Getting to Know you:
• Talk about the last time you “unplugged” and spent some real time silent with God. What did it benefit you? How did you deal with the uncomfortable part of the silence?
Going Deeper:
• What are some ways we can avoid reading into the bible text and making it say what it never meant to say?
• Discuss how our prayers are like a sweet smelling aroma and a sacrifice of praise to God. Look up the following verses: Lev. 16:12-13, Ex. 30:8-10, 2 Cor. 2:15, Heb. 13:15
• What are some of the things that prevent you from spending more time in prayer? What might you do to create space for more prayer in your life?
• Look up the plagues that correspond to Revelation 8 and discuss the connection between the plagues and the trumpets and why that’s significant. (Ex. 9:22-26, Ex. 7:14-24, Ex. 10:21-23)
• Read Isaiah 52 and discuss the connections between the nation of Babylon and the Spirit of Babylon in Revelation.
• Discuss why we feel God doesn’t hear or answer our prayers at times? Name 7 reasons God doesn’t answer prayer according to the verses listed. (James 4:3 & 6, Isaiah 59:2, James 1:6, 1 Peter 3:7, Isa. 55:8-9, James 4:2)
– What other reasons can you think why God doesn’t answer?
– Which one of the above reasons do you most need to work on?
Taking it Home:
• Go over the Lord’s prayer with your family and discuss what it means when we pray for God’s will on earth to be done.
• Pray more this week by implementing at least one of the following: Pray when you wake up and before you go to sleep. Pray with your spouse before you or they leave for work. Pray with your kids before they go off to school or work or sports activity.
