Week 4 - PRAYER
REVIEW
How did looking around you and asking Jesus what and who He wants you to see go (especially with the 3 or 4 people from your Circle of Influence Map)?
Did anything stand out to you from last week’s follow-up Bible readings?
Our mission is to Join Jesus in making disciples of those around us by living a Prayer > Care > Share > Dare lifestyle.
JOIN JESUS
Jesus is on a mission to seek and save the lost. Not only does Jesus call us to join Him as His disciples, but He also calls us to join Him as His mission partners. As we join Him in this mission of making and maturing disciples, Jesus has promised to join us.
BEAR FRUIT
This mission is to be the fruit of our relationship with Jesus. Only as we remain in Jesus can we bear the fruit of a Christlike life and the fruit of making and maturing disciples.
LOOK AROUND
Look around you and see that your mission field is ripe for harvest.
And now …
PRAYER
Pray for others to encounter Jesus.
DISCOVER
Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.
1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NIV)
1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
Have someone retell these passages in their own words.
What stands out to you in these passages?
What do these passages say about God (The Father, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit)?
What do these passages say about people, including ourselves?
What do these passages say about the life God invites us to live?
Digging Deeper
Why is prayer not just preparation for the work of mission but the first and most urgent part of the work of mission?
Colossians 4:2-6 (NIV)
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
2 Corinthians 4:4-6 (NIV)
4 The god of this age (referring to Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
From these passages, what would be some things we could pray for as we join Jesus on mission to those around us?
What’s your reaction to these quotes?
Billy Graham
Prayer is crucial in evangelism: Only God can change the heart of someone who is in rebellion against Him. No matter how logical our arguments or how fervent our appeals, our words will accomplish nothing unless God's Spirit prepares the way.
J. Sidlow Baxter
People may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.
Now, let’s answer this question again: Why is prayer not just preparation for the work of mission but the first and most urgent part of the work of mission?
Missional Prayers
Start using these two missional prayers.
For Yourself
Start your day and regularly pray throughout your day (especially as you transition from one activity to another or one location to another) …
Jesus, how can I join You in mission? Give me eyes to see and ears to hear and courage to do what You show me.
Stay attentive and be ready to follow the Lord’s leading.
For Others
Regularly pray this prayer for the people on your Circle of Influence Map.
Father, I pray for _______'s salvation. Help me to live a consistent and attractive Christlike life around _______. Show me _______’s needs so that I can serve him/her with Your love. Do something in _______’s life that can only be explained by Your presence and power. Deepen our relationship together. Open doors for me to have spiritual conversations with _______ and help me to share the Good News of Jesus with him/her. Overcome Satan's blinding of _______'s heart and mind so that he/she will turn from sin, trust in Jesus as Savior, follow Him as Lord and join a community of believers.
What strikes you from these two missional prayers?
What might you add to these prayers?
What would happen if you began to regularly pray the second prayer for the 3 or 4 people from your Circle of Influence Map?
Spend some time right now praying for them.
LIVE
This week, daily pray the missional prayer for yourself and the missional prayer for the 3 or 4 people from your Circle of Influence Map.
Continue to look around you and pray as the Lord leads for what and who you see.
Next Meeting
When will we meet again?
Who will facilitate that meeting?
Pray for God’s help as you seek to join Jesus in mission this coming week.
Follow-Up Bible Readings
Connect with your buddy this week and ask each other these questions: