SESSION 8
“It is impossible for a believer, no matter what his experience, to keep right with God if he will not take the trouble to spend time with God. . . Spend plenty of time with God; let other things go, but don’t neglect Him.” – J. Oswald Sanders
I. Prayer:
The great people on the earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer, nor those who can explain about prayer; but I mean those people who take time to pray. They have not time, it must be taken from something else.
1. Because God is the believer’s refuge, what are you told to do? (Psalm 62:8)
2. How does 1 Thessalonians 5:17 relate to Psalm 62:8?
3. What conditions of prayer do you find in the following verses?
- Psalm 66:18
- Matthew 21:22
- John 15:7
- John 16:24
- 1 John 5:14-15
4. What common truth do you find in Jeremiah 33:3 and Ephesians 3:20?
5. Consider Jesus’ pattern for prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.
- How does the prayer begin? How is this important?
- Which requests are God-centered? (Matthew 6:9-10)
- Which requests are man-centered? (Matthew 6:11-13)
- In what specific ways can this pattern for praying help you pray?
6. Using Paul’s prayer as a guideline, list some requests you pray for others and yourself. Ephesians 3:14-21.
7. The basic elements of prayer can be remembered by the word ACTS: which is composed of the first letters of the following words. Write a brief definition for each:
Adoration – _______________________________________________________
Confession – ______________________________________________________
Thanksgiving – ____________________________________________________
Supplication – _____________________________________________________
This is merely a guideline and not a rigid sequence, which you must follow.
8. If you do not have a plan to pray, your prayer life will fall prey to your other plans. Do you have a plan for your prayer life? Decide on a plan for your prayer life so that you can first meet with God daily and then bring your requests before Him.
II. Bible Study:
Either you are in the Word of God and the Word is conforming you into the image of Jesus, or you are in the world and the world is squeezing you into its mold.
1. Look up the following verses and summarize some of the ways the Bible is important to you as a Christian.
- Jeremiah 15:16
- John 5:39
- 2 Peter 1:4
- 1 John 2:1
2. Study 1 Peter 2:2.
- What should be our attitude toward studying the Word of God?
- What is the purpose or aim of the Word of God? Explain.
3. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
- All scripture is from____________________. Why is that important?
- What will the Word of God do for you?
- What will the Word of God equip you for?
4. Read Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:1-3.
- What will be the results of a person who meditates on God’s Word?
- What does it mean to “meditate on God’s Word”?
5. Read Psalm 119:9-16.
- Do you see the importance of God’s Word? How will you be committed to spend time daily in the Word of God?
- What will it cost you to spend time daily in your Father’s words written to you?
- Is it worth it? If so, plan to spend time daily in your Father’s words written to you. Write your plan here:
6. How intense and necessary was David’s desire to know God? Psalm 42:1-2.
You too must earnestly and eagerly seek God as you pray and read His Word.
III. Scripture memory verses for the week:
Jeremiah 33:3 and Joshua 1:8