Cornerstone’s 40 Days of Experiencing More of the Spirit
WEEK 5: The Spirit of Healing
Using chapters 8-9 of Alan Kraft’s book “more” and the message from Doug on Sunday, respond to the following questions before going to your group.
Breaking the Ice
Take a look around the room where you’re meeting and find an object that you feel describes you. For instance, you might choose a lamp because you enjoy brightening people’s day, an electrical outlet because you like to empower people, etc.
Give two minutes for people to find an object, then appoint a timekeeper and have everyone share in 30 seconds or less what they’ve chosen and why.
Briefly, in just a couple of minutes ...
Look over at Luke 10:1-21 and your notes from the message. Was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or spoke to you personally?
Did it raise any questions or create any push-back for you?
If you read Chapters 8-9 in the book More, how did your reading complement and deepen your understanding of this week’s theme?
Exploring God’s Word
Don’t feel pressured to answer every question.
What are your biggest questions or concerns regarding the ministry of healing prayer?
In light of this, why do think we often hesitate to pray for healing for someone who is sick?
Read Matthew 9:35–38 and 14:9–14 and ask:
Why did Jesus heal the sick?
What does this tell us about God’s heart toward sickness and disease? Why does this matter?
Read Luke 9:1–2, 10:1–2, 9 and Acts 6:8.
Why does Jesus entrust His healing ministry to others, including those who are not apostles?
Read Matthew 17:14–20 and Mark 6:5–6
What do these passages teach us about the role of faith in healing?
What are some dangerous attitudes toward faith in healing that may cause more harm than good? Have you personally experienced any of these? Explain.
In response to these passages and Hebrews 11:1, how would you define faith in general and specifically as it relates to healing prayer?
Apart from those in your group (if you’re discussing this message with a group of people), what are some of the open doors the Holy Spirit might be providing you right now to pray for people in your life who are sick and in need of healing?
To what extent have you been praying for their healing?
What would it look like for you to begin being more pro-active in praying with them or over them? What’s keeping you from doing this?
Making It Real
If you’re processing this week’s message in a group setting, we encourage you to practice following a healing prayer model Alan Kraft provides in his book “more”, praying specifically for those in your group in need of healing.
Step One: Interview -- Begin by asking questions like, “What would you like us to pray for? Where do you feel pain? Is there a specific diagnosis? When did the pain start? What other treatments have you received for this?”
Step Two: Invite the Holy Spirit’s Presence -- Begin with a prayer of blessing over the person, then welcome the Spirit’s presence into your prayer time, inviting Him to reveal to you anything that would be helpful in your praying or specifically how you should be praying.
Step Three: Pray as the Spirit Leads -- As you begin sensing the Spirit’s leading, pray according to the direction He gives you toward the person’s healing. You might feel led to share a Scripture, picture or thought the Lord is bringing to you as you pray. Perhaps you might pause in praying to find out how the person is doing.
Step Four: Bring Closure -- When you sense the prayer time is finished, take a moment to thank God for what He has done. Again, pray a blessing on the person and ask the Spirit to continue His work in their life.
After doing this, ask a member of your group in need of healing to be prayed for.
After praying, debrief the experience, both from the perspective of those praying as well as those who received prayer. As time permits, have others participate in receiving prayer and then debrief together.
Breaking the Ice
Take a look around the room where you’re meeting and find an object that you feel describes you. For instance, you might choose a lamp because you enjoy brightening people’s day, an electrical outlet because you like to empower people, etc.
Give two minutes for people to find an object, then appoint a timekeeper and have everyone share in 30 seconds or less what they’ve chosen and why.
Briefly, in just a couple of minutes ...
Look over at Luke 10:1-21 and your notes from the message. Was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or spoke to you personally?
Did it raise any questions or create any push-back for you?
If you read Chapters 8-9 in the book More, how did your reading complement and deepen your understanding of this week’s theme?
Exploring God’s Word
Don’t feel pressured to answer every question.
What are your biggest questions or concerns regarding the ministry of healing prayer?
In light of this, why do think we often hesitate to pray for healing for someone who is sick?
Read Matthew 9:35–38 and 14:9–14 and ask:
Why did Jesus heal the sick?
What does this tell us about God’s heart toward sickness and disease? Why does this matter?
Read Luke 9:1–2, 10:1–2, 9 and Acts 6:8.
Why does Jesus entrust His healing ministry to others, including those who are not apostles?
Read Matthew 17:14–20 and Mark 6:5–6
What do these passages teach us about the role of faith in healing?
What are some dangerous attitudes toward faith in healing that may cause more harm than good? Have you personally experienced any of these? Explain.
In response to these passages and Hebrews 11:1, how would you define faith in general and specifically as it relates to healing prayer?
Apart from those in your group (if you’re discussing this message with a group of people), what are some of the open doors the Holy Spirit might be providing you right now to pray for people in your life who are sick and in need of healing?
To what extent have you been praying for their healing?
What would it look like for you to begin being more pro-active in praying with them or over them? What’s keeping you from doing this?
Making It Real
If you’re processing this week’s message in a group setting, we encourage you to practice following a healing prayer model Alan Kraft provides in his book “more”, praying specifically for those in your group in need of healing.
Step One: Interview -- Begin by asking questions like, “What would you like us to pray for? Where do you feel pain? Is there a specific diagnosis? When did the pain start? What other treatments have you received for this?”
Step Two: Invite the Holy Spirit’s Presence -- Begin with a prayer of blessing over the person, then welcome the Spirit’s presence into your prayer time, inviting Him to reveal to you anything that would be helpful in your praying or specifically how you should be praying.
Step Three: Pray as the Spirit Leads -- As you begin sensing the Spirit’s leading, pray according to the direction He gives you toward the person’s healing. You might feel led to share a Scripture, picture or thought the Lord is bringing to you as you pray. Perhaps you might pause in praying to find out how the person is doing.
Step Four: Bring Closure -- When you sense the prayer time is finished, take a moment to thank God for what He has done. Again, pray a blessing on the person and ask the Spirit to continue His work in their life.
After doing this, ask a member of your group in need of healing to be prayed for.
After praying, debrief the experience, both from the perspective of those praying as well as those who received prayer. As time permits, have others participate in receiving prayer and then debrief together.