Why do some prayers get answered while others seem to go unheard? Jesus promises that faith can move mountains, yet we still face trials, disappointment, and mystery. In this message from Robyn Elliott we wrestle honestly with unanswered prayer, exploring biblical tensions, real-world complexity, and the hope the resurrection still offers.
Discussion Questions:
1. When have you experienced an unanswered prayer, and how did it shape your perception of God?
2. How do you reconcile Jesus’ promises in Matthew 21 and John 14 with the lived reality of suffering?
3. Which of the possible explanations discussed - contradiction, wounded world, free will, evil, sin - resonates most with you, and why?
4. To what extent is the modern Western expectation of happiness influencing how we interpret God’s role in our lives?
5. How does free will complicate the idea of God intervening in response to prayer?
6. In what ways does the biblical portrayal of spiritual evil (Ephesians 6) add nuance to the question of unanswered prayer?
7. What is the difference between having faith in God and having faith in the amount of your faith?
8. How does the Christian hope of resurrection reframe the way we interpret suffering, healing, and unanswered prayer?
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Why do some prayers get answered while others seem to go unheard? Jesus promises that faith can move mountains, yet we still face trials, disappointment, and mystery. In this message from Robyn Elliott we wrestle honestly with unanswered prayer, exploring biblical tensions, real-world complexity, and the hope the resurrection still offers.
Discussion Questions:
1. When have you experienced an unanswered prayer, and how did it shape your perception of God?
2. How do you reconcile Jesus’ promises in Matthew 21 and John 14 with the lived reality of suffering?
3. Which of the possible explanations discussed - contradiction, wounded world, free will, evil, sin - resonates most with you, and why?
4. To what extent is the modern Western expectation of happiness influencing how we interpret God’s role in our lives?
5. How does free will complicate the idea of God intervening in response to prayer?
6. In what ways does the biblical portrayal of spiritual evil (Ephesians 6) add nuance to the question of unanswered prayer?
7. What is the difference between having faith in God and having faith in the amount of your faith?
8. How does the Christian hope of resurrection reframe the way we interpret suffering, healing, and unanswered prayer?
Acts (The Church Gets Messy): Testimony Over Tradition
Lakeside Church
42 minutes 48 seconds
3 months ago
Acts (The Church Gets Messy): Testimony Over Tradition
In the early church, rapid change created deep tension between tradition and the movement of God’s Spirit. In this message from Robyn Elliott, we take a look at Acts 15, which shows us how the early leaders navigated sacred convictions, honest disagreement, and radical inclusion - by listening, telling stories, and centering everything on Jesus. This passage is a masterclass in following Jesus faithfully through disruption, both in the church and in our world today.
Discussion Questions:
1. Where have you seen procedures or policies get in the way of purpose - in church or elsewhere?
2. Have you ever experienced your sacred foundations being shaken? How did you respond?
3. How do we know when our traditions are helping or hindering our faith?
4. What do you think Peter meant when he said, “Why are you now challenging God?” How might we do that today without realizing it? How do we balance faithfulness to Scripture with openness to God doing something new?
5. Can you recall a time when someone else’s testimony changed your perspective more than a debate could have?
6. Where in your life are you being invited to “bow your convictions to Jesus?”
7. What are some small, practical ways we can embody low-cost love in our church or neighbourhood?
Lakeside Church
Why do some prayers get answered while others seem to go unheard? Jesus promises that faith can move mountains, yet we still face trials, disappointment, and mystery. In this message from Robyn Elliott we wrestle honestly with unanswered prayer, exploring biblical tensions, real-world complexity, and the hope the resurrection still offers.
Discussion Questions:
1. When have you experienced an unanswered prayer, and how did it shape your perception of God?
2. How do you reconcile Jesus’ promises in Matthew 21 and John 14 with the lived reality of suffering?
3. Which of the possible explanations discussed - contradiction, wounded world, free will, evil, sin - resonates most with you, and why?
4. To what extent is the modern Western expectation of happiness influencing how we interpret God’s role in our lives?
5. How does free will complicate the idea of God intervening in response to prayer?
6. In what ways does the biblical portrayal of spiritual evil (Ephesians 6) add nuance to the question of unanswered prayer?
7. What is the difference between having faith in God and having faith in the amount of your faith?
8. How does the Christian hope of resurrection reframe the way we interpret suffering, healing, and unanswered prayer?
