Thankfully, no team from Georgia will be in the big game—I say that not because I don’t like the Falcons, but simply because I’m just not sure our state can handle another let down. Some of us will be tuned into every moment of the game. Others of us will only tune in for the commercials. And on Monday the debate will begin. Did the best team win? What commercial stole the show? Are the Patriots the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time)? Or if you’re a little more cynical, How did the Patriots cheat this time? (HA!—pretty sure Chris Roudebush added this line)
As Americans, we love these kinds of questions. All of us long to be great. Everyone is looking for a path to greatness. And most of the time, our path to greatness simply involves comparing ourselves with each other. And it is into this kind of conversation that Jesus teaches us to pray in ways that change our understanding of greatness altogether. So come join us Sunday as we continue learning how to “Pray Like Jesus”. Trust me, it’s going to be a GREAT day!
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(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)
Title: Pray Like Jesus 5: The Greatest Prayer Ever // Scripture: Luke 22
ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
What is greatness? It’s as important what Jesus does not say as what He does say. He doesn’t say that they shouldn’t want to be great. It’s just that his pathway to greatness is different than the world’s. It’s not about your position, it’s about working from the security of your identity. From there, you can lower yourself and serve others. What does prayer have to do with greatness? Prayer of Thanksgiving (Luke 22:14) calls us back to see what we have been given. Prayer of Relinquishment (Luke 22:39) is about the surrendering of what we’ve been given. Jesus is saying to us, “Come to my table, give thanks before the greatness happens, relinquish and surrender your life, because as you do, you will find what it means to be truly human.”
THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
Prayer creates in us the atmosphere of greatness
SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): What is the Prayer of Thanksgiving about? What is the Prayer of Relinquishment about?
Mirror (Where am I in the story?): How is Jesus’ pathway to greatness different than that of the world? Do you tend to strive for greatness or find yourself apathetic toward it?
Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): How do you see practicing the Prayer of Thanksgiving changing the way you see what’s around you? Is the Prayer of Relinquishment a part of that, too? How?
BE IT – Practice 15 minutes
Change UP // Exercise 10 minutes
Our desire is that the things that marked Jesus’ life will mark ours. Take one minute of silence and ask the Lord to speak words or give you pictures of what He wants you to know about that right now. Then spend time sharing as you feel led and praying for each other to press into those revelations.
Change IN // Group Activity 5 minutes
Talk about the example Dave gave of the Chinese finger trap. How do you see that as a picture of relinquishment or pressing into Him instead of pulling away from something that doesn’t feel like goodness?
Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
As you go into your week, pause with a prayer of thankfulness before an activity or interaction. Let that orient you into operating out of your identity in Christ. When you’re faced with something that does not look like goodness, surrender that to God and how He names goodness
CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.