The Holy Spirit, , the Word, and Prayer – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: As we pray, believe, and claim the promise of the Spirit; He will be poured out on us in abundant measure.
1. Have a volunteer read Romans 8:26,27.
a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
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b. Is this saying we don’t know how to pray properly, yet the Spirit translates our prayers according to God’s will? How do we learn how to pray?
c. Personal Application : What do you pray for? Why do you pray? When do you pray? What does that tell you about your own spiritual state? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “Is this text saying that when we pray, we will be uttering words that others can’t understand? Is this praying in the Spirit?” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Matthew 7:7,8.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. Why is asking important to God when He knows everything anyway? What does this mean to us?
c. Personal Application : What effect does prayer have on you when you pray? In what ways are you different when you pray? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “If Jesus tells us to seek, ask, and knock and we will find, be answered and doors opened; why don’t our prayers seem to go past the ceiling? Are we praying for the wrong things in the wrong way?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Mark 11:24, Hebrews 11:6.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What does it mean to pray according to God’s will?
c. Personal Application: What helps us to grow stronger in faith so that God will answer our prayers? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your neighbors states, “I’ve prayed and prayed for the healing of my sick baby, and it hasn’t happened. How can I trust God in this when He isn’t answering my prayers or the prayers of the church for my child?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 3:16, Acts 2:38.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why are people more preoccupied with getting something from God rather than wanting to become more like Him?
c. Personal Application : Why is it important to blend prayer with Bible study? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
