Below are the questions for Lord’s Prayer Series “Lord Teach Us To Pray: On Earth as it is in Heaven”

Read Matthew 6:10. 

How do you understand heaven?  How is God’s will done in heaven?  In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus talks about the treasures of earth and heaven.  How do these contrast in our own day? 

How does heaven define what the good life is?  How is this different from what someone might describe the good life to be if they didn’t believe in heaven. 

Most thought about heaven is directed to its importance as a destination for believers in some future day.  Why does Jesus say we should pray that God’s will and kingdom come to earth as they are in heaven?  How do we look to heaven to “get our bearings” now while we are on earth?

Read Revelation 21:1-7

Describe what John sees (also look at 3:12, Isaiah 60:11-22, Isaiah 65:17-19; 66:22).   What kind of picture do you get of heaven.  From Revelation 21, what is new (also look at Rev. 2:17, 3:12).  In what ways (also look at 7:15-17)?  Why?

Find all the expressions of God’s will (also look at Ezek. 37:27, Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 35:10, 43:19, and 55:1). 

Contrast the former things and the new things. What is new? 

Do you think that the Disciple’s Prayer moves us to be satisfied with life here on earth, or does it move us to pray and work for things to be different, even before Jesus comes again?  Why?

Bible Study Questions following the Sermon of 10/20/13

“your Kingdom come, your will be done”

• Read Matthew 8:9-13.  Can you find the five parts of this prayer that we have identified these past Sundays?  Which verses go with each part (i.e. “praise and worship” verse 9).
  
  
• What does Jesus mean by the “kingdom?”  Matthew often uses the term “kingdom of heaven” while the other gospel writers use “kingdom of God.”  How are these similar or different?  Why?
  
  
• Kingdoms in the 21st century aren’t what they used to be.  We have no license to change the Word of God, but we are called to communicate eternal truths in the language of today.  What are some other words or phrases that catch the original meaning of “kingdom” in our own day?
  
  
• What does Jesus mean by the “will” of God?  Do you think it is more alike or different from the “kingdom?”
  
  
• What were the three pictures shared on Sunday of better ways to find God’s will.  Talk about each one and discuss
  
  
• One of the most difficult prayers of Jesus was the one he offered to the Father while Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane.  Read Matt. 26:36-46.  Why might Jesus have wanted his close followers to join him in prayer?  What does this tell us about how we might find the will of God?  What kind of people would you want to accompany you in payer when you face a deep and difficult decision?
  
  
• In his prayer in Gethsemane, what was it that Jesus sought of the Father?  What about his prayer models “prayer truth” for us as we seek God’s will in our own decisions?  
  
  
• In what ways do we sometimes find our “spirit willing?”  In what ways do we find our “flesh weak?”
  
  

Listed below are the questions for Covenant Groups this week based off of the sermon for October 13th - Hallowed Be Thy Name:

1. How have you understood the phrase “hallowed be your name” prior to Sunday’s service?
   
   
2. What new insights were discovered in the story behind “the name” and “hallowed”?
   
   
3. How do you respond to the suggestion of an alternate translation that is more like “May your name in all its holiness be made known to us”.
   
   
4. When in your spiritual journey have you had an “aha” moment as God has revealed a new aspect of himself or showed you himself afresh in a specific time or event in your life?
   
   
5. What from the message encouraged, challenged or ministered to you?
   
   

Listed below are the small group questions for your Covenant Groups for this week following this Sunday's Worship service (October 6th). Please don't feel like you MUST go through all these questions - they are just a guide.  Perhaps there are 4 or 5 that really seem helpful to you and your group?

Before beginning, allow people to share if they sponsored a child through Covenant Kids Congo on Sunday and what that experience means for them.

Read Isaiah 58:6-12

1. What is meant by God’s declaration that he prefers a different kind of fast and why is it significant? (cf verses 1-5)
2. How will God show his acceptance of their fast?
3. How have you experienced this sort of “acceptance” in your walk with God and what difference did it make?

Read Ephesians 2:8-10

1. What does it really mean to be saved “by grace through faith”?  What, if anything, must we do then to be saved?
2. How do we demonstrate that we are in fact, God’s “handiwork”? And what is the difference between “doing good works that we were created to do” and “doing good works in hopes of receiving grace”?  If there is a difference, how is that expressed in the way you live your life of faith?

Read John 6:1-14

1. Why do you suppose that Jesus asked Philip “Where shall we buy food for these people to eat”?
2. When faced with the seemingly impossible tasks of meeting peoples’ needs, do you ever feel like Philip and Andrew - tempted to doubt you can really make an actual difference?  What do (or should) you do in those sorts of circumstances?
3. Is there an impossible task that you sense God calling you to do something about (is there something that breaks your heart that you suspect breaks the heart of God as well)?  What do you suspect it might be?  If not, would you consider praying that God would break your heart and show you what “good work” you were made for.

If your Covenant Group has not yet settled on what your particular justice or compassion ministry you are participating in, this might be a good week to seriously consider what that will be. 

Pray together that your faithfulness will be rewarded by God’s miraculous providence and that together with God, we might seriously contribute to changing the world for the glory of God.

This Saturday, over at ChangePoint Church, there is a Men's Summit that you may want to check out.  The website for the even can be found here.  Notable is that two of the presenters are Covenant pastors: Dan Krause of Chugach Covenant Church and Brad Bergfalk of Community Covenant Church in Eagle River.  The event is something that you can attend all of just a portion of, so if you are a man and have some time this Saturday, I'd recommend you check it out.  

Phil