Turn Worries Into Prayers
Why Pray When You Can Worry? – Part 3
November 2-3, 2019
Dr. Jeffrey Allen Love
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (p.901*)
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” Philippians 4:6a (p.901*)
- When I Start To Worry, I Stop And Pray.
“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” Luke 18:1 (p.800*)
“The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.” Matthew 13:22 (p.744*)
- Tell God what I need.
“Tell God what you need…” Philippians 4:6b (p.901*)
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 (p.793*)
- Thank God for all He’s done.
“…thank him for all he has done…” Philippians 4:6b (p.901*)
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” Colossians 4:2 (p.904*)
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 (p.901*)
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” Romans 8:26 (p.862*)
Next Step: ______ With God’s help I commit this week to turn worries into prayers.
Life Groups Study Questions
Taking the Talk to Another Level
From the Weekend Talk of November 2-3, 2019
Why Pray When You Can Worry? Week 2: Turn Worries into Prayers
Life Groups use these questions to dig deeper into what we talked about this weekend. Dig into them so you will be ready for the discussion at your Life Group. Find out more about Life Groups at the Info Center in the lobby or go to alivechurch.com/groups.
Car Questions/Conversation Starters
- Who taught you how to pray?
- Do you have a favorite place where you like to pray? Where? Why there?
- When have you wondered if you “have what it takes” for a particular challenge?
Quick Review
- Looking back at your Talk Notes, was there anything you heard in the service that stood out or maybe even confused you?
Discussion Starters from the Weekend Talk
See the Talk Notes and related Bible verses from this Weekend’s Talk.
- Pastor Jeff highlighted the One Thing to remember from this week’s Talk. It is to, “When I Start to Worry, I Stop and Pray.”
- Read together Philippians 4:6-7 (p.901*). You might even want to have one or two people in your Group read it from a different translation (Perhaps NIV and NASB).
- Now slowly walk through the passage and talk about how each segment speaks to you. What challenges you? What comforts you?
- Using the Talk Notes to help guide you, walk through the two main points of how to turn worries into prayers.
- #1 – Tell God what I need.
- Do you ever feel selfish about asking God to meet your needs? Why?
- What needs are you most like to NOT bring to God? Why?
- When have you experienced a time when you had to “keep on seeking, and… keep on knocking…”? (Luke 11:9-10 (p.703*))
- #2 – Thank God for All He’s Done.
- Why is thankfulness important in ANY relationship?
- What are some things people commonly “devote themselves” to?
- What does it mean to “devote yourself” to prayer?
- Have you ever had a time when you knew you needed to pray but you just couldn’t find the words? Talk about Romans 8:26 (p.962*) in this context.
- #1 – Tell God what I need.
Digging Deeper
Philippians 4:6-7 contains a wonderful promise from God. With your Group, look up and read some or all of these passages and talk about the promise(s) contained in each of them. What others would you add to the list?
- 2 Peter 1:4 (p.938*)
- Jeremiah 29:11 (p.596*)
- Matthew 11:28-29 (p.742*)
- Isaiah 40:29-31 (p.548*)
- Philippians 4:15-19 (p.901*)
- Romans 8:35-39 (p.863*)
- John 14:25-27 (p.824*)
- Romans 10:9-10 (p.864*)
- Romans 6:23 (p.861*)
- 1 Corinthians 1:3-4 (p.870*)
Taking It Home: Next Step
- Our Next Step This Week: “With God’s help I commit this week to turn worries into prayers.”
Pray
- Pray now for one another and the church.
- If you have time you could pray through some of the promises listed above.
- (Note: have you walked the new Prayer Path at the church? Check it out!)
This Weekend:
We begin a NEW Series, “The Elephant in the Family Room.” In this series we’ll help you address the mess that builds up by neglecting those pesky things in our lives and families that we often fail to talk about.
All of these notes are also in our App. To get our FREE App just text “ALIVEAZ APP” to this number: 77977 and follow the instructions. If you need help, we’ll help you!
* The Life Transformation Bible is the New Living Translation of the Bible, including many useful tools to help you better understand God’s Word, including our own Alive Church Life Transformation Discipleship Plan. They are available FREE in the church lobby.