Campus Missionary: Pray

Prayer is the second of the 5 disciplines of a Campus Missionary that we have discussed during our Summer Contest 2024.

In building a strong spiritual foundation, service and prayer play crucial roles. Youth participation in church activities is recognized as essential, while prayer is highlighted as a key discipline. Prayer is necessary for effective influence, helping to align personal plans with God's desires, and preparing individuals to serve and communicate the gospel effectively. Additionally, prayer prepares hearts to receive the message and encourages seeking partnerships for greater impact. Practical steps include committing to daily prayer, writing down names of individuals to pray for, and being ready to pray for others spontaneously. This approach enhances both spiritual growth and influence within school campus ministries. Consistent prayer and collaborative efforts are essential for fostering a supportive and spiritually enriched community. By integrating these practices into daily life, individuals can strengthen their connection with God and positively impact those around them.

• Dinner Table Discussion Guide

  Discussion Guide 1: The Importance of Prayer

  Questions:

  1. Why do you think prayer is important in our daily lives?

  2. How can prayer help us influence others positively?

  3. Can you share a time when prayer made a difference in your life?

  4. What are some specific things we can pray for as a family?

  5. How can we make time for prayer every day?

  Activity:

  • Each family member writes down one thing they want to pray for this week. Share these and commit to praying for each other.

  Discussion Guide 2: Aligning Our Plans with God's Desires

  Questions:

  1. What does it mean to align our plans with God's desires?

  2. How can we know if our plans are in line with what God wants for us?

  3. Why is it important to seek God's guidance in our decisions?

  4. Share an example of a time when your plans changed because of prayer.

  5. How can we as a family ensure our plans align with God’s desires?

  Activity:

  • Create a family prayer list that includes major decisions or plans you are considering. Pray together for God’s guidance.

  Discussion Guide 3: Serving Others Through Prayer

  Questions:

  1. How does prayer prepare us to serve others?

  2. What are some ways we can serve our community through prayer?

  3. Why is it important to pray for those we want to help?

  4. How can we support each other in our efforts to serve others?

  5. What specific needs can we pray for in our community?

  Activity:

  • Choose a community service project as a family and begin with a prayer for the people you will serve and the impact you hope to have.

  Discussion Guide 4: Praying for Others

  Questions:

  1. Why should we pray for others, even those we may not get along with?

  2. How can we be more intentional about praying for our friends and family?

  3. What are some ways to approach someone and offer to pray for them?

  4. Share an experience when you prayed for someone and saw a positive outcome.

  5. How can we encourage each other to pray for others daily?

  Activity:

  • Each family member identifies one person outside the family to pray for and discusses how they will approach that person to offer support through prayer.

  Discussion Guide 5: Building a Prayer Routine

  Questions:

  1. What are the benefits of having a regular prayer routine?

  2. How can we avoid giving God our “leftover” time and prioritize prayer?

  3. What are some challenges we face in maintaining a daily prayer routine?

  4. How can we help each other stay consistent in our prayer life?

  5. What specific times of the day work best for us to pray together as a family?

  Activity:

  • Develop a family prayer schedule that includes specific times for individual and group prayer. Set reminders to help everyone stay on track.

• Sermon Outline

  Starter

  • Acknowledge recent church events and youth participation.

  • Emphasize the importance of service and thank the volunteers.

  • Introduce the summer contest series and its focus on spiritual disciplines.

  Message

  • Recap the previous discussion on the discipline of serving.

  • Introduce the new topic: the discipline of prayer.

  • Define prayer as "talking to God."

  • Explain the role of a campus missionary in sharing God’s love.

  Dig Deeper

  • Discuss the importance of prayer in building a foundation for effective influence.

  • Highlight how prayer aligns personal plans with God's desires and plans.

  • Emphasize the need for a daily prayer routine and being specific in prayers.

  • Illustrate the significance of listening to God during prayer.

  • Share personal anecdotes and scriptural references (e.g., Psalms 139, Matthew 6).

  Application

  • Encourage students to commit to daily prayer and not give God their leftovers.

  • Suggest writing down five names of people to pray for regularly.

  • Promote being ready to pray for others on the spot and showing boldness in faith.

  • Highlight the importance of partnering with others in prayer for greater impact.

  Conclusion

  • Reiterate the key points: foundation of influence, aligning with God’s plans, preparing for service, and partnering in prayer.

  • Call to action: commit to consistent prayer and collaborative efforts in school campus ministries.

  • End with an interactive prayer session where students pray for and with each other.