disciples of prayer
DESCRIPTION
Following Christ and His Model of Prayer GBC Saturday SeminarSession Two2009-10-10TRANSCRIPT
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.