The Message in the Miracle
I. Jesus took time alone to pray.
a. Jesus prayed to be refreshed and to prepare.
b. Jesus came to preach a message.
2 Pet. 3.18, Mk. 6:46, Mk. 14:32-35, Eph. 2:12-13, Jn. 11:25-26
II. Jesus cleansed a leper who believed, with the result that…
a. …the leper would be welcomed back into the community.
b. …Jesus would be pushed out of the community.
c. …the miracle would point to His message.
Lev. 13:45-46, Mk. 6:34, Luke 7:12-14, Lev. 13:6-8, Mk. 5:42-43, Mk. 9:9
How should we pray?
- To the Father, in the Spirit, through the Son (Eph 2.18)
- With thanksgiving (Phil 4:6)
- About everything (Phil 4:6)
- With perseverance & watchfulness (Col 4:2)
- With rest in God’s care for us (1 Pet. 5:7)
- With confession (1 Jn 1:9)
- For church leadership (Heb. 13:18)
- For leaders in government (1 Tim. 2:1-2)
- For the spread of the Gospel (Eph 6:18-20)
- For deeper fellowship (Philemon 6)
- For endurance in the faith (2 Thess. 2:11-12)
- For His glory (Eph 3:20-21)
- For and with forgiveness (Matt. 6:12)
- For the return of Jesus (Rev. 22:20)
Small Group Discussion Questions
What stories do you have about misreading a sign?
Which Bible passages help guide your prayers?
How do you make time to pray?
How does God use hard times to bring us closer to Him? How have you seen this in your own life?
What opportunities are there in your life to reach out to those who have been pushed to the margins?
How would you complete this sentence? “Because Jesus is the Son of God, I can trust Him with