Questions from the Dunamis Series, Week 2

At the beginning of the 11am worship gathering, new members were received. During that time we were reminded of our call, as part of a local church, to be in a relationship of encouragement, accountability, mutual service, and unity...what are ways your Group can actively fulfill this call, within your Life Group and in the greater Body?

By way of review from last week, we looked at Mk. 9:14-29;
“There are some things in this life that will not be realized apart from prayer.”

• How have you seen this principle at work in your own life?
• Why would God allow this principle to work when He says He knows what we need even before we ask? 

Today we looked at Acts 3:1-10 and Acts 4:1-12;

• Pastor Shawn made this statement:  only in the authority of Jesus’ name is dunamis power available.  
• ...what do you “know” about the name of Jesus?
• ...in the accounts recorded in Acts 3 and 4, we see a miracle of healing taking place.  Have you ever witnessed a miraculous intervention of God?  Share about this with the group.   
• ...how have you personally experienced the power of Jesus’ name making a difference in your prayer life?

Read John 17:11-12a;

• ...how does praying in Jesus’ name help us pray in His nature?
• ...why is this important?
• ...whose authority defines your prayer life?  Pastor Shawn mentioned some things that often creep in and try to define our prayers - tradition, relationships, selfishness, incorrect identity, are a few.  What is your biggest struggle in this area?

It’s so important in the arena of prayer to REALLY BELIEVE and ACT as though GOD IS FOR US.  This is a review point from last week, but too important to not delve into if you didn’t meet last week.  

“GOD... IS... FOR... US...”

• How does our view of God directly impact our understanding of this concept?
  • In what ways have you improperly viewed God?
• What are ways we can miss the “is” part of this statement?
  • If God is present and near, how does that change the way you address your biggest challenges? How does it change the way you Celebrate your biggest victories?
• How does knowing God is an advocate, defender, champion for us impact the way we approach him in prayer?
  • What are the lies the enemy tries to convince us of about God’s presence and that he is ‘for us’?
• What is our role in this phrase?
  • How does this indicate a more corporate (vs. individual) focus in how we approach the things God has for us?

Each of us were challenged to spend this week talking to God about how we should step into the “21 Days of Prayer” emphasis launching on March 18th. If you don’t have one handy, you can download it at www.slwchurch.org or grab a copy in the Hub or the Worship Center next week.  Pastor Shawn mentioned that the most important part of this process is our heart and not our plan.  While that is true, the reality is that without a plan we seldom change much about our lives.  

• • If this is your first time to step into something like this, what are the greatest obstacles to participating?
  • If you’ve done something like this before, what can you share by way of encouragement or challenge with the group?
  • How can you pray for and encourage each other as you seek God in new ways during this time of “21 Days of Prayer”?  Be practical, specific and accountable to each other as you “Seek God’s Presence and not His Power.”

Take time to pray for each other: ask God to again show himself as the one who is FOR you. Ask Him to search your hearts and reveal to you the areas where He wants to demonstrate his power in your life. Ask Him to help you encourage one another as you seek God together.

Identify areas of your lives where you know His work will only be done by prayer, and have your Group lay hands on each other as you seek Him together. Be sure to just sit in His presence and ask Him how He would have you pray.