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Growth Group Homework

For the week of March 7, 2010

QUICK REVIEW - Looking back over your sermon notes, was there a particular point or passage of Scripture that challenged, confused or caught your attention?

MY STORY
1. If you gave your co-workers/neighbors the list of five things that cause God to not hear our prayers from this weekend’s teaching, which one do you think they would be most surprised was on the list?

2.  This week we focused on the topic of “When God Doesn’t Answer Prayer.” How do you normally react when God tells you “no” or “not yet”?

DIGGING DEEPER
1.  This week we heard about how to clear the static on the line to enable our prayers to be heard by God.  One of the most important steps to take is to remove any known sin.  In Psalm 139:19-24 David is angered by those opposing him and calls out to God to take some action.  What is the key to David keeping static off his line even in this heated situation (see verses 23-24)?

Psalm 139:19-24 
If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
       Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
[20] They speak of you with evil intent;
       your adversaries misuse your name.
[21] Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
       and abhor those who rise up against you?
[22] I have nothing but hatred for them;
       I count them my enemies.
[23] Search me, O God, and know my heart;
       test me and know my anxious thoughts.
[24] See if there is any offensive way in me,
       and lead me in the way everlasting.  _^[NIV] 

Do you ever include this question in your prayers to God?  Why or why not? 

What might be some of the challenges in allowing someone else to answer the same question about you?  Can you think of any benefits?

David also gives us an example of the impact of known sin and steps to deal with it.  As you read Psalm 32:3-5, are there any parts of it that you have experienced when it comes to dealing with known sin?
 
Psalm 32:3-5
    When I kept silent,
        my bones wasted away
        through my groaning all day long.
    [4] For day and night
        your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was sapped
        as in the heat of summer.
Selah
    [5] Then I acknowledged my sin to you
        and did not cover up my iniquity.
    I said, "I will confess
        my transgressions to the Lord"--
    and you forgave
        the guilt of my sin.
Selah _^[NIV]

2.  Forgiving others can be no small challenge especially in the case of incredible injustice or deep relational hurt.  Yet forgiving others is what frees us from the baggage that we pick up when we harbor bitterness and find ourselves refusing to forgive.  How might the verses below help us move forward to grow in our ability and/or motivation to forgive?
 
Isaiah 53:6
    We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
        each of us has turned to his own way;
    and the Lord has laid on him
        the iniquity of us all. _^[NIV]
 
Genesis 1:27
    So God created man in his own image,
        in the image of God he created him;
        male and female he created them. _^[NIV]
 
Romans 12:19
    Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. _^[NIV] 

Colossians 3:12-14
    Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. _^[NIV] 

 
What do you find challenging in forgiving others?

          
3. We saw in this week’s teaching five things that can block our prayers to God. According to the following verses, what additional issues can also block our prayers to God?
 
Proverbs 28:9
    If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law,
        even his prayers are detestable. _^[NIV]
 
Luke 18:1-5
    Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. [2] He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. [3] And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
    [4] "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, [5] yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "  _^[NIV]

Ezekiel 14:3
    "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? _^[NIV] 

1 John 5:14-15
    This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. [15] And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. _^[NIV] 

 
Looking back at what you wrote above and the five that were mentioned in this week’s sermon, which one caught your attention the most and why?

TAKING IT HOME
Looking back at this week’s teaching, do you need prayer for one of the things listed that keeps God from hearing your prayers?

Are you having any difficulty with requests you sense God saying “no,” “not yet,” or “no answer” to? If so, is there anything you’d like specific prayer for regarding this request?

SOLUTIONS FOR CHANGE - A Growth Group is needed to provide dinner and childcare for about 50 children at North County Solutions for Change on Thursday, April 1.  Check out the community service website for further details and to sign up, www.northcoastchurch.com/service. Or call Randy at 
(760) 720-9558.