It Happens After Prayer Series

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VOL NO. CD001

STUDY GUIDE

IT HAPPENS AFTER

PRAYER SERIES… Dr. Christopher Dodd Pastor, NCC Dolton www.drchrisdodd.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2. WHAT PRAYER CAN DO 3. REPENTANCE: THE ROAD TO RECOVERY 4. THE POWER OF PRAYING MOTHER 5. THE RIGHT REQUEST 6. PRAYING TO HANDLE YOUR HATERS 7. PRAYER THAT CHANGES YOUR PERSPECTIVE 8. A FORMULA FOR FATHERS 9. WHAT TO DO WHEN GOD SAYS NO

Dr. Christopher Dodd BACKGROUND

Dr. Christopher Dodd is a native of Chicago and the only son born to Doshia and E.C. Dodd. He was raised on the south side of Chicago where he attended Roseland Christian Elementary School and Luther South High School. Pastor Dodd was greatly influenced by two of his former pastors, the late Pastor Lawrence E. Mosley Sr. of Lilydale Progressive Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Horace E. Smith of Apostolic Faith Church.

Dr. Dodd received his bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University and his Masters of Divinity Degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007. He has been married to his college sweetheart Schlonda Dodd for 19 years.

They have three daughters: Kennedi, Raygan and Madison.

After graduating from college, Pastor Dodd worked for several fortune 500 companies as a sales representative and manager receiving numerous awards. In 2001 he accepted his calling to the ministry.

On April Fool’s Day 2006 he walked away from corporate America to pursue God’s calling on his life. In September 2006, he organized Christ Victory Assembly Church in Lansing, Illinois.

In 2013 Dr. Christopher Dodd came on staff at New Community Church where we have seen tremendous growth under his leadership. He recently received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. His thesis topic was socio-economic reconciliation. Dr. Christopher Dodd currently serves as the Lead Pastor of New Community Church with campuses in Dolton and Park Forest.

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IT HAPPENS AFTER PRAYER SERIES

DR. CHRISTOPHER DODD

WEEK ONE

What Prayer Can Do! 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”

And God granted his request.”

1. Prayer has the capability to prosper you.

(Grow me Lord!)

2. Prayer has the capability to protect you.

(Guard me Lord!)

3. Prayer has the capability to propel you.

(Grant me Lord!)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. It is important to note that the Bible wants us to know that Jabez was and strived to be a person of exceptional character. That is why we are told in verse 9, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.” Why do you think the Bible stressed Jabez’s exceptional character before mentioning the things he prayed for? Do you believe righteous living has a correlation with answered prayers?

2. What happens when a person is more passionate about “getting more” (being blessed) than “being more” (growing in character)? Describe a time when “getting more” hindered your walk with God? 3. There had to be a reason for Jabez’s parents to give him a name that means “pain”. Whatever the situation, his name implies that his parents were not very optimistic about his future. There are two references to pain in this passage. Verse 9 “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ Verse 10, Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory? Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10) What are modern examples of ways we can allow negative experiences from our past to dictate our future?

What steps will you take to improve your payer commitment over the next seven weeks?

From TRUTH through TRACTION to TRANSFORMATION: What did God say to you today?

What will you do about it?

With whom will you share this…and when?

2017 Copyright Colab Print, All Rights Reserved. Article CDIHAP no. 001

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IT HAPPENS AFTER PRAYER SERIES

DR. CHRISTOPHER DODD

WEEK TWO

Repentance: The Road to Recovery Psalm 51:1-11

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Have you ever struggled with a sense that your sin was so great that you could never be fully forgiven?

What hope do you find in David’s prayer in Psalm 51?

2. Why do you think we are sometimes hesitant to confess our sin? Do you believe that God is capable of forgiving and cleansing from all unrighteousness?

3. Of all of these things that David asks God for, which would you also like to ask God for and why? (a clean heart, a loyal spirit, not to take his Spirit away, restore the joy of salvation, make me willing to obey)

From TRUTH through TRACTION to TRANSFORMATION: What did God say to you today?

1. The road to recovery requires the right CONNECTION.

What will you do about it?

With whom will you share this…and when?

2. The road to recovery requires the right CONFESSION. 3. The road to recovery requires the right CONSTRUCTION.

2017 Copyright Colab Print, All Rights Reserved. Article CDIHAP no. 001

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IT HAPPENS AFTER PRAYER SERIES

DR. CHRISTOPHER DODD

WEEK THREE

The Power of A Praying Mother 1 Samuel 1:10-20

“In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord.”

1. A praying mother has fortitude. (THE POWER OF PERSISTENCE).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Have you ever felt like Hannah, where no other person can meet the deep need in your soul? Read Hannah’s prayer in vs. 1-10. What steps can you take to offer God your burdens and the cries of your soul?

2. Review the entire chapter and discuss the tension between Hannah’s pain and her devotion to God. Discuss how you live with this tension of crying out for something from God and remaining devoted despite what the outcome might be.

3. Hannah’s prayer was answered by God. What attributes can you learn from this passage about the power of prayer?

From TRUTH through TRACTION to TRANSFORMATION: What did God say to you today?

What will you do about it?

With whom will you share this…and when?

2. A praying mother has feelings. (THE POWER OF PASSION).

3. A praying mother has faith.

(THE POWER OF PERSPECTIVE).

2017 Copyright Colab Print, All Rights Reserved. Article CDIHAP no. 001

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IT HAPPENS AFTER PRAYER SERIES

DR. CHRISTOPHER DODD

WEEK FOUR

The Right Request 1 Kings 3:3-15

“I will do as you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be”

1. People that make the right request seek God. (OUR GOD HAS ANSWERS)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How does a person pursue wisdom that aligns their heart with God’s heart? How much time do you usually spend seeking Godly wisdom through prayer, fasting or reading His word?

2. All of us are capable of making poor choices.

Who do you seek first about difficult decisions?

How has trusting the wrong information source cause problems? What area of your life do you currently need Godly wisdom?

3. Hannah’s prayer was answered by God. What atAfter reading this passage, what do you believe is the reason God gave so much wealth and wisdom to Solomon? Why do you think God offered to give Solomon essentially anything he asked for? Why did God make so many promises to Solomon?

From TRUTH through TRACTION to TRANSFORMATION: What did God say to you today?

What will you do about it?

2. People that make the right request surrender to God. (OUR GOD HAS AUTHORITY)

With whom will you share this…and when?

3. People that make the right request are supplied by God. (OUR GOD HAS ABUNDANCE)

2017 Copyright Colab Print, All Rights Reserved. Article CDIHAP no. 001

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IT HAPPENS AFTER PRAYER SERIES

DR. CHRISTOPHER DODD

WEEK FIVE

Prayer That Changes Your Perspective 2 Kings 6:8-18

And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.”

Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. When Elisha’s servant saw they were surrounded by the enemy, he was fearful and cried out, “Oh my Lord, what shall we do?” Describe a time in your life when your fear overwhelmed your faith.

2. Why do you believe God does not answer our prayers instantly and dramatically, as He did Elisha’s prayer? What needs to change in your prayer life for your eyes to be more opened to God’s reality?

3. If we cannot always count on chariots of fire appearing in times of crisis, what resources from God can we count on to help us in a crisis?

From TRUTH through TRACTION to TRANSFORMATION: What did God say to you today?

What will you do about it?

With whom will you share this…and when?

1. Prayer can provide you with inside STRATEGY. 2. Prayer can provide you with STABILITY. 3. Prayer can provide you with SECURITY. 2017 Copyright Colab Print, All Rights Reserved. Article CDIHAP no. 001

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IT HAPPENS AFTER PRAYER SERIES

DR. CHRISTOPHER DODD

WEEK SIX

Praying to Handle Your Haters Nehemiah 4:1-9

“They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.”

1. You can handle your haters when you talk to Christ more than your critics.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. It has been said that there is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing and be nothing. How do you normally handle criticism?

After reading Nehemiah chapter four, what steps will you now take in addressing critics?

2. What physical or spiritual opposition are you currently facing? How is the Christian pilgrimage similar to the challenges Nehemiah faced building the wall? In what ways can you incorporate prayer and work into your battle strategy?

3. Think of a time when someone criticized you for doing good. How did you respond? Did you respond like Nehemiah, with righteous words directed toward God? Did you respond with angry words directed toward your attacker? Did you respond with self-justifying words directed toward your supporters? What does our response toward criticism reveal about our fears?

From TRUTH through TRACTION to TRANSFORMATION: What did God say to you today?

What will you do about it?

2. You can handle your haters when you do not allow persecution to halt progress.

With whom will you share this…and when?

3. You can handle your haters when you know who is fighting your foes.

2017 Copyright Colab Print, All Rights Reserved. Article CDIHAP no. 001

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IT HAPPENS AFTER PRAYER SERIES

DR. CHRISTOPHER DODD

WEEK SEVEN

A Formula for Fathers Luke 15:11-24

“So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

“A good father is one of the most unsung, upraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.” Billy Graham From TRUTH through TRACTION to TRANSFORMATION: What did God say to you today?

What will you do about it?

With whom will you share this…and when?

1. A Godly father knows when to CONCEDE. 2. A Godly father knows when to show COMPASSION. 3. A Godly father knows when to COVER. 4. A Godly father knows when to CELEBRATE.

2017 Copyright Colab Print, All Rights Reserved. Article CDIHAP no. 001

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IT HAPPENS AFTER PRAYER SERIES

DR. CHRISTOPHER DODD

WEEK EIGHT

What To Do When God Says No 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Have you ever prayed continually about something that was causing you pain and God’s answer was no? How did this experience develop or damage your prayer life? After reading this passage, how would you navigate this experience differently?

2. Describe a time when God has been strong in your “weakness”? In what ways do you need God to be strong in your weakness at this time in your life?

3. Describe a time in your life when pain was profitable? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about God? Where in your life do you currently need God’s grace to be sufficient?

From TRUTH through TRACTION to TRANSFORMATION: What did God say to you today?

What will you do about it?

With whom will you share this…and when?

1. God says no to protect you from pride. (DELIVER ME) 2. God says no because pain can be profitable. (DEVELOP ME) 3. God says no to prevent you from trusting your power.

(DIRECT ME) 2017 Copyright Colab Print, All Rights Reserved. Article CDIHAP no. 001

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