The Conversation that Changes Everything: Doing Prayer - Jeff Jewett

The Conversation that Changes Everything: Doing Prayer - Jeff Jewett

Prayer is more than asking God for things. Prayer moves us into a deeper relationship with God. In this message, we explore three directions of prayer: upward, inward, and outward. Through praise, we learn to fix our eyes on God's glory. Through confession, we experience God's grace. Through dependence, we join God in His work and learn to trust His timing. Along the way, we'll discover that prayer is not a technique to master, but a relationship to deepen. We'll also wrestle with unanswered prayers, learn from Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, and be reminded that because of Jesus, we can come to God with confidence. Scripture. Psalm 150:1-6 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. James 5:16 The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Outline. Main Idea: Prayer moves us into a deeper relationship with God. 1. Praising His Glory – Upward Prayer The prayer of awe • Praise God for who He is. • Learn to love God above all else. • Turn everyday joys into opportunities for praise. 2. Finding His Grace – Inward Prayer The prayer of intimacy • Come honestly before God. • Confess your sins. • Receive the grace and forgiveness found in Jesus. 3. Asking His Help – Outward Prayer The prayer of dependence • Join God in His work. • Align your heart with His will. • Keep asking, complaining, and waiting. 4. Jesus' Unanswered Prayer • Jesus understands our unanswered prayers. • Jesus received the rejection we deserved so we could receive the welcome He deserved. • Because of Jesus, we can pray with confidence. This Week's Challenge Practice one prayer in each direction every day: Upward: One sentence of praise. Inward: One confession. Outward: One prayer for someone else. One praise. One confession. One prayer for someone else. Questions. Kids: If prayer is like rowing a boat, who is someone you want to invite into the boat and pray for this week? Warm-up: When you were a kid, what did you have absolutely no patience for waiting on? Which direction of prayer comes most naturally to you right now: upward (praise), inward (confession), or outward (asking for help)? Which one is most difficult? We talked about how we often love good things more than we should. What is one thing in your life that is competing with God for first place in your heart? Why do you think many people find confession difficult? How does remembering that "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" change the way we approach God? Which type of outward prayer do you find yourself needing most right now: asking, complaining (lament), or waiting? Why? Is there a prayer you have been waiting a long time for God to answer? How has that waiting season shaped your faith? The sermon challenged us to practice one prayer in each direction every day. What would help you build a more consistent rhythm of prayer this week? Neighborhoods to Nations. Who is God inviting you to notice, pray for, or engage? What’s your next step? What is one need in our world that we can begin praying for together this week?

The Conv ersation that Changes Everything: Deepening Prayer - Joe Gregory

Many of us know far more about God than we experience of Him. In this sermon, we explore the gap between head knowledge and heart affection, and how God uses Scripture meditation and prayer to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him. Join us as we learn what it means to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. Main Idea. Prayer deepens when the truths we know about God move from our heads into our hearts. Outline. 1. The Problem: There Is a Gap Between Our Heads and Our Hearts We often know what is true but desire something else. God wants more than information; He wants transformation. 2. God's Design: Love Him With Mind and Heart God created us to think deeply and desire rightly. True devotion involves both understanding God and delighting in Him. Matthew 22:37 3. God's Grace: He Changes Our Hearts Sin turns our hearts inward toward ourselves. Through Christ, God gives us new hearts that can truly love Him. Ephesians 3:14-21 4. The Practice: Meditation and Prayer Deepen Our Love for God Meditation moves truth from our heads to our hearts. Prayer makes God's truth personal. Psalm 1 and Psalm 63 Questions. Where do you currently see a gap between what you know is true about God and what your heart actually longs for or trusts in? What has most captured your attention, affection, or energy lately? What does that reveal about where your heart is currently focused? Are there truths about God that you know intellectually but have not fully experienced or embraced in your heart? Why do you think that is? When was a time that Scripture and prayer moved beyond routine and became personally meaningful to you? What contributed to that experience? Neighborhoods to Nations. How might sharing our genuine love for Christ and our personal relationship with Him be more compelling to our neighbors than simply sharing information about Christianity? What opportunities has God placed around you to demonstrate and speak about that relationship?

Prayer: The Conversation that Changes Everything - Learning Prayer - Chris Clancy

When the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray,” He didn’t give them a performance. He didn’t give them rules. He gave them a pattern. Prayer begins with relationship: “Father.” Through Jesus, we are welcomed into God’s family, able to approach a holy God with reverence, trust, and confidence. This message explores four simple guidelines for prayer through the acronym ABBA: • Acknowledge who God is • Brokenness over our sin and need • Biddable obedience to God’s will • Assurance that God’s kingdom and purposes will prevail Prayer isn’t about having the perfect words. It’s about opening your heart to God, trusting Him, surrendering to Him, and learning to walk closely with Him day by day. Scripture: Luke 11:2–4, Matthew 6:9–13 Subscribe for more sermons and resources from Alongsider Church as we follow Jesus together and help others do the same.

Prayer: The Conversation that Changes Everything - Understanding Prayer - Jeff Jewett

What is prayer, and how do we actually experience God through it? In this message, we explore how prayer is our response to a conversation God has already started through His Word and through Jesus. As we learn to listen, prayer moves from simply saying words… to truly encountering God. Because of Jesus, we don’t just believe in God; we belong to Him. Bottom line: Conversation with God leads to an encounter with God. Scripture. Ephesians 2:16-18 Romans 8:26-28 Galatians 4:6-8 Outline. Key Idea: Prayer is responding to God’s voice, conversing with Him through His Word, and encountering Him personally. 1. What is Prayer? • Prayer is a response to the knowledge of God • God always initiates—we respond • More than instinct → a personal relationship Definition: Prayer is continuing the conversation God has already started through His Word and His grace 2. Conversing with God Meeting a personal God through His Word • God speaks through Scripture—His Word is living and active • We don’t start the conversation → we respond • Prayer flows from listening, reflecting, and responding What this looks like: • Asking for understanding • Surrendering our hearts • Worship, confession, requests, silence • Honest, real communication (like the Psalms) Key truth: The clearer we see God in Scripture, the more our prayers reflect reality 3. Encountering God Prayer moves from conversation → encounter Who God is: • Triune: Father, Son, Holy Spirit • A God of perfect relationship and love What He invites us into: • God as our Father • We belong to Him through Christ • The Spirit leads and helps us pray How this works: • Through Jesus (our mediator) • By the Spirit (who helps us pray) • To the Father (who loves us) Result: • Not just asking for things → knowing God • Growing desire for Him, not just what He gives The Cost of Prayer • Jesus was forsaken so we could be accepted • Through His sacrifice, God becomes our Father • Prayer is possible because of the cross Bottom Line: Conversation with God leads to an encounter with God Questions. Kids: Since God is like a loving Father, what would you want to talk to Him about today? (You can draw it or say it!) Warm-up: Growing up, how affectionate were your parents? How would you define prayer before this message, and how has that definition changed? What keeps you from having an honest, ongoing conversation with God? (Distraction, doubt, busyness, feeling unworthy, not knowing what to say, etc.) What’s one step you can take toward overcoming that obstacle? The message described prayer as a response to a relationship God has already initiated. How does seeing God as Father (not just God) change the way you approach Him? When have you experienced prayer moving from just talking to actually encountering God? What was different in that moment? Jesus was forsaken so we could be brought near. How does understanding the cost of prayer shape your desire or confidence to pray? What is one simple, practical step you can take this week to grow in prayer? (Set a time, use Scripture, listen before speaking, journal, etc.) Neighborhoods to Nations. Who is one person in your life right now who might need prayer or an invitation into a relationship with God? What would it look like to pray for them consistently this week and take one step toward them, including inviting them to church with you? Prayer Prompt. Father, thank You for inviting me into a real relationship through Jesus. Teach me to talk with You, help me experience You, and shape my life through prayer.

Prayer: The Conversation that Changes Everything - Desiring Prayer - Jeff Jewett

Prayer is something most of us have done, but many of us struggle with. In this message, we explore why prayer can feel difficult and how God invites us into something simple and real. Through Scripture, we see that prayer isn’t about saying the right words—it’s about knowing God as our Father. If prayer has ever felt confusing, distant, or hard, this message will help you take a simple next step. Prayer isn’t something we add to life. It’s how we live with God. SCRIPTURE. Romans 8:14-16, Ephesians 1:15-19 OUTLINE. 1. Prayer Feels Familiar… But Can Be Confusing • We’ve heard prayers • We’ve said prayers • But we’re not always sure what we’re doing Key Idea: Prayer isn’t something we add to life—it’s how we live with God. 2. We Pray as God’s Children (Romans 8:15–16) • We are not strangers—we are sons and daughters • We cry, “Abba, Father” Key Idea: Prayer starts with relationship, not performance. 3. We Pray to Know God (Ephesians 1:15–19) • Paul’s prayer: that we would know God better • Not just information—but heart transformation Key Idea: Prayer is about knowing God, not just getting things from Him. 4. Prayer Is Hard • It exposes what’s going on inside us • We feel distracted, empty, or unsure Key Idea: We move through duty… to get to delight. 5. Prayer Changes Us • It gives peace in anxiety • It reshapes how we see life • It draws us closer to God Key Idea: Prayer may not change everything around us—but it changes us. Take a Step This Week • When you see the stone → pray • Keep it simple • Pray for someone who doesn’t know Jesus Key Idea: Don’t overthink it—just talk to God. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. Warm-Up • What’s one prayer you remember from growing up (serious or funny)? Kids • When could you talk to God this week? Before bed, at school, or somewhere else? Reflect • What has your experience with prayer been? Easy, difficult, confusing, meaningful? Why? • Why do you think prayer can feel hard or easy to avoid? Scripture • Read Romans 8:15–16. How do these verses speak to those who feel they are not good enough for a relationship with God? • What emotions do you experience when you hear the word “father”? What does it mean for you to think of God as ‘Abba, Father’? • Read Ephesians 1:17–18. How do we grow in knowing God better? What are you doing right now to pursue Him? Personal • How do you experience the Holy Spirit in your everyday life? How do you want to experience the Holy Spirit in your everyday life? • When unhealthy thoughts enter your mind, what has helped you? Action • What is one simple step you can take this week to grow in prayer? • What part of the passage or sermon would you like to understand better or talk about more? NEIGHBORHOODS TO NATIONS. • How would you explain the Gospel to someone who feels they are not "good enough" for God? • Who is one person in your life that doesn’t know Jesus that you can begin praying for this week? • How might God want to use you in their life? PRAYER PROMPT. Abba Father, thank you for loving us and calling us your children. Help us know you better this week. Give us a desire to pray and draw near to you. Amen.