About This Sermon
Steven Morris kicks off the series "Pray Like Jesus" with a message about making prayer our first priority. Looking at Luke 3:21-22, he shows that Jesus's public ministry, his miracles, teachings, and all he accomplished, flowed out of his private prayer life. The heavens opened and the Spirit descended while Jesus was praying, not merely while he was being baptized.
Steven gives three practical patterns from Jesus's life: pray before launching into new seasons, pray before the day begins, and pray before making major decisions. Jesus rose early to pray alone, spent entire nights in prayer before choosing the twelve, and never treated prayer as accidental. Prayer was the fixed center around which everything else was scheduled.
Scripture: Luke 3:21-22; Mark 1:32-39; Luke 6:12-16
Study Guide
A few ideas to carry with you, discuss with your group, or revisit during the week.
Practical Takeaways (5)
- The public ministry of Jesus was an overflow of his private prayer life with the Father.
- Pray before you launch into new seasons, jobs, relationships, or difficult transitions.
- Pray before the day begins. Make it a fixed, non-negotiable priority rather than hoping it happens by accident.
- Pray before you decide. Seek God's will rather than asking him to bless a choice you've already made.
- If Jesus needed intentional, extended time in prayer, we need it even more.
Discussion Questions (4)
- What stands out to you about the detail in Luke 3:21 that 'while he was praying, the heavens were opened'?
- What new season or decision are you facing that you need to bring to God in prayer before launching into it?
- What would it look like for you to pray before the day begins, given your current schedule and responsibilities?
- How can you tell the difference between asking God to bless your plans and actually seeking his will?
From the Series
