1. Why is it important for those of us who are doing ministry to look at why we are doing these things, to

nexamine whether we do these things with hearts that radiate God's love or for some other reasons?

2. Pastor Cymbala writes, "I have seen God do more in people's lives during ten minutes of real prayer

nthan in ten of my sermons." (p. 71) What results of heartfelt prayer have you seen?

3. The Holy Spirit was poured out, as recorded in Acts 1-2, when the disciples were waiting on God. What

ndo you think would happen if more Christians in Hutchinson spent time waiting on God?

4. If prayer is the key to a strong church and dynamic gospel outreach, what do you think is keeping many

nChristians from spending more time praying and calling on God's name? What do you see as your two

nbiggest obstacles to spending more time praying and calling on God's name?

5. What do you anticipate happening if you begin to earnestly and diligently pray that God will reveal his

npower in your life and lead you toward people whom he wants you to love? Are those two prayers

nyou feel comfortable asking God for?

6. How might getting out in the community reshape the kind of prayers you pray and who you pray for?

7. Often Pastor Cymbala describes people who come to the Brooklyn Tabernacle as being in desperate

nstraits. How do you typically respond when "unusual", desperate, or even very difficult people show up

nin your life? In church?

8. When we truly believe that God can change people from the inside out, regardless of how sinful or

nhopeless they may be, as opposed to viewing God as only changing those who are generally good

npeople, what effect does that have on our direct contact with desperate, needy people? On our

nprayer life?

9. How did Pastor Cymbala's sharing of Ricardo's testimony impact you? What did the story of Ricardo

nteach you about God? About prayer?

10. Revelation 5:8 reveals that "the prayers of the saints" are so precious to God that he keeps them like a

ntreasure! How might that truth encourage you?

11. Pastor Cymbala repeatedly emphasizes the importance of realizing that prayer is God's channel of

nblessing and then praying, not out of legalistic habit but out of strong desire. If one doesn't have a

nstrong desire to pray, how can they hope to gain it?

12. A habit of consistent prayer in your life requires a time each day set aside to pray. Do you have a set

ntime each day to pray and really talk with God about your troubles, your challenges, your persecutions,

nthose around you who don't yet know him? If so, when? If not, is anything stopping you from starting

ntoday?

13. Which area(s) of your life needs prayer? Your marriage? Your children? Your business decisions? How

nmuch are you willing to invest each day in crying out for God's grace and power?

14. How are you going to grow from what you've learned this week?