Pray with Intimacy

Pray with Intimacy:  Gospel Community Discussion Questions

1.       When talking about intimacy, Pastor Jim thought it was important to try to define the term first. “Intimacy characterizes close, familiar, affectionate, loving, personal relationships, and requires the two people to have detailed knowledge or deep understanding of each other.  Does this definition characterize your current relationship with God? Explain.

2.       Read John 17:3. Eternal life is not only about being saved but about a lifelong pursuit to know God.  What resources has God given us to know Him?  How does this impact your view of eternal life?

Your pursuit of God through the word and prayer both individually and corporately is the essence of your life with God.  Have you been living for the reason God created you and saved you? 

3.       John 14:15 & 21.  Read these 2 verses and discuss the quotes below.  Agree or disagree and why.

·          If you have an obedience problem, Jesus says you have a love problem.

·          If you have a love problem, you have a worship problem. 

4.        You are at this moment as close to God as you choose to be.  True, there are times when we would like to know a deeper intimacy with God, but when it comes down to it, we are not prepared or willing to pay the price involved.  There are other things in your life believed to give a greater payoff.  Agree or disagree?

5.       Read John 15:4-5.  Jesus stresses the importance of his followers to abide in him.  Other words for abide could be to remain, to dwell, to continue with, to be in union with.  What does abiding in Jesus mean and look like to you?

6.       In Jim Maxim’s devotional book on prayer he gave 3 reasons why a Christian may not feel like praying.   Each one is what the Bible describes as the 3 main enemies of the Christian. 

I.                      The independence of the flesh (Flesh).

II.                    The relentless attack of the enemy (Devil).

III.                   The busyness of our modern lives (World).

What do you believe are your greatest obstacles to going deeper in intimacy each day with God?

7.        Jim Maxim also gave 3 vital ingredients for breaking through your reluctance to pray.  Which of the 3 do you believe could really help to motivate you to pursue greater intimacy with God?

I.                      Mind Your Motivation – developing a worship-based focus in prayer.

II.                    Place Action Above Feeling – decide to act your way into feeling, instead of waiting for the right feelings to generate action to pray.

III.                  Be Compelled by Community – Before answering this question read The Lord’s Prayer.  What does this tell you about how important community life is to you going deeper in intimacy with God?

8.        What action step will you commit to make in the hopes of growing in your intimacy with God?