Prayer

Opening question: If you could ask God any question you wanted to ask, what would it be?

Q2. How do we know there’s a God out there somewhere who can listen to us?
Q3. Have you ever prayed to God? If so, what did you pray?

Read and talk about the following words from the Bible about prayer:

Ask, and it will be given to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks will receive. He who searches will find. The door will be opened to the one who knocks. Suppose your son asks for bread. Which of you will give him a stone? Or suppose he asks for a fish. Which of you will give him a snake? Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11

Discuss what the Bible says about unanswered prayer in the following verses:

But your sins have separated you from your God. They have caused him to turn his face away from you. So he won't listen to you. Isaiah 59:2

When you ask for something, you don't receive it. Why? Because you ask for the wrong reason. You want to spend your money on your sinful pleasures. James 4:3

Q4. What are the conditions for answered prayer, according to the following?

There is only one God. And there is only one go-between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

There is one thing we can be sure of when we come to God in prayer. If we ask anything in keeping with what he wants, he hears us. If we know that God hears what we ask for, we know that we have it. 1 John 5:14,15

Without faith it isn't possible to please God. Those who come to God must believe that he exists. And they must believe that he rewards those who look to him. Hebrews 11:6

Pray for each other in your group.

Peace

Opening Question: What do you think of when you see or hear the word PEACE?

Q2. Do you think the world is going to become more peaceful or less in the future?
Q3. What do you think are some of the main enemies of peace between people / nations?
Q4. What are some of the reasons we don’t experience peace in our own lives sometimes?

Let’s read what the Bible says about peace:

"There is no peace for those who are evil," says the Lord. Isaiah 48:22

Turn away from evil, and do good. Look for peace, and go after it. Turn away from evil, and do good. Look for peace, and go after it. Psalm 34:14

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Q5. How can we “go after” peace?
Q6. Who is this “child” that Isaiah spoke of, and how can he become our Prince of Peace?
Q7. If Jesus is your Prince of Peace, how does He help you experience peace?

Read and discuss what Jesus said about peace:

I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

I have told you these things, so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you will have trouble. But cheer up! I have won the battle over the world. John 16:33

How can we have peace, according to the following verses?
Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. Psalm 119:165

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3

Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7

Appologies

Opening Question: Have you ever had to use one of the following expressions, and why? 1) Pardon me, 2) Excuse me, 3) I’m sorry, 4) Forgive me, 5) I apologize, 6) My fault

Q2. We have all sinned in at least 5 ways -- word, thought, action, omission, motive. Define each one, and give an example.

Read and discuss what the Bible says about sin and forgiveness:

Psalm 32:1-5
1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Psalm 51:1-5
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just. 5 For I was born a sinner -- yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

1 John 1:9
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Q3. What is our responsibility when we sin? And God’s responsibility?

Q4. How is God described in the following Bible verses:

1 John 4:8
God is love.

1 Corinthians 13:5
Love keeps no record of being wronged.

Hebrews 10:17
I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.

Q5. What is the purpose in asking forgiveness from God and others?

Q6. What if someone doesn’t act like they forgive us after we admit our fault to him or her?

Q7. Is there a sin that you need to admit to God and to someone you know?

Relationships – Part X

Opening Question: What is the most costly thing you have ever paid for, and how did you feel before you paid the price?

Let’s read about the price God paid, so we could become friends with Him:

He was pierced because we had sinned. He was crushed because we had done what was evil. He was punished to make us whole again. His wounds have healed us. All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own way. And the Lord has placed on Him the sins of all of us. Isaiah 53:5,6

No one has greater love than the one who gives His life for His friends. John 15:13

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:11

He himself carried our sins in His body on the cross. He did it so that we would die as far as sins are concerned. Then we would lead godly lives. His wounds have made you whole. 1 Peter 2:24

Christ died for sins once and for all time. The One who did what is right died for those who don't do right. He died to bring you to God. His body was put to death. But the Holy Spirit brought Him back to life. 1 Peter 3:18

God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son. Anyone who believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life. John 3:16

Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow You!" "What I'm about to tell you is true," Jesus replied. "Has anyone left home or family or fields for Me and the good news? They will receive 100 times as much in this world. They will have homes and families and fields. But they will also be treated badly by others. In the world to come they will live forever." Mark 10:28-30

Discuss the following questions:
1. Does is cost anything to have a relationship with someone?
2. What did it cost God to establish a relationship with us?
3. Why did God go to all the trouble to provide this relationship for us?
4. Does it cost anything to have a relationship with God?
5. What does Jesus promise to those who follow Him?
6. Are you willing to pay the price to follow Jesus all the way?