Are You There? | August 20, 2023 | Asking
What are you asking for right now? Health, relationship, accomplishment, stability? Central to the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11:2-4 is a posture and practice of asking. Asking is how you learn to know that God is trustworthy, present, and with you in all things. Jesus invites you to ask for things as big as God's Kingdom come and will be done, and for things as small as the ordinary details, like daily bread.
When you ask in prayer, something happens between you and God, in you, and around you. Author and pastor Tyler Staton says, "We come for gifts and we get the Giver." Jeremiah 29:13 reminds each person that asking in prayer is about being present with who you pray to greater than what you pray for, "If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."
KEY VERSES
Matthew 6:9-13 NLT -9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
Psalms 46:10 NLT -10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”
Luke 5:16 NLT -16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
Psalms 131:1-2 NLT -1 Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. 2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Philippians 4:4 NLT -4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
John 10:27 NLT -27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Psalms 18:30 NLT -30 God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
HEARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING
One of the best ways to hear what God is saying right now is to look at what He has said in the Bible with a few friends. Discovery Bible Study is an easy-to-use way to hear from God, make good changes in our lives, and share with others what God is up to. Grab some friends, pick a verse or story from above and dive in deeper to this week’s message.
Recap
+ Reconnect
To begin the study, each person answers these questions:
- What are you thankful for?
- What is causing stress for our neighbors and people around us?
- What can we as individuals or as a group do to help?
+ Recap
- Have someone retell the story from your previous meeting.
- Did you live out your response from last week?
- Did you tell anyone else about the story from last week?
Discovering What God Is Saying
+ Read and Retell the Bible Story
- One person reads the story out loud to the group.
- Someone else in the group retells the story in their own words as they remember it, and others fill in what’s missing.
+ Read and Look
- Read the passage again (different version if possible)
- What does this passage say about God, Jesus, or His plan?
+ Read and Look Again
- Have 1-2 more people retell the story as if they were telling a neighbor outside their home.
- What does this passage say about people in general?
Doing What God Is Saying
+ Consider
- What in me needs to change to better DO what God is showing me today?
- How will you respond to/obey this passage in a tangible, perhaps even costly ways in the next 47 hours?
- Have someone record these for prayer time, and for the beginning of the next meeting.
Sharing what God is saying
+ Praying Together
- Take prayer requests
- Pray together
+ Share
- Who in your life needs to hear this story?
- Who could you invite to study the Bible like this?
GIVING
Everything that happens at Canyon Ridge is because of your generous gifts. When you give to God through Canyon Ridge, you're helping reach thousands with the Gospel each week and making a difference for the people of Las Vegas and around the world!