Reading for the Week of March 6-12

Day 1- Psalm 51
Day 2- Daniel 6
Day 3- Daniel 9
Day 4- Jonah 1-2
Day 5- Jonah 3-4
Day 6- Luke 22
Bonus- Psalm 22

Memorize/Reflect - “Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Personal Reflection- Do I really feel free to tell God anything and everything that is on my heart? Why hold back, He already knows?

Discussion- Do you feel free to tell God your fears, frustrations, and even the things you are deeply upset about? What gets in the way of us being totally honest with God in our prayer lives? How can we remove these roadblocks?

Prayer Direction- Get very honest with God in prayer this week. Use these prompters to get you started:
God, I am afraid when…
God the Provider, I really need…
Mighty Tower, I feel defenseless when…
Good Shepherd, please protect me when…
God of Grace, forgive me for…

“Live It!” Challenge - Find a place where you can have some private time with God. Lift up your prayers…out loud. Tell him everything that is on your heart. Confess, cry out, express frustration…there is something powerful about hearing your own voice speaking out loud to God!

Monthly Prayer Focus: This month we will use the CATS prayer: Confession, Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Thanksgiving is simply stopping to thank God for what He has done for you and others. Use this week as a time to let God know that you notice so much of what He does for you and let Him know you are deeply thankful.

Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore: If you want to go deeper into the topic of prayer, consider reading Nick Harrison’s amazing devotional book, Magnificent Prayer. Also, there is The Prayer Bible written by Ben Patterson (who preached two weeks at Shoreline last Summer) with daily devotionals. You can review both of these and order them at your own Shoreline Bookstore this morning.

Small Groups Discussion Questions (Week 2 -Simple Conversations)

Reading for the Week of February 27 – March 5

Day 1- Psalm 4-6
Day 2- Psalm 7-11
Day 3- Psalm 23-25
Day 4- Psalm 27-30
Day 5- Psalm 96, 98, 100
Day 6- Psalm 103, 121, 123, 127
Bonus- Psalm 148-150

Memorize/Reflect - “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:4)

Personal Reflection- How has God answered your prayers in the past? How can the reality that God hears and answers your prayers inspire you to pray more?

Discussion- Why does God enjoy communicating with His children in prayer? What can we do that will help us remember to talk with God in simple and natural ways as we go through a normal day?

Prayer Direction- As you address God in prayer, use various names. Don’t just say, “Dear God…” This is fine, but there is something rich about addressing God as: Great Creator, Sustainer of my life, Savior of my soul, Mighty Tower, Good Shepherd, Bread of Life…As you use various names for God, let the reality of who He is guide your prayers.

“Live It!” Challenge - God is our Shepherd and we are His sheep. We can recognize His voice. Take time this week and really listen for the voice of God. Set aside ten minutes and simply ask God to speak and lead you.

Monthly Prayer Focus: This month we will use the CATS prayer: Confession, Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Adoration is praising God for who He is…His attributes and characteristics. Take time each day of the week and reflect on 10-15 specific qualities of God’s character. As you do, adore Him for who He is and how you experience this reality in your life. You might even want to write these down as you go through the week.

Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore: If you want to go deeper into the topic of prayer, consider reading Nick Harrison’s amazing devotional book, Magnificent Prayer. Also, there is The Prayer Bible written by Ben Patterson (who preached two weeks at Shoreline last Summer) with daily devotionals. You can review both of these and order them at your own Shoreline Bookstore this morning.

Small Groups Discussion Questions (Week 1 -Simple Conversations)

To listen to SIMPLE CONVERSATIONS click here!

Reading for the Week of February 20 – 26

Day 1- Matthew 6
Day 2- John 17
Day 3- James 5
Day 4- John 10
Day 5- 1 Samuel 1-2
Day 6- Nehemiah 1-2
Bonus- Psalm 1-3

Memorize/Reflect - “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10)

Personal Reflection- When you have a normal conversation with a dear friend, what sorts of things do you talk about? Make a point of sharing these things with God…He cares about the smallest details of your life.

Discussion- Who is a person in your life that has been a wonderful example of authentic prayer? What can you learn from their example?

Prayer Direction- Use the Lord’s Prayer (found in Matthew 6:9-13) as a simple tool to guide you. Identify the big themes and use these as a springboard to move you into prayer.

“Live It!” Challenge - As you pray “Give me today my daily bread,” make a point of watching yourself through the coming week. What to you use and consume that is a simple need and what is an extra? Try, for a week, to focus more on simple needs and not extravagant extras.

Monthly Prayer Focus: This month we will use the CATS prayer: Confession, Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Confession is admitting to God when we have sinned with our words, actions, and in our thoughts. And, it is committing to live in a different way as we move forward in His grace. Take time each day this week to confess sins and to receive reminders of God’s grace (Read: 1 John 1:9).

Resources online or in the Shoreline Bookstore: If you want to go deeper into the topic of prayer, consider reading Nick Harrison’s amazing devotional book, Magnificent Prayer. Also, there is The Prayer Bible written by Ben Patterson (who preached two weeks at Shoreline last Summer) with daily devotionals. You can review both of these and order them at your own Shoreline Bookstore this morning.

Small Groups Discussion Questions (Week 3 – Forgiveness)