When We Pray: Part 3

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Matthew 7:21-23 (the context is 7:13-27)

Read Matthew 7:13-27 and pray together

Main Idea: When we pray, remember many are lost.

When we pray, remember...

  • Many people are lost. 

    • In verses 21-23, what is Jesus contrasting? 

    • What are some examples of claiming faith without living it out?

    • In verses 13-14, Pastor Bryson claims that “many people are lost.” How do these two verses support his claim?

    • What feelings come up when considering the destruction of the lost? 

    • What impact should considering their destination have on our prayer life?

  • Works do not save anyone.

    • What does “on that day many will say...” mean in verse 22?

    • What might be some lies people bank their lives on for their salvation? What is the only way to salvation? [See John 14:6; Romans 10:1-4, 12-17]   

    • How will you pray for those who are self-deceived? 

    • How will you pray for each other that you will speak the truth in love to these self-deceived people?      

  • Salvation comes from knowing Christ.

    • How does verse 23 tell us that salvation is personal?  

    • How does verse 23 tell us that salvation is urgent?

    • How does verse 23 tell us that salvation is serious? 

    • Revelation 20:15 moved Pastor Bryson’s wife to help plant a church for the lost. How can this verse impact our lives and motivate faithful living, consistent praying, and urgent evangelism? 

A Plan: Pastor Bryson ended his sermon by exhorting us to pray for the lost.  Yet he did more. He challenged us to list three people who appear to be lost. Use the list to pray regularly for them. Do acts of kindness for them. And speak the gospel to them with a call to repent and believe in Jesus for salvation.  Let us, as Growth Groups, follow Bryson’s call and challenge. Let’s keep each other encouraged in praying for the lost.   

A Prayer: Using our Church’s 21-day prayer prompter, find today’s prayer prompt and read it outloud for your group. Then spend a few minutes together in prayer over this truth. 

A Passage to ponder:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it...  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”  ~ John 14;12-14; 15:5

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