Lesson on Prayer, August 26

Some Hard Prayers


Musings by Ed:

I will start by reading one of the hardest scriptures in the Bible … but it is also one of the most important scriptures in the Bible …

Matthew 5: 43-44: You have heard it said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemies. But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

One of the most important things to know about authentic Christian prayer is that in authentic prayer, we pray for our enemies in order to learn what it means to love our enemies. My first exercise of the day, before you get too comfortable, is that I want you to make a list of five enemies for whom you could pray if you willed to do so:

Now, you may stumble over this a bit … at many times in my life I have not been able to identify any personal enemies in my life: But I have always been able to identify those with whom I am struggling: To help you a bit, I want to tell you some folks that have occupied this part of my prayer list over time:

A colleague at work with whom I am having difficult and often angry personnel conversations.
A politician with whom I differ strongly.
A boss who has represented me poorly to his or her superiors
My child or my spouse with whom I struggle with a real difference in priorities
A person who is misusing a member of my family (most often, Claire’s bosses)
Those persons in Iraq whom I understand as impeding the possibility of peace … for their own people and for our troops
Members of a group within our society from whom I feel estranged and toward whom I feel angry.

With these hints, please complete your list and put it aside. We may get back to this issue later.


In his chapter this week, Bill Hybels deals with a second kind of hard prayer, “Praying Authentic prayers when the roof falls in.” To lead us into thinking about this topic, Hybels asks us to read a prayer that is buried in the middle of the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. Before going there, I want to tell you a bit about Jeremiah:


Some of us have pretty tough jobs. I think of Jamie keeping rich golfers happy in the daytime and dealing with folks purchasing bail bond in the evening. I think of Scott and several tons of fertilizer. I think of Karen and rooms full of adolescents. I think of Janet with four kids under six. Some members of this class have very hard jobs. I want to tell you about a man named Jeremiah had a really tough job. For more than 40 years (626-587 and beyond), he felt that God had called him to tell the political and social and business leadership of his day that they were wicked and as a result of their wickedness, Jerusalem and Judah would fall to a foreign army. In public sermon and public demonstration he held the leadership of Jerusalem and Judah accountable for:
Worshipping Baal and other gods other than Yahweh
Cheating widows, orphans and other fragile people
Exploiting workers without pay
Committing adultery, theft and other violations of the ten commandments
Further, with Babylon besieging the city, he called for the citizens to surrender and to understand captivity as God’s judgment … and to save their lives. Needless to say, the leadership of his community was not very pleased with him. He was ignored, beaten, imprisoned, thrown in a cistern, and … . Now, do you think that with this job and with this response, that his prayers were always neat and tidy packages of “thank you, God” and “ please care for my detractors.” Please turn to the following passage. Read the passage and after reading, think about the questions which we will then discuss.



Read Jeremiah 20:7-18

Snapshot: People do a lot of different things when they feel the roof caving in on their lives. But not many of them have Jeremiah’s honesty. When he was in the pits, he prayed. Not a “party-line” prayer, not a sanitized prayer, not a carefully edited prayer. He prayed a painfully honest prayer.

What do you do when you expect God’s provision and protection and it seems that protection is removed and your life has turned upside down. A routine physical turns into your worst nightmare. A marital disagreement intensifies and lingers. Corporate restructuring costs you your job. Your child is injured in an accident. You are betrayed by a life-long friend. What do you do?

Describe a time in your life when you felt the roof felt like it was caving in. What kinds of prayers did you find yourself lifting at that time?
In Jeremiah’s prayer, he jumps back and forth between deep pain and great joy. Can you think of an explanation for this ambivalence?


Snapshot from Hybels: What do you do with highly charged feelings that fly around in your spirit when you feel God has let you down. Some people, in an effort to be “Good Christians” feel they need to protect God. They deny their pain and discount their feelings. …

I remember standing with a young woman at the side of her young husband’s casket. If anyone had a right to be honest about her pain before God, it was this woman. She looked at me and said, “Bill, I guess the Lord needed him in heaven more than I needed him on earth. Praise God.”

How is denial of pain and struggles a sign of being dishonest with God?


Why are we tempted to deny our hurt, anger, and pain rather than freely admit it to God?


Hybels’ goes on to say that the young woman in his snapshot was not being honest. Is it possible for her words to Hybels to have been honest yet her prayers in private to have been full of anger or pain?


Final Observations:
1. I think that Hybel’s most important point is this. When we are angry and disappointed in God, God would rather we pray honest angry and frustrated prayers than to not pray at all.
2. In beginning our lesson today, we talked about Jesus’ command to pray for our enemies and those that persecute you. If you have not been praying for those persons, you might find honest prayers to make it easier to pray for someone with whom you are very angry or of whom you are very fearful. You may need to include in your prayers a graphic description of the scumbag of whom you speak. However, even as you paint the picture for God of the person, pause at the end to say, “God this is how I see things. Give me the wisdom to see things as you see them … and to love this scumbag.”


Newsletter, August 26

Other Class Business:

Welcome Chantel Grimball (hopefully that is the correct spelling) for visiting our class Sunday! She is a new Graduate student at SCAD. We look forward to seeing her again.

The Veggie Tales curriculum has been purchased for the Children’s Church. The cost was $200, and our class has agreed to assist in the funding. Karen will write a check out of the class account for $50 and anyone wishing to help out is welcome to donate.

(From Erica’s email):
Below is the list of Children's Church volunteers from our Sunday School class that we talked about this morning. I took the liberty of setting up a schedule for the rest of the year for 8:30 only since I know that you have some other volunteers for the 11 am service. I could not cross-reference this with the nursery volunteer list or with the individuals, so this schedule is definitely not set in stone. I think a really good goal would be to have a two month rotation so the more volunteers that we can get, the better. Also, a BIG thank you for being willing to be present at all of the 8:30 services in September to help get everyone oriented. Please do not hesitate to let Rhonda Anderson or myself know of any needs that you have--we are here to help you!

Thanks!

Erica

8:30 Schedule-Two volunteers needed (8:30 Substitutes: Kristen Maynard, Karen Clarke)

Sept 2- Curt & Erica Larsh
Sept 9- Communion Sunday
Sept 16- Paul & Chrissy Snider
Sept 23- Amy & Tony Murphy
Sept 30- Carla McCorvey & Jennifer West

Oct: 14 - Paul & Chrissy
Oct 21- Amy & Tony
Oct 28- Carla & Jennifer

Nov 10 Curt & Erica
Nov 17 Paul & Chrissy
Nov 24 Amy & Tony

Dec 9- Carla & Jennifer
Dec 16- Curt & Erica
Dec 23- Paul & Chrissy
Dec 30-Amy & Tony


11 am Volunteers-One volunteer in addition to Sarah needed:

Chris and Rhonda Anderson (will not be here on Sept 2)
Janet & Mitch Everly
Stan Lendermann
Lisa McGaillard

Sunday School teachers’ training is scheduled for September 22 in Dublin, GA at Pine Forest UMC from 10-3pm. Transportation will be provided. See Lois Caster for more information.

Newsletter, August 19

Something like this will appear in the church news letter ( I hope) for the next few weeks …

What More Could You Ask: Dinner and Love!!!
The Family and Friends Church School Class invites couples and singles in their twenties and thirties to join them on Saturday evening, September 8, for a shared dinner (meat and drinks provided; other dishes, pot luck) and then a study of The Five Languages of Love by Gary Chapman. The study will be led by Dr. Claire Wheeler, clinical psychologist and family counselor. Come join us and learn ways to be more loving in your important relationships. Eating will begin 6:00 pm at the home of Claire and Ed Wheeler, 10 Crows Nest Point; childcare will be available at the church nursery beginning at 5:30 pm. For more information call Ed or Claire at 925-1279.

More Details for Class Members

• Robin will be at church nursery for childcare at 5:30
• Bring covered dish if able, but don’t fail to come just because no time to cook
• Let Kriston Maynard ((Cell 657 3634; x_stitch_1yr@hotmail.com ) know if will leave children in nursery and how many. [Kristun, make sure that Robin knows to be there at 5:30]
• Directions to Wheeler’s at 10 Crows Nest Point:
  If traveling south on Abercorn, turn left onto King George Boulevard (if traveling north, turn right). Immediately turn left into Forest Cove Community. As you approach the gate, you will find a pedestal on your left where you can call the Wheelers and they will “command” the gate to open. Proceed to first Stop Sign and turn right on Companion Way. Continue until you dead end and turn right on Cove Drive. Immediately turn right on Crows Nest; the Wheeler’s house is the only two story house on this little 6 house street.
  If problems, call Wheelers at 925-1279.
  
  
  Report from Business Meeting for FAMILIES AND FRIENDS
  SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
  August 19, 2007
  
  CLASS MINISTRIES
  We will continue to send a letter and a children’s Bible to the parents of children who are baptized in the church. Janet and Mitch are still OK to continue this
  
  We will commit to filling the Wednesday slots for IFHN.
  
  Presently, these are the areas of ministry that we will address as a class.
  
  CLASS TREASURER’S REPORT
  We have roughly $200 in class treasury for class projects, class ministries, and to use in supporting church priorities of our choice. Karen Clarke will continue to be treasurer. We will pass basket only on business meeting days, but will leave basket by door on other days for those who wish to contribute .
  
  SOCIAL EVENT HOSTS, HOSTESSES, AND ROTATION

September/October: E and C Wheeler (See top of newsletter)

November/December: K. Maynard

January/February: C and D McCorvey

March/April: P and C Snider

May/June: M and J Everly

July/August: T and A Murphy

CLASS CURRICULUM
5 Languages of Love: 1st lesson
at Ed and Claire’s on September 8
Next lessons will follow on Sunday

Ed solicits suggestions for direction on future lesson plans, especially
since Five Languages will likely take only a few Sundays.

CLASS
OUTREACH
Reminder to invite those in church or using nursery that may be
interested in attending our class. A personal invitation makes all the
difference.

Erica and Amy will update fliers for bulletin board-
reminder that they are also located in the narthex as well to be handed to those
you are inviting as you are walking out of the sanctuary. We need to restock
both areas…

Feel free to update the bulletin board in both the hallway
and the classroom with new pictures, announcements about events, etc. Jennifer
West will take leadership on this.


NURSERY COMMITTEE
Jennifer West Janet Everly Lois Caster
Amy Murphy Carla McCorvey
Erica Larsh Robyn

Invitation for
anyone interested in joining/helping the nursery committee to please feel
welcome and attend the next meeting which is being held Thursday, August 23rd @
6:30 here at the church

Issues being addressed:
*Need to evaluate
number of willing volunteers and their distribution throughout the 8:30, Sunday
school hour, and 11:00 services
*Need to address “graduation” from nursery
school to Children’s Church
*Need to nominate new leaders for upcoming year
*Safe Sanctuaries Training (first available Saturday, September 22 in
Dublin,GA from 10am-3pm)


CLASS ORGANIZATION
For this year we are
pleased to announce that the following folks are willing to provide leadership
for the class

Carla McCorvey, CLASS CHAIRPERSON: to run class meetings,
organize class business and organize the social and service calendar. [with help
from Janet Everly]

Amy Murphy, OUTREACH LEADER- To contact visitors and
class friends whom we have not seen for a while. Will also serve as contact
person for class when a prayer need arises within our community. [Phone
756-3745. email: ajmurphy@comcast.net]

Karen Clarke,
SECRETARY/TREASURER- To oversee class funds

Janet and Mitch Everly,
BAPTISM OUTREACH COORDINATOR- To send a letter and children’s Bible to parents
of children who have been baptized in the church

Ed Wheeler and Paul
Snider NEWSLETTER EDITORS- To distribute class information via e-mail and blog
as needed, especially regarding summaries of class meeting decisions/issues,
upcoming events, etc. [Paul now has password to blog so he can post whenever you
need him to do so]

Claire Wheeler, Curt Larsh, Jamie West PRAYER
LEADERS- a team/individual to help lead the class in prayer

Kristan
Maynard, NURSERY LIASON- to secure Robyn for social events and alert her in
ample time of number of expected children in need of child care. To also ensure
that a meal is available to both the children in attendance as well as the
nursery staff. To collect payment for childcare and give to Robyn.

Other Notes:

• Amy Murphy will prepare letter on the Five Loves event for
  distribution at the Church PreSchool and will bring to Chrissy Snider next
  Sunday who will distribute at Open House and First Day.
• Erica Larsh and Rhonda Anderson will be class delegates to
  meetings on Children’s Church.
• By the way, Kriston … Kristun … Kristan Maynard’s name is really
  Kristen. :-)

Lesson on Prayer, August 12

In our class on August 12, we worked on the question of how we are to think about unanswered prayer, prayers that we have offered for which we do not yet understand an answer. In Bill Hybel's book Prayer: Opening Your Heart to God (Hybels and Harney, Zonderman, 1997, available at Lifeway bookstore), Hybels suggests three ways of thinking about this issue
Thinking About Prayers that Have Not Been Answered:

God may have answered … No
Read Mark 10:35-45
Imagine you were James or John in this situation.
How would you have felt after Jesus responded to your request?
What might you have learned from this experience?


God may have answered … Slow … God may be judging that this is not the right time for an answer

God may have answered … Grow … God may be judging that you need to grow in your understanding of him or of others before you can understand his answer to his prayer


In our discussion we agreed that these three insights could inform both our understanding of prayer and our understanding of God. However, David McCorvey pointed out that when dealing with very personal grief or pain, these theoretical ideas do not carry too much weight. If we have praying for the safety of our child and our child is harmed … or the relief from pain for our parent and our parent continues to suffer excruciating pain …or … you know the rest. We find it difficult to be content with No, Slow, and Grow. At this point we must rest in faith before the mystery of God … remembering that he is no stranger to pain and to loss ... He knows the prayer, “Father, take this cup from me but not my will be done” … He knows the cross … but He also knows of the resurrection.

Questions discussed:

Do you know of a prayer you have prayed in which you understood later that God answered “No.”

We can almost expect God to answer certain kinds of prayer with a “No.” What are some of these kinds of prayer?

Can you identify a prayer you have prayed in which you understood later that God waited a long time to answer?

What did you learn during your time of slowing down and waiting for God’s answer?

Why is honest self appraisal essential as you grow in you prayer life?

Closing Note from Hybels: In your next prayer time, pause for listening to the spirit of God. Ask God to search your heart and life, shedding light on any area of darkness that could be a barrier in your prayer life.

Lesson on Prayer, August 5

Notes from August 5 (Thank you, Scott, Paul, Curt, Mitch, Janet, Kristan)

Episode 1, Icebreaker

Pose the following three questions and then go around the room asking persons to answer one of the questions.

What was your earliest experience with prayer?
How did you learn to
pray?
What is your earliest memory of prayer?

After everyone has contributed to the ice breaker, pass out the reading page entitled Dangerous Prayers (from Prayer by Bill Hybels, Kevin and Sherry Harney, Zondervan, 1997) and ask everyone to read it carefully.

Episode 2, Search Me Distribute Bibles to each person and ask them to read Psalm 139: 1- 12 and 23-24. Read Hybels snapshot out loud. Then pass out snapshot with two questions. After folks have had a minute to think, invite comments on the questions.
Hybel Snapshot: A “search me” prayer invites God to aim the
search light of his holiness at the inner recesses of who we are and expose what is there. When David wrote Psalm 139, he was reflecting on the greatness and grandeur of God and acknowledging that there is no mystery that God does not understand. David was praising God for being omniscient saying, “There is nothing that confuses you about what is going on in the universe or in my life. You are intimately acquainted with all my ways.” David then invited his Creator to search his heart.

Why is it dangerous to invite God to search our hearts?

What would make us reluctant to pray this prayer?

Episode 3, Break Me: Read Hybels snapshot out loud. Then pass out snapshot with two questions. After folks have had a minute to think, invite anyone to answer the questions. However, do not force anyone to answer the questions, since the answers could be quite personal. After a few moments, if no one answers, pass on to the next episode.

Hybel Snapshot: Ecclesiastes 3:3 says there is a time to tear
down and there is a time to build up. As you move on in our
Christian journey, you will discover that you need to develop new patterns in our lives. You will find that some old habits and some old patterns of living and some old ways of thinking are not productive and you need to tear them down. To do this, you need God’s help. You need to invite God
to break down those things in your life. You need to learn to pray the dangerous prayer, “Break me.”

What is one area of your life that God is breaking down?

What is one area of your life in which you need to ask God to help you break down walls?


Episode 4, Stretch Me: Read Hybels snapshot out loud. Then pass out the snapshot with two questions. After folks have had a minute to think, invite anyone to answer the questions. However, do not force anyone to answer the questions, since the answers could be quite sensitive. After a few moments, if no one answers, pass on to the next section.

Hybels Snapshot: As we grow as followers of Christ, we get to a point where we say, “I am no longer content with the status quo in my life. I am tired of being in a spiritual rut.” We begin to pray, “God, you created me to be dynamic and growing, but I am stuck. Please stretch me. Grow me beyond where I am to where you want me to be.”

Describe a time in your spiritual life when God really stretched you.
How did it feel at the time?
How does it feel now as you look back?

What is an area in your life in which you need to begin praying for God to stretch you?

Episode 5, Lead Me: Read Hybels snapshot out loud. Then pass out the snapshot with two questions. After folks have had a minute to think, invite anyone to answer the questions. However, do not force anyone to answer the questions, since the answers could be quite sensitive. After a few moments, if no one answers, pass on to the next section.

Hybels Snapshot: “God lead me, I take my life, gifts, talents,
resources, energy, and future and put it all in Your hands” A couple of years after I became a Christian, a deeply committed follower of Christ challenged me to let God lead my life. … I said to God, “I will give you my whole life. You can lead m life until it seems to me you are untrustworthy, and then all bets are off.” Despite the immaturity that characterizes my youthful conversation with God, “I can tell you that God has
been totally trustworthy. He has led me every step of the way.”

Can you relate a time in which you experienced God’s leading in your life?
Put your finger on one area of your life you need to turn over to God and allow Him to start leading you.


Episode 6, Prayer Time: Move into prayer time. You can handle it any way you wish … silent prayers, verbal prayers …. In addition to prayer needs that are mentioned at the end of class, remember again any that have been mentioned in the class discussion.