Sermon Recap
Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV) Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at [a]Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And [b]Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
This is the first time we meet Mary in Scripture. And from the very beginning, Mary was breaking through the norms and expectations of the day. She obliterated the protocols, ignored the culturally accepted systems, and refused to allow others’ expectations to control her. She broke through into a place most have never had the courage or grit to break into. She broke through business, activity, distraction, anxiety, and all outside voices to be found where she was called to be. Where we are all called to be. At His Feet!!!
Pastor John talked about 3 practical thoughts to help accelerate your prayer life.
You learn how to pray by praying. Just start!
When you pray, don't think list, think person. Prayer’s purpose is to encounter Him.
Build your prayer life by setting and committing to a time and place.
Key Scripture
Read through these passages together:
Matthew 14:23 (NIV) After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.
Mark 1:35 (NIV) Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Mark 6:46 (NIV) After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
Luke 5:16 (NIV) But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 6:12 (NIV) One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Luke 9:18 (NIV) Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
Luke 11:1 (NIV) One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Discussion Questions
Discuss together, pushing yourself toward transparency. The more we are authentic and humble with one another, the more we can grow in Christ.
Wow! Discuss how important prayer was to Jesus?
Notice that the disciples never asked how to heal someone, or how to cast out a demon, or even how to perform miracles. What they asked Jesus was to teach them how to pray. They knew where Jesus’ power came from. He walked with power because he led a life of prayer with His Father. Why don’t we as Christians walk with the power we see the disciples walk with or even the early church believers?
Have you ever thought about prayer as an encounter with a person before?
What is your time and place that you have set for prayer? If you haven’t set a time and place, do it now!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach me to pray. Teach me to love prayer. Teach me about all the benefits of a consistent prayer life with you. Lord, when I pray may I encounter you each time. May I be overwhelmed by your presence, your grace and your mercy upon my life. May you give me ears to hear your voice and revelation of your will. Teach me to worship you in prayer. Teach me what it means to Ask, Seek, and Knock! When I pray, your promise to me is that you will meet with me. Thank You Jesus! Amen
Life Application
Set a time and place to pray everyday this week. Don't miss it and don’t skip it.
Have a journal with you, because when God begins to speak to you, you are going to want to remember what he is saying. Write it down.
Don’t Forget!