Creekside Community Church: “Imitating Jesus” “Praying like Jesus II: Expecting God to Answer” October 14, 2012
John Bruce – Pastor

The Essence of Faith

"Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22)

Expecting God to Answer

The Exercise Faith

"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.” (Mark 11:23)

Exercising Faith in Prayer

"Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” (Mark 11:24)

For further thought and discussion:

Getting Started

1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand? 2. What is the most recent example of a time you really had to trust God?

Going Deeper

Please read Mark 11:12-14 and 11:19-21. Why do you think Jesus cursed a defenseless tree? Why does this happen when it does? Do you think there is a deeper lesson here that He wants His disciples to learn?
Please read Mark 11:22-24. What does Jesus tell His disciples the lesson of the fig tree is? What does Jesus mean by, “Have faith in God?” Why does the size of our God determine the size of our faith? What does this imply about how we grow in faith? What’s the difference between faith in God and faith in faith?
According to vs. 23, how do we exercise faith? Why would anyone want to toss a mountain into the sea? (Note, tossing a mountain into the sea was an expression in Jesus’ day for anything that is impossible, like our expression “when hell freezes over.” So what’s Jesus saying here? There are no promises about withering a tree with a single curse or tossing a mountain into the sea. So how do we determine what we can believe God to do and what we cannot?
According to vs. 24, how do we exercise faith in prayer? What if I find I can’t believe that God is going to answer a particular prayer – what should I do? Compare this passage to Mark 9:14-29. Note especially vs. 23. What does asking in faith mean?
What are some specific ways Mark 11:22-24 might change the way we pray?

Application:

What is one thing you learned from this week’s passages that you will apply to your life?