Not My Will

Jan 11

This week’s texts from Scripture are:

The Context of Jesus’ Prayer
– Prayer begins with knowing the heart of the Father
The Content of Jesus’ Prayer
– Honest request
– Trusting surrender
The Conclusion of Jesus’ Prayer
– Strength for the suffering, not escape from it
Our Invitation to Surrender
– Letting go so we can be led

(These will help you open the scriptures and understand the text.)

What story does the sermon use to describe why prayer often feels awkward or inefficient?
What specific prayer of Jesus is the focus of this sermon, and where is it found in Scripture?
Why is it important that Jesus prays honestly to the Father in Gethsemane?
What does Jesus’ prayer reveal about the relationship between honesty and trust in prayer?
According to the sermon, what was the result of Jesus’ prayer in the garden?

When you feel busy or overwhelmed, how does prayer tend to be affected in your life?
In what ways does prayer sometimes feel like “switching groceries to the other hand” for you?
When was the last time you spoke honestly to God without filtering or polishing your words?
What areas of your life are you currently holding onto tightly instead of surrendering to God?
How do you typically respond to hardship—fight, flight, or falling before the Lord in prayer?
What fears or assumptions make it difficult for you to trust God’s will over your own?
Are there burdens from last year—or even decades ago—that God may be inviting you to release?
How does it change your understanding of prayer to see that it strengthens us for trials rather than removing them?
What might “Not my will, but yours be done” look like practically in your daily routines?
How can you participate more intentionally in communal prayer during these next three weeks?

David Libbon