Transformative Prayer - For the Leadership

TAC - Sunday March 23 2014 by Tacblogs on Mixcloud

1. Who are the people you pray for most often. Why these people?

2. Read Colossians 4:12-13.

3. What have you learned about prayer so far throughout this series? Has your prayer life changed throughout this series? In what ways?

4. Is there a story or illustration from the sermon that stands out for you (cell phone, church praying for their unbelieving pastor)? Which one? Why does it stand out for you?

5. Do you find that a prison is a hindrance or that it is just another place where God leads you to minister to people you'd otherwise never be able to meet - or do you have another view?

6. How should we pray for our pastors - what are the key areas of their lives and ministries that need to be lifted up to God on a regular basis?

7. Finish the small group by spending an extended period of time praying for the leadership of TAC.

Prayer That Brings People into Maturity

TAC - Prayer That Brings People into Maturity by Tacblogs on Mixcloud

1. What are a few things that you are absolutely convinced of (eg. the world is round(ish); you exist; etc.)? What gives you confidence in these things? 

2. Read 1 John 5:13-21.

3. What does John say in verse 13? What gives you confidence in your faith? What can negatively affect someone’s confidence? What do you do in times of doubt?

4. What questions do you have in regards to verses 14-15? How have you seen the truth of these verses in your life?

5. What do you learn about our responsibility to pray for other believers in this passage? What might keep us from praying for someone who has sinned?

6. What do you think God wants you to do as a result of hearing this message/reading this passage/participating in this small group? 

7. Who are some family members or friends caught in sin who your group could pray for? Finish the night by praying for these names.

Intercessional Prayer

TAC - Intercessional Prayer by Tacblogs on Mixcloud

1. Can you think of anyone who regularly prays for you (or who used to regularly pray for you)? What difference did their prayers make?

2. What does intercession mean?

3. Is there a time when you pestered someone to get what you wanted or when you were pestered? Share this example.

4. Read Luke 11:1-13.

5. What most stands out to you from this passage?

6. Where do Torontonians turn when they are in need? How do we make God the first Person we turn to in our need? Should we make Him the first Person we turn to? Why or why not?

7. Shameless and stubborn persistence in prayer – do we have it? Why do many people lack persistence in prayer? Why is it a good thing?

8. Read this short story about the great man of faith: George Mueller:

One day George Mueller began praying for five of his friends. After many months, one of them came to the Lord. Ten years later, two others were converted. It took 25 years before the fourth man was saved. Mueller persevered in prayer until his death for the fifth friend, and throughout those 52 years he never gave up hoping that he would accept Christ! His faith was rewarded, for soon after Mueller’s funeral the last one was saved.

What insights/encouragements do you gain from this story? How are you challenged to grow in your own prayer life?

Transformative Prayer

TAC - Transformative Prayer by Tacblogs on Mixcloud

Passage: 7 fold call to prayer from John 14-16


Transformation in us and our world is related directly to prayer.  Prayer is key to transformation:


a. from being overwhelmed to overcoming (John 14:12-14)
What was overwhelming the disciples at this time?  How do these words bring comfort to them?
What overwhelms you in life?  How do these words impact your overwhelming situation?


b. from being fruitful to exceedingly fruitful (John 15:7-8, 16)
Is it possible to be a Christian and not fruitful? (15:2). 
Describe God's intention in our lives regarding fruitfulness. (15:2, 8, 16)
Describe the relationship between fruitfulness and prayer (7-8, 16)
What is the fruit that you would ask Him for today?


c. from joy to fullness of joy (16:22-24)
What is the joy that every Christian has which can never be taken away?(16:22)
What is the path to fullness of joy? (16:23-24)
Are you growing in that?


d. from hesitant to confident with God (16:25-27)
How does confidence in the love of God affect our practice of prayer?
How may you grow in confidence in the love of God?
What does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus?
Are there any promises like these anywhere, by anyone, under any circumstances?
Praise God for these promises and commit to take hold of them this week.

Our Church Vision - Make Disciples

TAC - Our Church Vision - Make Disciples by Tacblogs on Mixcloud

1. Can your group recall the main ideas from the previous three sermons on the vision of Toronto Alliance Church?

2. Who is one person who has had a significant impact on your life? Describe your relationship with this person: How did their personality rub off on you? How did they teach you? What is the most important lesson you learned from him or her?

3. Read Matthew 28:16-20. As a group, spend a few minutes trying to memorize verses 18-20. Why is it a good passage to have memorized?

4. How would you define a disciple? Are there any biblical verses which guide your definition?

5. When does discipleship begin? Is it possible to be a believer in Christ but not a disciple? Discuss.

6. Reflecting on the passage: Why do you think Jesus speaks about His authority before giving the commission? How are disciples made? What does the knowledge of Christ’s presence do for the disciple maker?

7. How can you personally go and make disciples in Toronto? Has anyone in your group ever felt a calling to missions? Do you still sense this calling (from time to time)?

8. Who are some people in your life you would like to see become disciples or who are you presently discipling? In groups of 2 or 3 pray for these people.

Our Church Vision - Restoring Broken Lives

TAC - Our Church Vision - Restoring Broken Lives by Tacblogs on Mixcloud

1. What has Bill taught about the vision of TAC so far (prior to this past Sunday)? When you reflect on these ideas, how do they impact/affect you?

2. The vision of TAC is “Restoring broken lives.” What does this mean? Who are the broken who need to be healed? How have you seen TAC fulfilling this vision?

3. Read Mark 14:1-10.

4. Pastor Bill said that as God restores us He causes us to have eyes for Christ only. Do you see this in today’s passage? If so how? Have you seen this in your life or in other’s lives? Share about this.

5. Pastor Bill said that the woman does not have her eyes on other people. What does this mean? What happens when we focus on others and not on Christ?

6. The woman does something beautiful for Jesus. Why might she have done so? How can we do beautiful things for Him today?

7. Pastor Bill said that it is never a waste when something is devoted to Christ. What did he mean by this?

8. Pray for one another – that God would continue to restore your own lives (perhaps share an area of brokenness that still needs His healing). Pray for friends and/or family members who need His healing. Pray that your eyes would be on Christ.

TAC - Our Church Vision - Our Connection with History

TAC - Our Church Vision - Our Connection with History by Tacblogs on Mixcloud

1. As a denomination, what is the Christian and Missionary Alliance known for? 

2. Describe something that you have had to rebuild or remake. 

3. What does the prefix re mean? What comes to mind when you hear the word rebuild? What do you know of TAC’s re-build?

4. Read Jeremiah 33:1-11.

5. Have everyone share one thing which stands out for them from this passage. What are some things you might learn about God’s work of rebuilding from this passage? [Pastor Bill said that when God does a rebuild God calls us to prayer; he said that when God does a rebuild it is a rebuild of people; he said that God rebuilds for His own glory.]

6. Recall some of the stories Pastor Bill shared from Footprints. Do you know of any other stories from the early Alliance? What is the benefit of remembering such stories?

7. The early Christian and Missionary Alliance spent much time ministering to the poor and broken. Who are the poor and broken in Toronto today? Pray for some of the poor and broken people you know personally.