disciples of prayer

DISCIPLES OF PRAYER

FOLLOWING CHRIST ANDHIS MODEL OF PRAYER

Session Two

Session Two OBJECTIVES

! Identify prayer ruts to avoid.

! See a pattern for, and the profit of, structured prayer.

Assumptions by Jesus

1. Jesus assumes that disciples pray.

2. Jesus assumes that hypocrites pray.

3. Jesus assumes that a reward is at stake.

How NOT to Pray

Don’t Pray for the Wrong Reward (vv.5-6)

Mrs. Not-enough

Mr. Backdoor

Mr. Likes-to-be-alone

Maybe you’ve met:

How NOT to Pray

Don’t Pray from the Wrong Reasoning (vv.7-8)

Formal Emptiness

Casual Emptiness

• Using God’s name as a punctuation mark.

• Icing prayers with “for Your glory.”

• Flippantly finishing a prayer “in Jesus’ name.”

How TO Pray

Invocation (v.9a)

The act of invoking or appealing to a higher power for assistance.

How TO Pray

Calibration (vv.9b-10)

To measure and adjust to a standard.

How TO Pray

Supplication (v.11)

A humble appeal, asking someone who has power to grant the request.

How TO Pray

Confession (v.12 [vv.14-15])

A formal statement admitting that one is guilty, along with a desire of absolution.

How TO Pray

Benediction (v.13)

The act of praying for divine protection.

TAKE-AWAYS

• an argument for LEARNING prayer.

• an argument for STRUCTURED prayer.

• an argument for THEOLOGICAL prayer.

• an argument for PERSONAL prayer.

The Disciples’ prayer is:

TAKE-AWAYS

• Don’t be a prayer parrot.

• Try adding light structure to prayer times.

Grunts Warriors• Don’t show-off a superior

prayer life.

• Don’t forget the skeleton.