PRAY: Spend two minutes in silent prayer. After two minutes, have someone pray for your time together as a group.

READ: Colossians 3:1-17. Invite different group members to read the passage out loud, two or three times. Each time, use a different Bible translation to allow for the Spirit to highlight key points through different wordings and sentence structures.

Q1 – According to John of Damascus, “Prayer is the lifting of the mind and heart to God.” How does this understanding of prayer expand our view beyond simply talking to God? How can worship, reading the Word, silence, serving, and other practices of Jesus become ways of turning our hearts toward Him?

Q2 – Colossians 3 tells us to “put to death” what belongs to our earthly nature. What does it mean to put sin to death rather than simply put it to sleep? What sins or patterns are you tempted to manage rather than truly surrender to Jesus? What would repentance and putting that sin to death look like practically?

Q3 – What areas of your life have you accidentally or intentionally kept separate from Jesus? Where are you most tempted to live as though Jesus is only part of your life rather than Lord of your whole life? Consider your work, marriage, relationships, finances, hobbies, entertainment, and free time. What would it look like to invite Jesus into those places?

Q4 – It’s easy to say that Jesus should be included in everything we do. But Colossians 3 gives us something deeper: Christ is all. How would your life look different if Jesus wasn’t simply added to your list of priorities, but became the source from which every other affection flows? What can you do this week to grow in your affection for Jesus? 

Q5 – What aspects of prayer feel most uncomfortable, unfamiliar, or difficult for you? Where is Jesus inviting you to grow- in how you pray, when you pray, what you pray about, or who you pray for? What is one practical change you can make this week?

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READING

Each week, we will include Scripture readings that are meant to help you reflect more deeply throughout the week, personally, or in your group.

• Romans 12:1-2 → Let Jesus transform my mind.
• John 15:1-11 → Abide with Jesus
• Galatians 5:16-25 → Walk by the Spirit
• Philippians 2:1-11 → Orient your life towards others as Jesus did ● 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 → Practice His presence all day  

Take time to sit with the Scriptures, return to them daily, and let them shape your prayers, questions, and conversations this week.

CHALLENGE: PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD

This week, we’re challenging ourselves to move beyond simply having a “quiet time” with Jesus and begin inviting Him into every part of our day. A morning spent in Scripture and prayer is a beautiful thing, but our relationship with Jesus was never meant to be confined to a chair, a Bible, and 20 minutes before the day begins. Jesus wants to be present in our conversations, our work, our decisions, our frustrations, our relationships, our interruptions, and even the ordinary moments we tend to overlook. So this week, start your day with a simple prayer: “Jesus, meet me in every part of my day.” Then, throughout the day, look for opportunities to invite His presence into whatever is in front of you. And write them down. Keep a journal, use the notes app on your phone, or simply jot down a few words each night: Where did I ask Jesus to meet me today? What happened when I invited Him in? Where did I see Him working? We’re not trying to manufacture spiritual moments- we’re learning to notice the presence of Christ in the moments we’re already living. At the end of the week, look back and see how God met you in the ordinary. Don’t just meet with Jesus in the morning. Walk with Him all day, and pay attention to where He meets you.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

• Please click HERE to access the ACC Resource Library for these resources on Prayer:
  • God on Mute by Pete Grieg
  • Prayer by Richard Foster
  • Hearing God by Dallas Willard
  • Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton
  • Practicing the Way: Prayer. A four-week course to help you learn to set aside dedicated time to intentionally be with God, in order to become like Him and partner with Him in the world. Click HERE to access.