October 15 – 21

Weekly Reading for October 15 – 21

Preparing for Next Week’s Message

Sermon Series: Praying with Eyes Wide Open
Sermon Title: Praying with Ears Wide Open

This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on October 22, 2017:


Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon

Sermon Series: Praying with Eyes Wide Open
Sermon Title: Praying with Eyes Wide Open
Delivered On: October 15, 2017

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Memorize and Reflect

Pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)


Prayer Direction

Try praying in private with the following posture: Eyes open turned toward heaven, standing, hands lifted, praying out loud.


“Live It!” Challenge

Eyes Open - Try praying with your eyes open in three situations in the coming week when you would normally close your eyes.


Small Group Discussion

  1. The Bible never commands that we close our eyes when we pray. As a matter of fact, it does not even suggest it or give examples of people closing their eyes in prayer. Why do you think the posture of eyes closed and hands folded is the norm in most of our prayer lives?

  2. Who taught you how to pray? What were some of the habits, patterns, or specific prayers you were taught?

  3. Watch Session One Video. If we only pray when we can close our eyes, what are some of the situations and settings in the flow of life that could remain void of prayer?

  4. If you were in a group of people who were praying together, how might opening your eyes actually engage you more in prayer? How do you think you might feel if someone saw you with your eyes open during prayer?

  5. Read: Luke 9:12-17, John 11:38-44, and John 17:1 What do you learn about Jesus’ eyes and hands during these powerful moments of prayer? What are ways we can model the example of Jesus in these passages as we pray?

  6. What are some reasons we might want to pray with our eyes closed? (Just for the record, there is nothing wrong with closing your eyes some of the time when you pray.)

  7. What are some settings and situations in which you can imagine yourself praying with your eyes wide open? How do you think you might find yourself engaging more intimately, actively, and frequently in prayer if you began praying with your eyes open on a daily basis?

  8. How can praying with our eyes wide open connect us more fully to the presence of God in our lives and the world around us? How might our prayer lives increase if we really understood that our time with God is limitless?

  9. How can praying with our eyes wide open connect us more fully to God’s power that is at work in the world around us?

  10. How might praying with your eyes open when you are with other Christians bring new life and vitality to your prayers?

  11. What are two or three situations in which you are going to try praying with your eyes open in the coming week?

  12. Your Prayer Journey: Take time as a group (and also through your week) to pray using one or more of the “Your Prayer Journey” suggestions from chapters one through four in the book, Praying with Eyes Wide Open. (Pages 25, 35, 48, and 56)

  13. The Bible never commands that we close our eyes when we pray. As a matter of fact, it does not even suggest it or give examples of people closing their eyes in prayer. Why do you think the posture of eyes closed and hands folded is the norm in most of our prayer lives?

  14. Who taught you how to pray? What were some of the habits, patterns, or specific prayers you were taught?

  15. Watch Session One Video. If we only pray when we can close our eyes, what are some of the situations and settings in the flow of life that could remain void of prayer?

  16. If you were in a group of people who were praying together, how might opening your eyes actually engage you more in prayer? How do you think you might feel if someone saw you with your eyes open during prayer?

  17. Read: Luke 9:12-17, John 11:38-44, and John 17:1 What do you learn about Jesus’ eyes and hands during these powerful moments of prayer? What are ways we can model the example of Jesus in these passages as we pray?

  18. What are some reasons we might want to pray with our eyes closed? (Just for the record, there is nothing wrong with closing your eyes some of the time when you pray.)

  19. What are some settings and situations in which you can imagine yourself praying with your eyes wide open? How do you think you might find yourself engaging more intimately, actively, and frequently in prayer if you began praying with your eyes open on a daily basis?

  20. How can praying with our eyes wide open connect us more fully to the presence of God in our lives and the world around us? How might our prayer lives increase if we really understood that our time with God is limitless?

  21. How can praying with our eyes wide open connect us more fully to God’s power that is at work in the world around us?

  22. How might praying with your eyes open when you are with other Christians bring new life and vitality to your prayers?

  23. What are two or three situations in which you are going to try praying with your eyes open in the coming week?

  24. Your Prayer Journey: Take time as a group (and also through your week) to pray using one or more of the “Your Prayer Journey” suggestions from chapters one through four in the book, Praying with Eyes Wide Open. (Pages 25, 35, 48, and 56)