CELL NOTES 2/3/09

ICE BREAKER

What are you thoughts/ hopes/ expectations/ fears as a new group begins?  What have you appreciated most from any previous experience in a cell?

THEME

Prayer and meditation

Reading; Matthew 14 : 22 - 33

SERMON OUTLINE

1) “What does the word “prayer” mean for you?

            The last resort

            Feel you ought to, but never quite make it

            Something you avoid

            Undertake with varying enthusiasm/ expectation

            Joyful and fruitful activity

            A mixture of the above!

2) A clear spiritual discipline urged on believers in the Bible.

3) Jesus did it ( v 23)

4) Two desperate prayers in the reading ( vv 26, 30)

5) Our understanding can often be limited by childhood experience, or the prayer we were exposed to at a formative time of our lives.

6) Phil 4 : 4 – 9. Bring it all to him, whatever is happening in your life. Look to be thankful in the midst of it all.

7) Be real. What is God saying to you, via the “distractions” that often come when we pray?

8) Do you believe it makes any difference? Tony Campolo story.

9) Do it ( Mat 6 : 5) We put ourselves out for many things – how much for Jesus?

10) Be realistic in what you attempt ( e.g. an initial regular five or ten minutes)

11) “Pray as you can, not as you can’t” – find the time, place, and manner that best suits you.

12) Don’t forget it’s two way. listen to God

QUESTIONS OF APPLICATION

1) How do you feel about prayer? What are people’s habits in this area?

2) What do you expect to happen? Any stories, testimonies of recent experience?

3) Look at Phil 4 : 4 – 9 – how might this passage help you to grow in realistic prayer?

4) How did folk get on with the imaginative exercise we did on Sunday.

5) Pray for each other in pairs.