Sermon Discussion Guide (June 14th, 2026 Sermon)

June 16th, 2026
by Hoffmeyer Road

June 14th, 2026 Sermon Discussion Guide

In this sermon from Colossians 1:9-14, Pastor Greg draws the congregation into a deep reflection on the spiritual discipline of prayer, particularly what it means to pray with a kingdom-focused mindset. Using Paul's prayer for the church at Colossae as a model, he highlights how the early church relied on prayer not as a last resort but as a first response, whether in times of growth or persecution. The sermon challenges believers to move beyond a laundry list of personal requests and toward prayers that reflect God's kingdom priorities. Three key truths emerge from the passage: we must pray for wisdom from God, we must pray for strength from God, and we must pray with thanksgiving to God. The pastor is transparent about his own conviction during sermon preparation, sharing how the Lord challenged Him to evaluate the quality and focus of His own prayer life. He calls the congregation to consider whether their prayers are truly kingdom-centered, encouraging them to pray for the lost by name, to depend on the Holy Spirit's power for daily endurance, and to cultivate a heart of gratitude for all that God has done through Christ's redemption.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You grateful for this time together. As we open Your Word and reflect on what it means to pray with kingdom-focused hearts, we ask that You would quiet our minds and soften our hearts. Remove any distractions that would keep us from hearing what You want to say to us today. We do not come with all the answers, but like the people of Second Chronicles, our eyes are on You. Teach us, Lord, to pray with wisdom, strength, and thanksgiving. Have Your way in our group today, and may we leave this time changed by Your Spirit. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Ice Breaker

What is one habit or routine in your daily life that you almost never skip, and why does it matter so much to you?

Key Verses

Colossians 1:9-14
Acts 1:14
Acts 2:42
Acts 4:31
James 1:5
Acts 1:8
Ephesians 3:16

Questions

The pastor described prayer as the early church's first response rather than a last resort. In your own life, when do you tend to turn to prayer first, and when do you find yourself reaching for other solutions before praying?
Paul prayed that the believers in Colossae would be 'filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding' (Colossians 1:9, ESV). What does it look like practically to seek God's wisdom before making decisions, both big and small?
The pastor mentioned that we are 'totally controlled by what has filled us,' whether that is anxiety, fear, bitterness, or the Spirit of God. What do you think currently fills and controls most of your daily thoughts and actions?
In Colossians 1:11 (ESV), Paul prays for endurance and patience with joy. The Greek behind these words points to remaining under difficulties without retaliating. Can you share a time when God gave you that kind of supernatural endurance? What did it feel like to rely on His strength rather than your own?
The pastor challenged the congregation to evaluate whether their prayers are kingdom-focused or mostly a personal wish list. If you honestly assessed your prayer life over the past week, what percentage of your prayers were focused on God's kingdom purposes versus personal needs or wants?
Colossians 1:12-14 (ESV) reminds us that God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son. How does regularly remembering what God has already done for you through Christ shape the way you approach Him in prayer?
The pastor shared that he gave his leadership team index cards and asked them to write down the name of someone they are praying will come to know Christ. Do you currently have someone like that in your life? What would it look like to commit to praying for that person consistently?
The sermon pointed out that the church's Wednesday night prayer time often focuses almost entirely on physical needs, while kingdom concerns like salvation and spiritual growth go unmentioned. How do you think your small group or church could grow in praying more kingdom-centered prayers together?

Life Application

This week, set aside a specific time each day to pray with a kingdom focus. Write down three names: one person you are praying will come to know Christ, one person you want to invite to church, and one kingdom-related concern beyond your personal needs. Bring those names before God each day, asking Him for wisdom to know how to reach them, strength to be faithful in the effort, and a heart of thanksgiving for what He has already done. At your next group meeting, be prepared to share how this intentional, kingdom-focused prayer time affected your week.

Key Takeaways

Prayer was the early church's first response to both growth and opposition, not a last resort, and it should be the same for believers today.
We must pray for wisdom from God, trusting Him to direct our paths rather than relying on our own understanding or outside voices, and remaining patient with our eyes fixed on Him while we wait for His answer.
We must pray for strength from God, recognizing that the Holy Spirit living within every believer provides ongoing, dynamic power for endurance and patience without retaliation in the face of life's difficulties.
We must pray with thanksgiving to God, remembering that He has delivered us from darkness, given us an inheritance, and redeemed us through Christ, and allowing those truths to shape the tone and content of our prayers.
Kingdom-focused praying means moving beyond a personal wish list to include prayers for the lost, for the spread of the gospel, and for God's glory to be known, both individually and as a church.

Ending Prayer

Lord, we thank You for the time You have given us together today. Your Word has reminded us that prayer is not a formality but a lifeline, a direct connection to the God who holds all wisdom, all strength, and all grace. Forgive us for the times we have treated prayer as a last resort or reduced it to a list of personal wants. We ask You now to renew our hearts and reshape our prayer lives. Give us wisdom for the decisions ahead of us. Give us strength for the hard days that will come. And fill us with genuine thanksgiving for the redemption we have in Your Son. May our prayers become more kingdom-centered this week, and may the names we carry before You lead to lives transformed by the gospel. Send us out from this place with a fresh dependence on Your Spirit and a boldness to pray expectantly. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

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