HOW TO GET PRAYERS ANSWERED

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MEETING AGENDA

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
  2. GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
  3. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
  4. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
  5. GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
  6. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.

GROWTH QUESTION #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

GROWTH QUESTION #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon?

GROWTH QUESTION #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

Luke 11:5-13 (NLT) - 5 Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 6 ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ 7 And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ 8 But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. 9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Opening question

What stands out to you in this story?

INTRODUCTION

  • In Luke 11, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray.

  • After giving them the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs them (and us) to approach God with confidence, persistence, and trust. 

  • In this simple story about a neighbor knocking at midnight, Jesus reveals powerful truths about… 
  • How we can and should approach our Heavenly Father.
  • What kind of father God really is.

Truth #1

GOD INVITES US TO ASK

Luke 11:9-10 (NLT) – So I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

  • Prayer begins with simply bringing our needs to God.
  • Many believers struggle not because God is unwilling to answer, but because they never ask.
  • Scripture reminds us that some blessings are connected to prayer.
  • God invites us to participate in miracles and breakthroughs by asking for them.

James 4:2 (NLT) - You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
  • Prayer is not a religious ritual—it is direct access to God through Jesus Christ.
  • Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, believers can approach God with confidence and freedom.

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) - So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What is something (small or big) you could begin bringing to God in prayer this week?

Truth #2

GOD HONORS SPECIFIC PRAYER


Luke 11:5 (NLT) – Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread.

  • In Jesus’ story, the man asks for three loaves—a clear and specific request.
  • Specific prayers help us clarify what we are trusting God for.
  • When we are specific, we are also able to recognize when God answers.

Philippians 4:6 (NLT) - Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

  • This teaches us to tell God exactly what we need.
  • Even when Jesus healed people, He often asked them what they wanted Him to do.

Mark 10:51 (CEB) - Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Teacher, I want to see.”
  • God isn’t ignorant to our needs. He knows our needs more than we know them.
  • The reason God wants us to be specific is to teach us to go to Him for all of our needs.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Why are vague prayers less powerful than specific ones?

Truth #3

PERSISTENT PRAYER DEMONSTRATES FAITH

Luke 11:8 (NLT) – If you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

  • Jesus uses the image of someone knocking repeatedly at midnight to illustrate persistence.
  • Persistence in prayer does not mean God is reluctant—it shows our faith and dependence on Him.
  • The Greek word used for persistence here speaks of boldness and a refusal to give up.
  • Delays in prayer do not mean denial; sometimes they are opportunities for faith to grow.

Luke 18:1 (NLT) - One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

  • Jesus is teaching us that we should always pray and never give up.
  • Persistent prayer strengthens our relationship with God and keeps our hearts aligned with His will.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Can you think of a time when you kept praying about something for a long time? What did you learn through that process?

Truth #4

GOD RESPONDS BECAUSE HE IS A GOOD FATHER

Luke 11:11-13 (NLT) – So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.

  • Jesus compares God to a loving father who wants to give good gifts to his children.

  • God’s character is the foundation of our confidence in prayer.

  • If earthly parents desire good things for their children, God’s goodness is infinitely greater.

  • Our prayers are not directed toward a distant or reluctant God but toward a loving Father.

Psalm 84:11 (NLT) - For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

  • The greatest gift God gives is His presence and power through the Holy Spirit.

Interactive QUESTION

How does thinking of God as a loving Father change the way you approach prayer?

Closing question

What’s one thing you learned today that you can apply to your life this week?

GIVING

The call to give without expecting anything in return challenges us to embody a selfless generosity that mirrors God's love for us.

Luke 6:30 (NLT) 
Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.

Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.

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PRAY

QUESTION #1

Who are you praying for to be saved?

QUESTION #2

Who can you invite to the next meeting?

QUESTION #3

What are your prayer requests?