JANUARY 28
THE PRAYER THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE
The prize of prayer is not health and wealth; it’s God Himself.
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How comfortable are you with asking God for things that you long for or need?
2. Read 1 Chron. 4:9-10. This short narrative is situated amidst a long, fragmented genealogy of the line of Judah. For further background on the books of Chronicles, check out the Bible Project’s overview video: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/chronicles/
- Why do you think the chronicler thought it was important to interrupt the genealogies with this short story?
- What information are we given about Jabez? What is his character like?
- What do we learn about God?
- What does this story teach us about prayer?
3. What are you wanting to ask God for, but hesitant to do so? Why? What step can you take to start boldly asking God for what you want and need?
KEY SCRIPTURE
1 Chron. 4:9-10 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
PRAYER
We’re not meant to see Jabez’s prayer as a magical mantra to get God to do what we want, but rather, it’s there to demonstrate that God hears the prayers of those who seek Him, it is a reminder to God’s people (and to us) to not give up praying during difficult circumstances, and it’s a call away from self-sufficiency to dependence on God.
- Using Jabez’s prayer as a guide, consider praying this prayer or put it in your own words: God, I cry out to you because you are near, personal and you hear when I call. Please bless me abundantly in these ways_______________, out of your good wisdom and generosity. Give me favor that I may make an even greater impact on your Kingdom through every sphere of influence you place me in. Stay close to me, I don’t want to do this life without you, nor could I. And keep me from affliction, evil and the evil one, that I might remain steadfast in my devotion to you.
TAKE A NEXT STEP
- Today we wrap up 21 days of intentional prayer as a church. Join us tonight at 6pm at North campus a time of worship through communion, prayer, and singing.
- Now is the time to join a group where you can belong, grow, heal or serve. New groups are starting soon. Check them out at gatewaychurch.com/groups.
FOR THE FAMILIES
Hey, families! Here’s a look at what we’re covering with your kids so you can help them continue to grow at home during the week.
THIS WEEK
All month long we will be talking about how God comes to our rescue by studying the story of Moses!
THE BIBLE: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,,and he saved them from their distress.” (Psalm 103:7)
THE MESSAGE: The people in the story were trapped by Pharaoh’s army and the Red sea. We might not be facing an army, but we are trapped by sin and in need of a rescue! Sin holds us all captive, but thankfully God provides a way of escape for us too. God saves us by sending Jesus to die for our sins. When Christ was crucified He took all our sin and shame on himself and took the punishment that our sin deserves. When He was raised back to life Jesus defeated sin and death! Now when we put our trust in Jesus we can be freed to live the life that He wants for us!
THE BIG IDEA: When I am in trouble, God comes to my rescue!
ASK THIS
Because sometimes you and your kid need a conversation-starter that isn’t,
“So . . . how was church?”
- Have you ever been in a situation where you had to completely trust God to protect you or save you? Was it difficult?
REMEMBER THIS
There’s a word for the kind of trust that Moses had in God. It’s called faith. Faith is believing without seeing. It’s trusting that God will lead and rescue us on when we come to a dead end. It’s trusting that God will never leave us or let us down. Having faith begins when we take the time to get to know God. We can get to know God when we go to church each week and get involved in church activities. We can get to know him by spending time with him each day. We can pray, we can read the Bible by ourselves, and we can read it with our families.
Let’s say yes to God!
NEXT WEEK
Next week we will see how God did something miraculous to save his people from Pharaoh!