prayer basics adult lesson - week two

8/2/2019 Prayer Basics Adult Lesson - Week Two

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Prayer

Basics for

AdultsLesson 2: Who Should Pray?

(A study guide resource built to accompany the book Prayer Basics:

The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of Prayer and broughtto you by the Ofce of Prayer and Spiritual Care, a ministry of the

General Council of the Assemblies of God.)

Equipping the Church......Answering the Call

TheOfce of Prayer and Spiritual Care

© 2011 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springeld, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to replicate for personal,church and/or educational use only, may not be used for commercial intent. Electronic Edition published 2011 at www.prayer.ag.org



Prayer Basics For Adults (A Study Guide)

LESSON 2: Who Should Pray? Everyone!

STUDY TEXT:Psalm 6:9;16:11; 34:15-18; Matthew 6:5-13; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:15-17;

John 16:33; Acts 16:25-32; Colossians 4:2; Hebrews 6:1,2; 1 Peter 4:7

LESSON FOCUS: God wants each of us to make prayer a consistent spiritual practice, equipping us

to resist sin and live according to His unique plans for us.

KEY VERSE: Colossians 4:2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful (NIV).

Open the Study

DISCUSSION STARTER:Begin by having students discuss the following, either in small groups or as aclass: “If you were stranded on an island for one year, what are threethings you would absolutely want to have with you.” (Possible responsesinclude a Bible, a picture of loved ones, other favorite books, and a particular type of food. Some might even suggest a solar powered iPod or laptop.) Talkabout why these particular items were chosen, and lead into a discussionabout how many of the suggested items could relate to maintaining ourspiritual health.

EXPLAIN:While this discussion is lighthearted, and likely unrealistic, it does help us toexamine our priorities. Sometimes when we think about those things we “couldnot live without,” we’re inclined to overlook the spiritual. That’s why it is vi-tal to examine our priorities from time to time. Our days are usually lled withactivities and responsibilities demanding our attention. In the noise of life, it’stempting to overlook the quiet simplicity of spending time in conversation withGod. We might even wonder if God really wants to hear about the things we’refacing. Yet He does. He invites us to share our days with Him, and we need thatinteraction. Prayer is intended to be personal. And God desires for each of Hispeople to make it a regular part of their lives.




Examine the Word

1. Prayer Is Our Responsibility—And Our Privilege

REFLECTION:Ask students if they agree or disagree with the following statement, and why: “While virtually all Christians recognize the value and importance of personalprayer, many struggle with the practice of spending extended time in prayer.”

Discuss. Then, note that it’s not uncommon for believers to struggle in the areaof prayer. Many of your students may fall into this category. Finally, have themreect on the following question before you proceed:

• If and when you struggle with a consistent practice of prayer, whatare some common reasons why? (Note that common responses includea lack of time, a struggle to stay focused, boredom, and a struggle toknow what to pray about.)

READ:Matthew 6:5-13

EXPLAIN:This passage reveals two important principles regarding the personal nature of prayer.

• Note that in verse 7, Jesus made it personal as He instructed Hisdisciples on prayer: “When you pray....” It is assumed and expectedthat the followers of Christ make prayer a part of their own dailyactivities.

• Jesus offers a wide-ranging list of topics calling for our prayers in verses9-13. Note that there are a number of personal references in this list:We call God “Father,” we pray about physical needs, and we seek helpon spiritual and relational issues.

ASK:Read Psalm 16:11 Note that this verse offers a unique perspective on howprayer impacts us, no matter the situation. How might we see the personal natureof prayer at work in the message of this verse? (Sometimes prayer seems any-thing but joyful as a need, problem, or crisis overwhelms our thoughts. Yet the joycomes in knowing our Lord invites us to voice those concerns. Prayer isn’t empty,

one-sided conversation. It’s vital and personal interaction with God.)

2. God Is Waiting To Hear from You

DISCUSS:Ask students if they feel their lives are getting busier. Are their lives busier nowthan they were 10 years ago? Twenty-ve years ago? If so, why do they feelas though life has become busier? How does the busy-ness of life impact theirrelationship with God?




EXPLAIN:We live in a hectic, noisy world. People rush from one commitment to another,often trying to squeeze in even more responsibilities along the way. Sadly, ourfrantic scheduling and multitasking often impacts our relationships with oneanother and, ultimately, God.

READ:Psalm 34:15-18

EXPLAIN:These verses reveal God’s intense desire to see us rise above the din reverber-ating from all around us and hear the cries of our hearts in prayer. Because Heis “attentive to [our] cry” (verse 15), we can be assured that our prayers don’t just bounce off the ceiling. God listens because He cares. And this compassionleads to powerful acts on our behalf when we seek Him in prayer.

DISCUSS:The passages below teach important principles concerning the assurance wehave that God does indeed hear our prayers. Read each, then discuss whatthey teach us.

• Psalm 34:18 Sometimes the situations of our lives are so devastating,or so disheartening, that we are left feeling crushed in spirit. It is duringthese times that we most need to sense God’s presence, His interest inour plight. And, indeed, He is right there. This is a powerful promise thataccompanies prayer.

• John 16:33 Hard times are a part of life. They are, in fact, to be ex-pected in this fallen world—and God knows our struggles. Thus, thisreality need not leave us feeling hopeless. God cares about where weare, and He knows we need His help. No matter how dark our valley,

God is there, waiting to hear from us.

3. Overcome the Barriers to Personal Prayer

DISCUSS:A variety of issues and concerns threaten to force prayer from the top of our prior-ity list. Yet these obstacles can be overcome if we’re willing to invest the time andenergy necessary. Here are a few examples. (As you proceed through each barrier,discuss with students which ones seem more common, and why. Also talk about

ways to overcome these barriers.):

• I struggle to stay focused when I pray for a long time. Many Christiansstruggle with fatigue, focus, or even boredom during prayer. They set out withthe best of intentions, only to nd their minds wandering after just a few min-utes. Several practical steps can help to overcome this barrier. Below are somequestions designed to assist us in making prayer time more focused.

* Do I devote a specic time each day to prayer? (Prayer becomes moreconsistent when we make it a regular, daily activity. Set your prayer timeat an hour when you’re most likely to avoid distractions and stay focused.)




* Do I have a plan when I set out to pray? (It’s hard to stay focused whenour minds are searching for things to pray about. Assemble a prayerlist, including requests from yourself, your family, your church, etc. Butdon’t limit your prayer time to requests. Be sure to also include time tomeditate and listen for God’s voice. Prayer is a conversation; it involvesboth talking and listening.)

* Have I removed distractions from my prayer time? (Prayer time is more

effective and meaningful when we’re fully focused on God. Simply turningoff the cell phone, the television, and the iPod can make a big difference.It also helps to nd a place where we know we’ll be undisturbed for anextended period of time.)

• I’m too busy to pray. The “busy-ness” of our days is a common reasonprayer is neglected. And life does include many important responsibilities: job, family, church. Time is a precious commodity. And, too often, prayeris left off the schedule. Perspective is the key to overcoming this barrier.We must view prayer as a normal and natural activity in our walk with Godrather than a task to be completed. (Read and discuss the following Scrip-

tures, highlighting what they teach about how God views the role of prayer in our lives.)

* Colossians 4:2 A good prayer life is an act of devotion to God—onethat springs from a healthy, vibrant relationship with Him. We makeprayer a priority because we want that relationship to grow stronger.

* Hebrews 6:1,2 Intercession—prayer for others—is deemed to be “elementary” to the faith. It is a fundamental, intended to exist fromthe beginning. Thus, a growing walk with God will have establishedthe practice and habit of prayer, and moved forward into disciplinesthat rise from this foundation.

• I don’t have a special calling to prayer. Many churches have a numberof ministries devoted to prayer: a group that gathers early Sunday morningto pray for the services, prayer teams interceding for needs in the congrega-tion, the community, and the world, prayer chains that receive, pray over,and share needs by phone or e-mail. While these specialized prayer ministriesare vital to the health of any church, we must be careful not to conclude thatonly some Christians are called to pray.

Note that in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus dened prayer in simple, relationalterms. Sharing needs with and offering praise to God, even as we afrm ourdesire to surrender to His will. So, while some individuals have a stronger

burden for the ministry of prayer, the basic discipline of prayer is not connedto certain individuals—pastors, deacons, spiritual leaders. Thus, any believerstruggling to grasp if he or she belongs in the ministry of prayer, ought tokeep these two principles in mind:

* Prayer is not a special gift. In Paul’s listings of spiritual gifts(Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; Ephesians 4:11-13), henever mentioned prayer as a unique role of ministry. It is, in fact,not a gift intended for a select few. Prayer requires no uniqueenablement or calling. It is universal; we all can do it; we allmust do it.




* God hears the voice of the righteous—His people. Proverbs 15:29is instructive. Prayer is the trademark of all who genuinely follow theLord, the by-product of a close walk with Him.

• I’m not “good enough” for God to listen to me. This barrier reects amisconception about prayer. God’s desire to hear from us isn’t based on somemerit we’ve earned, like an accomplished artist or businessman would earnaccess to a president or a king. Instead, God wants to hear from us because

we’re His children. Once again, the privilege of prayer is based on relationshipfounded in love. Therefore all believers have equal access.

* Read Luke 18:15-17. When Jesus talked about our interaction with Him,He didn’t point to any qualications that had to be met. Instead He declaredthat “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child willnever enter it” (verse 17). Childlike qualities such as sincerity, humility, andsimple trust—though often overlooked—are exactly what He’s looking for.

* Discuss the following verses. Note what each tells us about theidentity of those God listens to:

> Mark 10:46-52

> Psalm 6:9> Acts 16:25-34

3. Prepare Yourself for Effective Prayer

DISCUSS:Ask students to share personal testimonies of why prayer has proven to be a vi-tal part of their lives. Talk about what it means to them to know that their prayerscan be effective. Finally, pose this question: “How can you prepare yourself forthe ministry of effective prayer in the future?” Take time for discussion, then READ 1 Peter 4:7.

• Recognize the urgency of prayer. Christ’s return is imminent. And as thattime draws closer, several facts come to the forefront: 1) Life will becomeincreasingly hard for Christians as they face mounting persecution; 2) Peopledesperately need Jesus; 3) Many things in this world can distract us fromspiritual priorities. We need to be people of prayer, now more than ever—for our own sake as well as for the sake of others.

• Refocus your attention on God’s kingdom. One of the biggest challenges we

face in prioritizing prayer is that it deals largely with the unseen, spiritual realm.Prayer directs our focus outside the ve physical senses and into God’s kingdom.It’s no wonder Peter exhorted us to be clear minded and self-controlled. Dailyissues and problems continually seek to divert our attention. We need prayer tokeep our minds xed on Christ.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS > Why do you think many Christians struggle to make prayer a consistent part of

their personal walk with God?




> What are some things you can do to overcome distractions or feelings of boredom during prayer?

> As Christians, we sometimes encounter friends who struggle in the area of prayer. How would you respond in the following situations:

• A friend has just conded that he doesn’t see himself as a prayer warrior.He believes only certain Christians have a gift for prayer.

• You’re helping to disciple a new believer in your church who feelsunworthy to have personal prayers heard by God. She struggles tobelieve God would take her seriously, considering all the mistakes of her past.

> What are some struggles you face in establishing or maintaining a consistentpersonal prayer life?

> How can you overcome these barriers?


All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copy-right © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

prayer basics adult lesson - week two

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