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Sermon Series: We are currently going through a sermon series in the Gospel of Matthew. Today, we’re talking about a passage of Scripture where Jesus prays.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch[a] with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.[b] See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
If you’ve been a Christian for any amount of time, you know that prayer is key to having a thriving relationship with the Lord, especially when we find ourselves in difficult situations. However, that’s often easier said than done. In this part of God’s Word, we see Jesus praying to the Father, right before He is betrayed. By taking a look at how He prays, we too can learn…
How to pray over something difficult:
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Find a dedicated time and place
Matt. 26:36, 6:5-6, 14:22-23, Mark 1:35
2. Invite others to join you in prayer
Matt. 26:37-38, 18:19-20, Acts 1:14, James 5:14-16
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Be honest with God
Matt. 26:39, John 4:23-24, Ps. 139:23-24, 145:18
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Be willing to submit to God’s plan
Matt. 26:39-44, James 4:7, Rom. 8:7, 1 Pet. 5:6
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Be watchful
Matt. 26:40-41, 1 Pet. 5:8, John 15:5, 2 Cor. 2:11, Rom. 14:12,
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Pray repeatedly
Matt. 26:39-44, Rom. 12:12, Col. 4:2, Eph. 6:18
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Be ready to take a step of faith
Matt. 26:45-46, James 1:22-25, Rom. 2:13, Luke 6:46-48
Reflecting on God’s Word
Getting Started
- Take some time to read over Matthew 26:30-35, 69-75 and pray.
- Have you ever read or heard about this before? What stood out to you as we were talking about it?
- What surprised you as we talked about it?
- As you reflect on Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane, what stands out to you, and why?
Diving In
- Jesus found a dedicated time and place to pray. Do you have a dedicated time and place to pray that works well for you? When and where is it? Do you pray there as often as you would like to? What would help you pray there more? If you don’t have one, spend some time thinking and asking the Lord when and where that could be for you.
- How likely are you to ask others to join in praying for something? Who in your life can you ask to pray with you? What would make you ask others to join you in prayer more?
- Read Matthew 26:39. Jesus submits to the will of the Father. What stops you from having this same attitude, and being willing to submit to God’s will for your life over your own? What practical step(s) can you take to submit to God’s plan over your own?
- Read James 1:22-25. So many times we can go to God in prayer, but then fail to take the step of faith that He is asking us to take. What would help you to be able to actually do what God is asking you to do?
Applying the Scripture
What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word?
- What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God has taught you in this passage of Scripture?
- How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord?
- Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?
Small Group Guide:
Open with prayer.
Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?
If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.
Prayer Time:
Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.
Staying Missional:
Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:
Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
What’s next?
Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?