and relationship to everyone, it is being real to God and opening up our hearts for him to speak as well as for us to share our thoughts and feelings.

Extra verses: Eph 2:18, Mtt 18:19-20

Alms

"Alms" are not some kind of tree, but something you should know about -- and do. The Greek word translated alms in the New Testament originally meant mercy or kindness, then came to represent the kind deeds caused by mercy and kindness. So it came to mean charitable giving to the poor -- or giving motivated by love. Many times this word is translated as "charitable deed."

LUKE 12:33, MATTHEW 6:2-4, ACTS 10:2,4,

Alms are not offerings to God, or His ministers. Alms are charitable deeds -- gifts to the poor and needy. Helping people who are in trouble. Alms impress God. (A Devotion)

A Lifestyle Of Leadership

Any organization, whether for profit or non-profit, depends on successful leadership to provide direction. Everything rises and falls on leadership. Every issue in every organization, every decision that is made or postponed, is ultimately a product of leadership. Find an organization achieving excellence and you'll find leadership effectiveness. Find failure, and you'll find leadership failure as well. When a leader emerges confidence is restored and hope is renewed. Leaders seize the moment and meet the challenges of today with the courage of their convictions.

1. Leadership Is Not Found In a Position, But In a Person.
We often mistake leadership for a title, position or station in life. But true leadership comes from personal influence, not a job title.

2. Leadership Comes From Servanthood, Not Appointment.
Leadership isn't granted from an organization, but earned out of service and commitment to others. There is no better commentary on this than the life of Christ, the master leader, who "...set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave!" (Philippians 2.7, The Message).

3. Leadership Is Character.
"The main ingredient of good leadership is good character. This is because leadership involves conduct and conduct is determined by values." (Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, retired). Leadership can never be divorced from the individual. And as a leader, you cannot impart what you do not possess.

4. Leaders Model Leadership Principles.
Leaders act out of principles and convictions and teach others by their own example. Courageous and consistent leaders model what it means to live by God's commands. This is character on display.

5. Leadership Is Ultimately a Relationship.
Genuine leadership begins and ends at the same place - a passionate walk with the Savior. Only to the degree that we are followers of Him will we influence others. If that part of our leadership is not developed, it is just manipulation or the latest personnel management techniques.

By Greg Morris

Courtesy of http://www.leadershipdynamics.org

Question Sharing

Here are a few questions that can move the conversation from a secular topic to a spiritual topic. The questions act as a funnel to introduce the Gospel.

• Do you have any kind of spiritual beliefs?
• To you, who is Jesus?
• Do you think there is a heaven or a hell?
• If you died tonight, where would you go?
• By the way, if what you were believing is not true, would you want to know?

Share Jesus Without Fear - Let God's Word Speak

• "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
• "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
• "In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again'" (John 3:3).
• "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6).
• "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame'" (Romans 10:9).
• "And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Corinthians 5:15).
• "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

Invite your friend to read a verse aloud and then have him explain the verse to you. Take him through all the verses listed above. If your friend interprets a passage incorrectly, don't argue or offer your interpretation, but politely ask him to read it again, and then explain it a second time. Misinterpretation should not be much of a problem if you use the Bible verses listed above.

Even if your friend mentions that he doesn't believe in or agree with the Bible, it is best not to argue. You can state that you simply want him to understand what the Bible says about eternity. Isn't it wonderful to know that it's not our responsibility to convict? Conviction is God's job. All we can do is share. Once we have shared, we have done God's will.



http://www.allaboutgod.com/share-jesus-without-fear.htm