Prayer Is Like a Text Message

Preached to: Middle School Students

Speaker: Pastor Amanda Hahn

Pastor Amanda preached a message to middle school students, focusing on the importance of prayer as they prepare for the upcoming school year. She emphasized that prayer is vital for Christians, likening it to having a conversation with God, much like texting a friend. The session included interactive activities to illustrate the significance of prayer and how it connects us with God, who always listens, even when others might not. Pastor Amanda also referenced Psalm 34, highlighting that God is close to the brokenhearted and hears the prayers of those who seek Him. She encouraged students to begin praying for their schools, friends, and even those they struggle with. The message concluded with students choosing prayer partners and receiving prayer bracelets as a reminder to pray regularly, especially as they face the challenges of the new school year.

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• Dinner Table Discussion Guide

  1. Understanding Prayer as Communication with God

     • Discussion Question: What does it mean to you that prayer is like having a conversation with God? How can we make prayer a regular part of our daily routine?

     • Activity: Share a recent moment when you prayed about something important. Discuss how it felt to know that God was listening.

  2. God’s Presence in Difficult Times

     • Discussion Question: How does it make you feel to know that God is close to the brokenhearted and hears our prayers, especially during tough times?

     • Activity: As a family, take turns sharing a difficult moment and how prayer helped or could have helped you through it.

  3. Being Radiant with Joy

     • Discussion Question: Psalm 34 talks about being "radiant with joy." What does this mean, and how can our relationship with God help us show joy even in challenging situations?

     • Activity: Each family member can share something that makes them joyful and how they can reflect that joy to others.

  4. Praying for Others

     • Discussion Question: Why is it important to pray for others, including our friends, family, and even those we may find difficult to get along with?

     • Activity: As a family, create a prayer list of people you want to pray for this week. Each person can pick one or two names to focus on.

  5. Experiencing God’s Goodness

     • Discussion Question: Psalm 34 says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." What does this mean, and how have you experienced God's goodness in your life?

     • Activity: Share examples of how you’ve seen God’s goodness in your day-to-day life. Then, discuss ways you can be more aware of and thankful for these moments.

• Sermon Outline

  • Starter

    • Introduction to the halfway point of the year and the start of the school year.

    • Encouragement to establish routines, such as going to bed early.

    • Introduction of the new series focusing on essential habits for surviving the school year, starting with prayer.

  • Message

    • Prayer is a vital part of a Christian's life, especially for those aspiring to be campus missionaries.

    • Recap of the five disciplines from the summer: Pray, Live, Give, Tell, Serve.

    • Emphasis on the importance of prayer in making an impact on school campuses and in daily life.

  • Dig Deeper

    • Explanation of prayer as a simple conversation with God, akin to texting a friend.

    • Reference to Psalm 34, highlighting that God listens to the prayers of the brokenhearted and those who seek Him.

    • Discussion on being "radiant with joy" when turning to God and the importance of experiencing God's goodness.

  • Application

    • Interactive activities to illustrate the importance of communication and listening in prayer.

    • Encouragement to pray for schools, friends, and even those who are difficult to get along with.

    • Distribution of prayer bracelets as a daily reminder to pray.

  • Conclusion

    • Reinforcement of the message that God is always available and cares about every detail of our lives.

    • Encouragement to build a closer relationship with God through consistent prayer.

    • Final activity of pairing up for prayer and instructions for continued prayer and devotion throughout the week.

• Scriptures

  1. Psalm 34:1-8

  • Verses 1-3: "I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together."

  • Verses 4-8: "I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation, I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"

  2. Psalm 34:15-18

  • Verses 15-18: "The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."