Sermon Outline 4.13.25

Sermon Title: “Why is Prayer a Problem & What Do We Do About It?”
Text: Romans 8:26–27

Theme: The Holy Spirit helps us when we pray, and that’s one way we can be sure we belong to God and that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Though we are weak in prayer due to the hiddenness of God’s will, the Spirit intercedes perfectly in line with that will, sustaining us in hope.

Introduction

Chiasm (v. 26)
A – The Spirit helps
B – In our weakness
B’ – We don’t know what to pray for
A’ – The Spirit intercedes

I. Why is Prayer a Problem?
A. Our Weakness (v. 26a)

• “Likewise” connects to the groaning of creation and the believer—now the Spirit groans.
• “Helps” (συναντιλαμβάνεται) means to come alongside and lift a burden together.
• "weakness” includes emotional exhaustion, limited knowledge, and spiritual confusion.

B. Our Ignorance: We Don’t Know What to Pray (v. 26b)

• This is not prayerlessness—it’s praying in ignorance.
• The issue isn’t sincerity, but the limitation of our understanding.
• Compare with James 4:3—sometimes we ask wrongly.

II. What Do We Do About It?
A. Praying is what we do as believers.
B. Praying won’t be easy.
C. Praying should have a point.
D. Praying should bring encouragement (v.27).

Conclusion