Mt. Prayer

Series: What Faith Moves: The Mountains of the Bible

Sermon Title: Mt. Prayer

Speaker: Sam Rainer

Text: Revelation 14:1-3, 2 Samuel 5:6-7, Psalm 48:1-3

Date: July 21, 2024

Reflect

What is your favorite place to retreat to when you need to think or pray? Why is that place significant to you?
Have you ever experienced a time when you felt a prayer was clearly answered? What happened, and how did it impact your faith?

In John 6:15, why do you think Jesus withdrew to the hills by himself after the crowd wanted to make him king?
Luke 5:16 mentions Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray. What does this tell us about the balance between ministry and personal spiritual practices?
What can we learn from Mark 11:22-24 in the context of praying with faith? What does this passage say about the nature and power of prayer?

How can we incorporate scheduled prayer into our daily lives to ensure we maintain a strong connection with God?
In what ways can our church community engage more in corporate prayer to build trust in God and each other?

What are some challenges you face in maintaining a consistent prayer life, and how can we support each other in overcoming them?
How does the concept of “God’s fingerprints” on our lives through answered prayers resonate with your personal experiences?
What steps can we take to ensure that our prayers are aligned with the purpose of glorifying God, rather than just seeking personal benefits?

Jesus’ Pattern of Prayer: Jesus consistently withdrew to pray, demonstrating the importance of personal communion with God amidst busy ministry (John 6:15, Luke 5:16).
Historical Context: The feeding of the 5000 was a significant miracle that led people to want to make Jesus their king, but He retreated to align with His divine mission rather than earthly power.

Matthew 6:9-13 (The Lord’s Prayer): Provides a model for prayer, emphasizing the importance of seeking God’s will and kingdom, aligning with the sermon’s focus on the purpose of prayer.
James 1:5-8 (Prayer for Wisdom): Encourages believers to ask God for wisdom with faith, highlighting the necessity of believing in the power of prayer.
Philippians 4:6-7 (Prayer and Peace): Advises believers to present their requests to God through prayer and petition, promising peace that guards hearts and minds, which connects to the sermon’s theme of trust in God through prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (Constant Prayer): Urges believers to pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances, supporting the sermon’s call for persistent and scheduled prayer.
Ephesians 6:18 (Prayer in the Spirit): Encourages praying in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests, linking to the sermon’s emphasis on various types of prayer.