Date: August 7, 2022
Pray for Your Neighbor
The Point: Love your neighbors by taking their needs to God in prayer.
Get Into the Study
Use the following information to introduce Question 1.
May 2022 provided a rare ‘stable’ climbing window for adventurers hoping to summit the tallest mountain in the world. This spring, 700 people successfully summited Mount Everest, and the mountain saw significantly fewer deaths, rescues, and drama than in a typical climbing year. Nevertheless, as happens annually, Everest did claim lives: three climbers died on the mountain in 2022.
Those who wish to risk death in order to climb the world’s tallest mountain can’t just book a ticket and start hiking. Each must prove his or her climbing credentials through a minimum of:
- 9-12 months of climbing training
- 5-6 days of training per week
- Rigorous mental preparation and ability to deal with a perpetually stressful environment.
- Two months to travel and prepare on site, at basecamp
- And a significant financial outlay (anywhere from $30,000 to $160,000).
Say: “For those who wish to climb the mountain, the expenses of money, time, and body are an investment worth making.” Then read Question 1: (“When have you seen hours of training and hard work pay off?”)
Information for this post was gleaned from:
https://www.alpineascents.com/climbs/mount-everest/training/
https://climbingthesevensummits.com/everest-prerequisites-preparation/
Get Into the Study [from Adult Leader Guide, p. 123 and KJV Adult Leader Guide, p. 122]
In advance, play a video clip demonstrating the importance of hard work. Then ask Question #1.
Study the Bible
Use the following information to introduce Question 3.
A recent Pew Research Center study revealed that less than half of American adults– just 45% – pray daily. Another 32% of Americans indicated that they “seldom or never pray.” But studying prayer is notoriously difficult. One researcher noted: “Not everyone prays in the same way, [or] means the same thing by prayer.” Nevertheless, when he spoke with a group of breast cancer survivors as part of his research, many spontaneously shared about the importance of prayer to their journey through cancer.
Say: “While research shows that belief in God does increase one’s likelihood to pray, even the strongest believers still sometimes struggle in their prayer lives.” Then read Question 3: (“What do you find challenging about prayer?”)
Information for this post was gleaned from:
https://www.christianpost.com/news/fewer-than-half-of-american-adults-pray-daily-study.html
Jessica Connell wrote these Leader Extras. Jess is a homeschooling mom of 9 who has served around the world in ministry with her husband. She loves hiking, exploring, and being active in her local church in North Texas.
Study the Bible (Option from Young Adult Leader Guide, p. 118)
Guide the group in a time of silent prayer while playing soft worship music in the background. Click here for one option.
Additional Questions
Icebreakers
- Who is someone you’ve known to be a “prayer warrior”? What do you find inspiring about them?
- What repetitious, perhaps boring, tasks have resulted in great benefits in your life?
- When have you enjoyed training for a job, task, or achievement?
1 Timothy 2:1-4
- What benefits have you seen come from prayer?
- What has helped you to recognize the importance of prayer?
- How can daily prayer impact our spiritual growth?
1 Timothy 2:5-6
- What does it mean for Jesus to be our mediator before God?
- What can we pray for others to recognize about Jesus?
- Which part of 1 Timothy 2:5-6 do you find encouraging?
1 Timothy 2:7-8
- How can a believer become more effective in praying for the salvation of others?
- How does the love among the church family—or the lack of it—affect our witness to the community?
- What attitudes can hinder our prayers 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:
Taking Someone Before the Throne of God
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
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