Prayer Study-Session Seven (2/24/07)

Study Guide for Chapter 10: “Does Prayer Change God?” and Chapter 11: “Ask, Seek, Knock”.

Chapter 10: “Does Prayer Change God?”

A. A verse to memorize: Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "

B. Book/Bible Study

1. After setting up the argument with come contrasting verses and giving some history of the debate about whether prayer changes God, Yancey gives “the Bible’s view”. What is it?
   
2. Explain the concept of life being like a play that is in the process of being created and describe how it relates to prayer.
   
3. Explain the quotation from Charles Finney on page 134; “If you ask why he ever answers prayer at all, the answer must be, Because he is unchangeable.”

C. Class Discussion

1. In what way does the last paragraph on page 144 give you an answer to the question in the title of this chapter?
   
2. Your questions and comments.

Chapter 11: “Ask, Seek, Knock”

B. Book/Bible Study

1. The theme of this chapter can be stated in one word: _________________
   
2. “God hears all, but doesn’t grant all.” Last week Lindsey referred to a movie which dramatically shows why God doesn’t grant all prayers. What was the movie and how does it explain the issue?

C. Class Discussion

1. The last section of chapter 11, “Winning By Losing” is paradoxical. How would you explain the paradox to someone else?
   
2. Your questions and comments

I also want to make sure you know about a movie coming out this Friday (the 23^rd). It’s called “Amazing Grace”—the story of how William Wilberforce and John Newton (the author of the song) were instrumental in abolishing the slave trade in the 19^th century. See more about the movie and some actions that can be done today to abolish the slave trade going on in the 21^st century.

Most importantly, go see the movie this weekend. Go to http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/ and enter your zip code in the box on the right side where you can find a theater near you. Theaters and movie distributors are influenced by the first weekend’s box office; and whether the movie sticks around for more than a week will be determined by how many see it the first weekend.

Prayer Study-Session Six (2/18/2007)

Chapter 9: “What Difference Does It Make?”

1. Why do you think bad things happen, and what is our role when they happen?
2. Yancey makes one major point in this chapter. Describe it in your own words.
3. Your questions and comments.

C. Class Discussion

1. After reading these chapters, describe why prayer makes a difference.
2. Read Rev. 8:1-5 in light of Yancey’s explanation on page 130. Does his explanation make sense to you?

Prayer Study-Session Five (2/11/2007)

Study Guide for Chapters 8 & 9: “Partnership” and “What Difference Does It Make?”

Both of these chapters bring together the dual partnerships of God & us and prayer & action. God chooses to do His work by partnering with us. We cannot do God’s work without partnering with Him by prayer. Prayer is the weapon of choice in the fight against evil. We must pray to fight; and we must fight sustained by prayer.

A. A verse to memorize: Prayer & action
James 2:14-17 (NIV)
¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

B. Book / Bible Study

Chapter 8: “Partnership”

1. God working with & through us is an unbalanced partnership. What makes it work?
2. From reading pages 101-106, fill in the blanks: God’s pattern of partnering with us is not as a ___________________, but as a ____________________.
3. List Yancey’s “three stages of prayer”. Do you think they are accurate? Where would you place yourself?
   
4. Your questions and comments.

C. Class Discussion

1. After reading these chapters, describe why prayer makes a difference.