Imagine Immeasurably More- Week 3

Icebreaker: Who is the first person you go to for advice in life? Why?

Study:

READ James 5:17-18

1- What do you think James means when he says, “Elijah was a human being, even as we are”? 

2- How has prayer helped you navigate tough situations in the past?

READ 1 Kings 17:1

3- Have you experienced a season of consequence, because of doing things your way instead of God’s way?

READ 1 Kings 18:41

4- How do you think Elijah was able to hear the sound of rain in verse 41 and perceive it was coming?

READ 1 Kings 18:42

5- What can Elijah’s physical posture in prayer tell us about his view of God and his view of himself?

6- How can you take a practical step this week toward forming a higher view of God and a more humble view of self? 

7- In the same way, how can you take a practical step toward ensuring humility in prayer does not turn into a low view of self?

• Leader Note: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.” -Rick Warren. A healthy high view should not lead to an unhealthy view of self. Rather, a right view of who God is leads to a correct view of who you are- a chosen child of God. How to balance these two postures is key to prayer as well as important in today’s identity troubled culture.

READ 1 Kings 18:43-44

8- Why do you think we often fail to be persistent in prayer? (Follow up questions if necessary): Is it a lack of confidence that God will answer,  a lack of confidence that your prayers are being heard, or something else?

9- Like a cloud appearing in the sky promising rain, how has God given you glimpses of hope through persistent prayer?

READ 1 Kings 18:45-46

10- Has God answered a big prayer at some point in your life? If so, share how this has helped strengthen you and build your faith.

11- Notice how in verse 41 Elijah told King Ahab to eat and drink because he knew there was a journey ahead of him. Elijah made that same trek on foot (v.46), without any food. All he needed was prayer. How has praying consistently for the past couple weeks strengthened you? How do you hope prayer will continue to strengthen you?

Next Steps:

12- If you’ve been writing down the things people were praying about from the last weeks, ask for an update now! If you have not been keeping up with prayer requests, now is a good time to ask.

13- What is something you have been praying about off and on, but can start praying about more persistently starting this week?

14- Read James 4 and 5 this week and write down everything you learn about prayer.