Sermon Notes
Follow along with the latest sermon with engaging
discussion questions and challenging truths.
discussion questions and challenging truths.
Raise The Sails Part 4
Sunday, July 20th
“Teach Us To Pray”
Summary
This sermon on Luke 11:1-4 explores the transformative power of prayer as the ultimate "sail-raising practice" that enables believers to cooperate with the Holy Spirit rather than rely solely on their own strength. The pastor argues that what grieves God most is not necessarily our most shameful sins, but rather our prayerlessness - our willingness to live "outside the garden" despite Christ's sacrifice opening the relational door to intimate communion with God. Drawing from Jesus' model prayer, the sermon emphasizes that prayer is fundamentally about relationship with our loving Father, not perfect technique or eloquent words. The message concludes with the concept of spiritual "middle voice" - neither passive waiting nor exhausting self-effort, but active participation in God's work through prayer, where we raise our sails to catch the Spirit's wind while still engaging our oars in faithful cooperation with divine purpose.
Discussion Questions
1. Prayerlessness as the Greatest Grief: The pastor suggests that prayerlessness, rather than specific sins, may be what grieves God most. How does this perspective challenge or affirm your understanding of what matters most to God? Do you agree that "prayerlessness is really just godlessness in disguise"?
2. The Garden Metaphor: What does it mean practically to spend time "in the garden" with God versus living "outside the garden"? How can we recognize when we're choosing to stay outside despite the open door Christ provided?
3. Sailing vs. Rowing: Reflect on the metaphor of raising sails versus rowing in your own strength. In what areas of your life do you find yourself "rowing" when you could be "sailing"? What would it look like to practice the "middle voice" of cooperating with God's Spirit?
4. Jesus' Model of Prayer: When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, they were drawn to His intimate relationship with the Father. What aspects of Jesus' prayer life do you find most compelling or challenging? How might viewing God as "Father" change your prayer practice?
5. "Give" Prayers: The pastor mentions that "give prayers are good prayers" and encourages boldness in making requests. How comfortable are you with asking God for things you need? What holds you back from approaching God's throne with confidence?
6. Forgiveness and Sail-Raising: The sermon identifies bitterness and unforgiveness as "sail-lowering practices." Is there anyone you need to forgive in order to keep your spiritual sails raised? How does harboring unforgiveness affect your relationship with God?
7. Personal Wing Dams: Jesus taught us to pray "lead us not into temptation," acknowledging our personal vulnerabilities. What are some "wing dams" beneath the surface in your own life that you need God's help to navigate around?
8. Everything Depends on Prayer: The 1962 quote suggests that many defeats and discouragements in Christian life stem from praying too little. Do you truly believe that "everything depends on prayer"? How would your daily life change if you fully embraced this belief?
1. Prayerlessness as the Greatest Grief: The pastor suggests that prayerlessness, rather than specific sins, may be what grieves God most. How does this perspective challenge or affirm your understanding of what matters most to God? Do you agree that "prayerlessness is really just godlessness in disguise"?
2. The Garden Metaphor: What does it mean practically to spend time "in the garden" with God versus living "outside the garden"? How can we recognize when we're choosing to stay outside despite the open door Christ provided?
3. Sailing vs. Rowing: Reflect on the metaphor of raising sails versus rowing in your own strength. In what areas of your life do you find yourself "rowing" when you could be "sailing"? What would it look like to practice the "middle voice" of cooperating with God's Spirit?
4. Jesus' Model of Prayer: When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, they were drawn to His intimate relationship with the Father. What aspects of Jesus' prayer life do you find most compelling or challenging? How might viewing God as "Father" change your prayer practice?
5. "Give" Prayers: The pastor mentions that "give prayers are good prayers" and encourages boldness in making requests. How comfortable are you with asking God for things you need? What holds you back from approaching God's throne with confidence?
6. Forgiveness and Sail-Raising: The sermon identifies bitterness and unforgiveness as "sail-lowering practices." Is there anyone you need to forgive in order to keep your spiritual sails raised? How does harboring unforgiveness affect your relationship with God?
7. Personal Wing Dams: Jesus taught us to pray "lead us not into temptation," acknowledging our personal vulnerabilities. What are some "wing dams" beneath the surface in your own life that you need God's help to navigate around?
8. Everything Depends on Prayer: The 1962 quote suggests that many defeats and discouragements in Christian life stem from praying too little. Do you truly believe that "everything depends on prayer"? How would your daily life change if you fully embraced this belief?