James 5:13-20

Big Idea: Prayer is our connection to Jesus, our source of overcoming.

1. Prayer is the breath to our spiritual lungs. 

"To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." - Martin Luther

Psalm 5:1-3

2. Prayer anchors our humanity, and roots us in our humility.

a. Prayer reveals our need…we are like everyone else.

b. Prayer reveals our limits…and we can’t do it all.

c. Prayer reveals our sins and weaknesses…. we need to confess to one another.

“In the same way that a small child cannot draw a bad picture so a child of God cannot offer a bad prayer.” - Richard Foster

3. Prayer rearranges our priorities.

There is a mystery to prayer - sometimes God allows our prayer to change circumstances in this world - and sometimes it doesn’t. Nothing is guaranteed, but miracles still routinely happen. One guarantee though - we will be changed as we pray.

“I really believe that it is possible for you to develop a simple life of prayer that can give you that ‘holy indifference.’ By that, I mean the place where you feel so truly safe and so well held that the ups and downs of your life aren’t able to distress you or excite you.” - Henri Nouwen

Response:

• Make prayer your spiritual breath—in and out, throughout the day. 

• Make Trust the anchor no matter the answer to your prayers. 

• Pray for something specific for each member of your oikos.

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's Passage: Colossians 1:24-29

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)