Session Eight

Tree

In this session, we discover how prayer is like uprooting a tree, and how with more hands lending their weight we can have a massive impact.

  1. Read chapter 8 of the book The Prayers of Many

  2. Watch the following video before going through the interactive section below with your small group

 

Teaching Video 08: Prayer is like uprooting a tree

 

Small Group Section

Discuss

  • What would most inspire you to pray with energy and passion: 1) praying with a small group of friends, or 2) praying in a group of 200? Why do you say this?

  • Read 2 Corinthians 1:11 and discuss what Paul says about the number of people praying and the impact this has on the outcome. What conclusions can you draw?

  • When do you typically start praying about important decisions, directions or activities in your life? Before you set out or when things go wrong?

  • How does the image of uprooting a tree help us picture what prayer accomplishes and how the number of people praying affects the outcome?

  • If corporate prayer has a key part to play in removing the obstacles to spiritual and kingdom growth, how does this change the focus and priority of prayer in your individual and church life?

 

Review

  • Prayer can be more effective, the more people are involved.

  • When we come together and combine our efforts in prayer, something incredibly powerful can happen to spiritually uproot obstacles.

  • It is much easier to influence our communities for the kingdom when, through prayer, we have uprooted the things that are in the way of fruitful growth.

 

Pray

We often jump from one prayer topic to the next, each person praying for different topics. The tree metaphor suggests that working to uproot one tree together can be more effective.

A good way to do this is using simple and short prayers on the same topic for a longer period of time.

Identify a spiritual tree that needs uprooting (e.g. a stronghold growing in an individual or in your community). Uproot that tree together using short simple prayers. Build on each other’s prayers, working together in Christ to remove the obstacle to the Gospel.

 

Prayer Tip

Short prayers can be very effective and encourage everyone to take part in a meeting - not just the ‘prayer warriors’. Lloyd Van Vuuren explains more in the video:

 
 
 

Extra

In the Bible, Jesus expects fasting to be a normal part of His disciples’ lives (Matthew 6:16), and implies that prayer combined with fasting is important for unlocking situations (Mark 9:29; not all versions mention fasting).

As part of our ENOUGH prayer events, we have encouraged people to try a Daniel Fast, a simple yet powerful way to draw close to God. Download our Guide and consider trying it as a group.