Week 11: Matthew 7:7-12 = Ask, Seek, Knock…and Others
What did Jesus mean in Matthew 7:7-12 when He taught His disciples to ask, seek, and knock in their prayer lives? What does that look like for us? For you?
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DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- It is back to school time for a lot of people right now. What did you like about “back to school” when you were a kid?
- What was one of the best gifts you ever received as a child?
- What was the earliest memories you have about praying?
- Think of 3 words that you would use to describe your prayer life?
READ: Matthew 7:7-12.
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
- Observations: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- How would you summarize this passage in one sentence?
- What does this passage tell me about who God is?
- What does this passage tell me about who I am?
- If God hears you, why is it important to pray persistently? Why does he want you to pray more than once for your needs?
- What prayers can you look back on and be glad that God did not answer in the way you initially wanted? How did God answer the prayer better than you asked? Or how was it good that God refrained from giving you what you wanted?
- The Bible says to ask and God will provide. What in your life do you desire but are not praying for? Why?
READ the following verses and briefly talk about what they tell us about how we pray to our Heavenly Father:
1 John 5:14
Jeremiah 33:3
Philippians 4:4-7
Colossians 4:2
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
Matthew 6:9-13
Matthew 6:33
- What could you begin praying for this week that God would change in your life?
- How bold and brave are your prayers? Are they filled with needs that you can accomplish on your own or needs that require God to provide?
- Doug talked about finding “prayer prompts” to remind you to ASK/SEEK/KNOCK and pray persistently. What are some prayer prompts could you put in place?
- How could you pray for OTHERS this week with this ASK/SEEK/KNOCK mindset?
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
- APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we have learned. What is your next step? Be specific.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
PRAYER:
Spend some time praying for each other.
Scripture References:
Matthew 7:7-12; Matthew 6:5-8, 9-13; Luke 11:1-13; Luke 18:1-8; Matthew 6:33; 1 John 5:14; Jeremiah 33:3; Philippians 4:4-7; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
