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.