CHURCH ONLINE GUIDE
June 1st
Most Recent Message
Luke // Chapter 11: Prayer And Persistence
TAKEAWAY: Prayer is not optional for Christians - it's central to our faith.
HEAD CHANGE: We should approach God boldly and directly in prayer, bringing all our needs before Him.
HEART CHANGE: Prayer includes both petition (for ourselves) and intercession (for others).
LIFE CHANGE: Jesus teaches us to pray with both intimacy ("Our Father") and reverence ("hallowed be your name").
Prayer & Persistence
In this powerful exploration of prayer, we're invited to reconsider our approach to communicating with God. Drawing from Luke 11, we're reminded that Jesus himself taught us how to pray, emphasizing both the intimacy of calling God 'Father' and the reverence of acknowledging His holiness. The message challenges us to be bold and persistent in our prayers, likening our relationship with God to that of a neighbor seeking bread at midnight. This parable illustrates that God welcomes our 'shameless audacity' in prayer, encouraging us to bring all our needs before Him without hesitation. We're prompted to reflect on what might be holding us back from a vibrant prayer life - whether it's busyness, doubt about prayer's efficacy, or timidity in approaching God. The lesson invites us to experience the power of both petition and intercession, reminding us that prayer is not just about personal needs, but also about standing in the gap for others. As we contemplate this teaching, we're challenged to embrace prayer as a journey of encounter and experience with a God who is both intimately close and awesomely powerful.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
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The speaker mentioned several reasons why people don't pray, including busyness, doubts about efficacy, and timidity. Which of these do you relate to most? Are there other reasons you struggle with prayer?
- How does Jesus' teaching on prayer (the Lord's Prayer) balance intimacy with God and reverence for Him? How can we cultivate both in our prayer lives?
- The sermon emphasized approaching God boldly in prayer. What holds you back from being completely honest and direct with God in your prayers?
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How might our prayer lives change if we truly believed God was a loving Father eager to hear from and respond to us?
PRAYER: Close your time by praying that God will help you to be encouraging to others and to be bold and direct in your prayers.
"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Hebrews 4:16
Looking for previous Community Guides? Find them on the Watch page.
How does this work?
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What if it's my first time?If you are a guest, we will not embarrass you, have you stand up, or ask you to give money. We know that many people want to check out the church and “be anonymous” for awhile – that’s fine with us! Come in, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and see if Ethos is home for you.
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What should I wear?Want to wear shorts and a t-shirt? Awesome! Looking to dress up a bit for church? Sounds good to us. At Ethos, you can dress however you feel comfortable.
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Can I attend if I'm ___________?Yes. Fill in the blank with whatever you’re worried about: single, divorced, gay, straight, white, black, addicted, hurting, poor, super-successful, a nonbeliever, atheist, Michigan fan, etc. At Ethos Church, we’ll welcome you as you are. You belong here!
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What about my kids?We love kids! Our facility is clean, safe, and staffed with loving, trained, and background checked servant leaders. We offer a dynamic children’s ministry called Ethos Kids for children from 3 months to 5th grade. (Bale Kenyon location only) When you arrive, you’ll see signage that directs you to our Kids Check-in booth where we will guide you to our kids classrooms and ensure a fun and engaging environment. Your kids will have a blast as they worship, learn biblical teaching, watch videos, meet friends in small groups, and play games. Sundays will be the best part of your child's week.
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What about my middle school student?We are thrilled to share that Ethos is working and preparing to open a middle school room in 2025 during the 10:30am Sunday service on Bale Kenyon Rd. Until the middle school room is open, students are invited to join their parents in the auditorium for service.
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Where do I go when I get there?You’ll be warmly greeted in the parking lot and directed towards the entrance. Once inside, head to the “In This Together” area, and we’ll take it from there!
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What does Ethos mean?The characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations. Our Ethos is love for all people, in Jesus’ name.
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What is the gathering at Africa Rd. like?The Africa Rd location has become home to our church family and will continue to be home on Sunday mornings at 9:30am. All Ethos gatherings and locations will have the same live teaching.
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How long will we be gathering in two locations?We are openhanded with timelines and how God is guiding our church. Ethos’ staff and Stewardship team will continue to explore and evaluate facility opportunities.