On Sunday, June 29, 2025, Teaching Pastor Bruce Hess’ message is “Message 3” from our BLESSED! series. Below are some questions for your personal or group reflection.
- There are times we have all struggled in our prayer life. We’ve faced a truly difficult situation and found ourselves thinking: I don’t know what God is doing AND I don’t really know what to pray, or how to pray about it. Share with others some of the details of such a time in your life.
- Bruce listed some common reasons why believers don’t pray as they should: being overconfident, sin in one’s life, and busyness. Which reason stands out to you as most common? How should one respond to avoid that issue?
- The Blessing of focus this week is the Spirit’s ministry of prayer intercession from Romans 8:26-27. Bruce said this ministry/blessing is hardly known, rarely taught, and largely unappreciated. Why do you think that is?
- One key verb in this passage states that the Spirit HELPS us in our weakness. The verb pictures one person helping another carry a load. Should would we just go “passive” and let the Holy Spirit do the praying for us? Why not?
- The other key verb in this passage is that the Spirit INTERCEDES for us, according to the will of God. Explain more of what that means.
- Romans 8:26 says the Spirit intercedes for us with ‘groanings too deep for words.’ Some in the church at large claim this is a description of speaking in tongues. How would you counter that assertion?
- Corrie Ten Boom asked, Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? Share in your own words what she was emphasizing.
- What stood out most to you from this message?
- A good prayer practice is to use NT prayers as a guideline for our prayers for ourselves and others. Here’s some examples: Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12. Choose one to practice with right now.