The Church - Week 10

Sunday, November 15, 2020

In week #10 of our series on “The Church”, we answer the question “What gives power to the church?”

  1. What are a few things that you are actually dependent upon? As in, what are some things that if they did not function? you would not be able to function properly? (air, alarm clock, etc) 

  2. In the sermon, Jason gave the analogy of a kite being dependent upon the wind as an example of how we as the church are dependent upon the Holy Spirit. What about the church could not function if the Holy Spirit did not provide the power?

  3. Read Acts 12:1-16. 

    What parts of this passage give evidence of the Holy Spirit’s power? 

  4. Why do we often tend toward activity, busyness, and achieving goals as our markers for church growth? 

    • Are they healthy markers? 

    • How do we reconcile those tendencies with dependence upon the Spirit? 

  5. Jason said “If prayer is the language of dependence upon the Holy Spirit, then prayerlessness is the language of dependence on self.” Would you say that you have a healthy prayer life? 

    • If so, what does your prayer life look like? What has been most helpful in developing that healthy prayer life? 

    • If not, what do you think is hindering it? 

  6. How has your experience been with prayer in the church? 

    • Have you been a part of a church that prayers earnestly? If so, what made it that way? 

    • Do you think UBC is growing in our prayerful dependence upon the Holy Spirit?

      • What about your growth group, ministry team, etc? 

  7. Is there any correlation between your personal prayer life and your experience with prayer in the church? Has one influenced the other? Is it a “2-way street”? 

  8. Do you ever feel like you can’t pray because your faith is struggling? How did Jason’s point that “God answers fervent prayers, even when prayed with little faith” impact you? 

  9. Does praying in a group make you nervous? 

    • What about when people are praying very passionately? 

    • Is it encouraging or does it make you self-conscious? Why?

  10. When was the last time you asked the Lord to teach you how to pray? 

    • What did He teach you? 

  11. End your time by praying that God would teach US how to pray. (UBC, your group, ministry team, etc)

Phil Wing