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Date: August 8, 2021
Serve Through Prayer
The Point: Serve those around you through consistent prayer.
Get Into the Study
Use the following information to introduce Question #1.
During the night on June 24, the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, Florida collapsed. Law enforcement and rescue personnel worked to rescue any survivors, while family and friends waited for news of their loved ones. People from all faiths prayed for miracles. J.P. Funk is pastor of the Calvary Chapel Miami Beach church that is located about a mile from the condo. That church got permission to set up a tent near the collapsed building, a place where people could pray. Funk described how they were praying, saying, “…along with [praying for miracles], our focus has been the compassion and presence of God in the midst of crisis at a human level. We pray for the families to quickly recover their loved ones’ remains as this causes great anguish once it is most probable that they have perished.” Another local church named Church by the Sea dedicated its Sunday service to prayer for the disaster and collected an offering for the relief work.
Say: People from many congregations in the Surfside, Florida, community recently focused their prayers as the heart-breaking disaster unfolded. Then call attention to Question #1 (When have you seen a community really focused on prayer?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
Get Into the Study [Option from Adult Leader Guide]
In advance, play a video that shows a community focused on prayer. Then ask Question #1.
Study the Bible
Use the following information to introduce Question #3.
Baptist Press recently reported the story of Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, TN. The church has been a place of “miracles and wonders” over the past seven months with 1361 people baptized and people’s lives changed. But tragedy struck the church in recent days when their discipleship pastor Chris Swain, died at age 47. He had taken his dog out for a walk when he collapsed. He was transported to the hospital but he never regained consciousness. A few days later, on July 15, Swain died. Robby Gallaty, the senior pastor at Long Hollow, described how the congregation gathered at the hospital and prayed for Swain. “We begged God, we read Scripture, we wept at times because we could not talk,” Gallaty said. “It’s easier to believe in God when it looks like he’s working than when it looks like he is not,” he said. “But the prayer of faith is not so much about the outcomes as it is with the relationship you develop with God along the way.” Gallaty acknowledges that prayers are not always answered in the ways he hoped for. “The Bible doesn’t offer explanations to cope with life’s problems,” he said. “It offers promises to cling to.”
Say: Pastor Gallaty and his congregation have prayed courageous prayers in recent days. Then call attention to Question #3 (When have you seen someone pray courageously during a time of need?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
— Donna McKinney wrote these Leader Extras. Donna is retired from a career with the federal government of the United States. She is a veteran Bible study group leader living in North Carolina. 
Additional Questions
Icebreakers
- What have you learned about God through answered prayer?
- When have someone’s prayers for you impacted your life?
- Do you find it easy or difficult to pray for others? Explain.
1 Kings 17:17-18
- What are some ways this woman had experienced hardship?
- What is your initial reaction to hardships or unwanted news?
- What have you learned about trusting God when difficult news comes?
1 Kings 17:19-21
- When have you felt impressed by God to intercede for someone?
- How does the act of prayer help build your faith?
- What can Elijah’s example teach us about praying for others?
1 Kings 17:22-24
- What do these verses reveal about God?
- How have our group’s prayers helped you in your walk with Christ?
- What practice or tools help you remain consistent in praying for others?
For Those in Your Group
Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a follow-up thought:
What to Pray When You Don’t Know What to Pray
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
Magazine Article
This article complements the study. Share this link with your group members.
- HomeLife – Our Father
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
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