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HOW DID YOU SEE GOD THIS WEEK AS YOU FOLLOWED HIM?

WHAT DID GOD SAY IN HIS WORD?

Opening Question:

What sorts of things do you pray most regularly? Are there people you pray for regularly?

Paul called the church to pray all kinds of things for all kinds of people in our passage from Sunday. Let’s read it again:

READ TOGETHER: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 (ESV)

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Reflect Together:

Who did Paul call the church to pray for? Why did Paul say we should pray for them?

How many ways does Paul say there are to be saved?

WHAT DID GOD SAY TO ME THROUGH HIS WORD?

Paul calls us to pray all kinds of prayers for all people. How expansive is your prayer life? How could you expand the scope of your prayers?

Paul calls us to pray especially for “kings and all who are in high positions”. Do you pray for government officials and leaders in the United States? How about around the world? We had a Democratic president last term, and we have a Republican president this term. Do your prayers for those leaders sound different?

Salvation comes through Christ Jesus and our testimony. How have you seen—or how are you seeing—the power of Christ Jesus at work in your life?

WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO ABOUT IT?

Spend some time praying as a group for all people to flourish in every way, and especially for our elected leaders in government.

Reflect the Father’s heart who desires all men to be saved and intercede for those who do not yet know the saving power of Jesus Christ. Ask God for opportunities to share your own testimony of the saving power of Christ Jesus in your life.

Brainstorm as a group how you can keep your prayers expansive. Maybe agree as a group about one day per week that you will all pray for elected officials or for those who are not yet saved.