This small group discussion guide draws directly from Wagoner First's sermon “Sunday Live Service - 2026-05-18” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Small Group Discussion Guide
"Becoming a House of Prayer"
Based on the Guest Sermon by Eric Jenkins
A Note for Facilitators: This guide is designed to help your group engage with Sunday's powerful message about prayer — what it is, why it matters, and how it can transform our lives and our church. You don't need to be a theological expert to lead this discussion. Your job is simply to create a safe, open space where people can be honest and grow together. Read through the guide before your meeting, choose the questions that feel right for your group, and trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest.
OVERVIEW
Guest speaker Eric Jenkins shared his remarkable personal testimony — from a troubled childhood, drug involvement, and arrest as a teenager to a radical encounter with God that changed everything. Drawing from that experience, and from Mark 9 and other passages, Eric made a compelling case that prayer is not just a spiritual discipline — it's the lifeline that connects us to God's power and presence. The central challenge of the message: the church needs not just more information about God, but a genuine, intimate prayer life that produces transformation in us and through us.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Estimated Total Time: 60–90 minutes (Adjust based on your group's size and discussion pace)
Materials Needed:
- Printed or digital copies of this guide
- Bibles or Bible app
- Optional: paper/journal for personal reflection
SECTION 1 — ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
Start with a low-pressure, fun question to help everyone relax and engage.
Question:
"Think back to a time when you really needed help and you reached out to someone — a friend, a parent, a mentor. What made you decide to reach out, and how did it feel when they actually showed up for you?"
[Leader Tip]: This question sets up the theme of prayer as relational communication without jumping straight into spiritual territory. It's accessible for everyone, including newer believers or guests. Keep this light and brief — aim for one or two sentences from each person.
SECTION 2 — SCRIPTURE READING
(5 minutes)
Read the following passages aloud together. Consider asking two or three different group members to each read one passage.
Passage 1 — The Foundation of Prayer
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)
Passage 2 — The Disciples Ask Jesus to Teach Them
"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'" — Luke 11:1 (NIV)
Passage 3 — The Power of Prayer in Action
"After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, 'Why couldn't we drive it out?' He replied, 'This kind can come out only by prayer.'" — Mark 9:28–29 (NIV)
Passage 4 — Jesus on Prayer and the Secret Place
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." — Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
[Leader Tip]: After reading, simply ask: "Is there a word or phrase from any of these passages that stands out to you right now?" Allow two or three brief responses before moving on. This helps the group begin connecting personally to the Scripture before the discussion begins.
SECTION 3 — DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes)
Work through as many of these questions as time allows. They're organized from lighter and observational to deeper and more personal. You don't have to cover every question — choose the ones that feel most relevant to your group.
THEME A: What Struck You? (Observational)
(5–8 minutes)
1. What was one thing from Sunday's message that stood out to you, surprised you, or stayed with you this week?
[Leader Tip]: This is a great opener because there's no wrong answer. It also helps you quickly gauge what resonated most with your group so you can lean into those themes. If the group is quiet, share your own answer first to model openness.
2. Eric shared his personal story — from a difficult childhood and serious legal trouble to a radical encounter with God at a church altar. What part of his testimony connected with you, and why?
(Optional follow-up if discussion stalls): "Even if your story looks very different from Eric's, was there a moment in your own life when you realized you needed something more than what you had?"
THEME B: Understanding Prayer (Interpretive)
(8–10 minutes)
3. Eric described prayer not just as asking God for things, but as intimacy — spending time in God's presence, learning his voice, and aligning our hearts with his. How does that description compare to how you've thought about prayer in the past?
[Leader Tip]: Some group members may feel a little convicted here, and that's okay. Normalize the tension by reminding the group that this is a space for honest reflection, not performance. You might say: "I think most of us are somewhere on a journey with this — and that's exactly why this conversation matters."
4. In Mark 9, Jesus rebuked his disciples because they couldn't cast out a demon — and he connected their failure directly to their lack of prayer. What do you think Jesus was trying to teach them in that moment? What might he be saying to us through that same story?
(Context for leaders): Eric explained that the Greek word for prayer used here (proseuche) implies face-to-face intimacy — not just a transaction, but a relationship. The disciples had seen Jesus heal and cast out demons many times, but they hadn't yet made prayer their own personal lifeline the way Jesus had.
5. Eric made a distinction between knowing about God and actually knowing God through a prayer life. In your experience, what's the difference between those two things — and what can cause someone to stay in the "knowing about" stage without moving deeper?
THEME C: Prayer and Power (Personal Application)
(8–10 minutes)
6. Eric said: "The power was coming out in public because of what was happening in private." He was describing how his time in the prayer room was overflowing into his daily life and ministry. Have you ever experienced a season when your time with God felt especially rich — and how did it affect the rest of your life?
(Optional follow-up): "Conversely, have you noticed what happens to your inner life — your patience, your peace, your perspective — during seasons when prayer takes a back seat?"
7. Eric pointed out that Jesus prayed before every significant moment in his ministry — before choosing the disciples, before feeding the 5,000, before raising Lazarus. What does that pattern in Jesus' life tell us about the relationship between prayer and the work God calls us to do?
[Leader Tip]: Encourage the group to think practically here — not just about "big ministry moments" but about everyday decisions: parenting, work conflicts, difficult relationships. The goal is to help people see prayer as relevant to their actual daily lives, not just church activities.
8. Eric shared a striking statistic: only 2–4% of church members regularly gather together for prayer. Why do you think that number is so low? What are the real barriers — honest ones — that keep people from praying more, both individually and together?
(This question invites honest, sometimes uncomfortable conversation. Common answers might include busyness, distraction, doubt that prayer "works," not knowing how to pray, or feeling like prayer is boring. All of these are valid starting points for discussion.)
THEME D: Revival and the Church (Community Focus)
(5–8 minutes)
9. Eric said: "We don't need another definition of the gospel — we need a demonstration of the power of the gospel." What do you think he meant by that? Do you agree? What would a "demonstration of the power of the gospel" look like in our community, our church, or your neighborhood?
10. Eric challenged the congregation to imagine what could happen if even 50% of Spirit-filled believers developed a genuine prayer life. What do you think would change — in our church, our families, or our city — if that became a reality?
[Leader Tip]: This is a visionary, forward-looking question that can energize the group. Don't let it become abstract — gently push toward specifics: "What's one thing you think would actually be different?"
SECTION 4 — PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are for individual reflection. You can invite people to share, but give them permission to keep their answers private if they prefer. Consider allowing 2–3 minutes of quiet reflection before opening for sharing.
"Let's take a few minutes to get personal. These questions are just between you and God — but if you feel comfortable, you're welcome to share."
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you honestly describe your current prayer life — not what you wish it was, but what it actually looks like right now? What's one word that describes it?
2. Eric said the altar isn't just a place to receive — it's a place to surrender. Is there something in your life right now that God might be inviting you to lay down or surrender in prayer? You don't have to name it out loud, but take a moment to acknowledge it honestly before God.
3. When Eric was a new believer, he was hungry — he couldn't get enough of God's presence. What would it take for you to recapture (or discover for the first time) that kind of hunger? What's one thing you could do differently this week to pursue it?
4. Eric's testimony began with one simple invitation — someone invited his mom to church. Is there someone in your life — a family member, a coworker, a neighbor — who needs that one simple invitation right now? What's holding you back from extending it?
SECTION 5 — THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
(Share before closing prayer)
Choose one of the following to put into practice before your group meets again:
🔲 Option 1 — The 5-Minute Commitment Set aside just five intentional, uninterrupted minutes each day this week to sit quietly before God — not with a list of requests, but simply to be in his presence. No agenda. Just show up.
🔲 Option 2 — Pray for One Person Think of one person in your life who doesn't yet know Jesus. Write their name down. Pray for them every day this week by name — and ask God to open a door for you to show them his love.
🔲 Option 3 — Find a Prayer Partner Reach out to one person from your small group or church this week and ask them to be a prayer partner — someone you can text prayer requests to and pray for regularly.
🔲 Option 4 — Join a Church Prayer Gathering Find out when your church gathers for corporate prayer and make a plan to attend. If your church doesn't have a regular prayer gathering, pray about whether God might be calling you to help start one.
🔲 Option 5 — Serve and Connect If you've been on the edges of church involvement, take one step toward engagement this week — whether that's joining the First Impressions team, signing up for a serving opportunity, or simply introducing yourself to someone new.
SECTION 6 — PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. Here are some suggested prayer topics drawn from the message:
- Hunger for God — Ask God to stir up a fresh hunger for his presence in each person in your group.
- Personal prayer lives — Pray for each person to take one meaningful step toward a deeper, more consistent prayer life this week.
- Our church — Pray that your church would truly become a "house of prayer" — a place where God's power is experienced and his presence is welcomed.
- Those far from God — Pray by name for people in your lives who need to encounter Jesus the way Eric did.
- Surrender — Invite the Holy Spirit to do whatever he wants to do — in each person individually, and in your group as a whole.
[Leader Tip — Closing Prayer]: Consider closing with a simple, open prayer rather than a polished one. You might say something like: "God, we don't have it all figured out. But we're here, and we're available. Do what only you can do. Amen." That kind of honesty often gives others permission to be real with God too.
SECTION 7 — OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
(For groups with extra time or who want to go further)
These questions are for groups that want to explore the sermon's themes more thoroughly. They work well as a follow-up for a second week of discussion or as homework for individuals who want to dig deeper.
Deep Dive 1 — The Transfiguration and the Valley Read Mark 9:2–29 in full. Eric described a pattern in Jesus' ministry: go up the mountain (into God's presence), then come down and deal with what's in the valley. How does this rhythm — intimacy with God followed by engagement with the world's needs — challenge or reshape the way you think about your own spiritual life and daily schedule?
Deep Dive 2 — What Is a Stronghold? Eric briefly described a "stronghold" as lie upon lie upon lie — a false belief that becomes so embedded that a person accepts it as their identity. Read 2 Corinthians 10:3–5:
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
What strongholds — false beliefs about yourself, God, or others — might prayer help dismantle in your own life? How does this passage describe the role of truth in breaking those patterns?
Deep Dive 3 — The Prayer Life of Jesus Using a Bible concordance, app, or the following references, trace the prayer life of Jesus through the Gospel of Luke: Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18; 9:28–29; 11:1; 22:41–44; 23:34, 46. What patterns do you notice? What does Jesus' example teach you about when to pray, how to pray, and what prayer accomplishes?
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE FOR FURTHER STUDY
| Topic | Passage |
|---|---|
| The Lord's Prayer | Matthew 6:9–13 |
| Persistence in prayer | Luke 18:1–8 |
| Corporate prayer and the early church | Acts 2:42; Acts 4:23–31 |
| Praying in the Spirit | Ephesians 6:18 |
| Intercession and healing | James 5:13–16 |
| God hears and answers | 2 Chronicles 7:14 |
| Jesus as our intercessor | Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34 |
A WORD FOR FACILITATORS
You did something important today by simply showing up and creating space for this conversation. You don't have to have all the answers — in fact, the best small group leaders are often the ones who ask the best questions and then get out of the way.
If your group struggled to open up today, that's okay. Trust is built over time. Keep showing up. Keep asking good questions. Keep praying for the people in your group by name.
And if your group left with more questions than answers? That's actually a really good sign. It means the Holy Spirit is doing something.
Guide prepared for small group use. Scripture quotations from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.