Prayer- A Holy Conversation

As you begin this study, take some time to prepare your heart to commune with our Holy God.

Read Luke 18.1; Ephesians 6.18-20; 1 Thessalonians 5.17. What do these verses teach us about prayer? 

Describe a season when prayer was “compartmentalized.” What was the outcome of that season? 

How do you engage the tension of having a regular rhythm of prayer and pray continually? 

Read and reflect on the following statement: “One of the gifts of prayer is to learn how to live all of my life and speak all of my words in the joyful awareness of the presence of God.”

Read Luke 1. Where do you see God at work in this chapter? What speaks most personally to you in this chapter? 

Describe Mary’s response and posture to the angel’s pronouncement. 

Reread Luke 1.46-55. What speaks most profoundly to you in Mary’s prayer? How does Mary’s prayer inspire you and encourage you?

Mary begins by saying her “soul magnifies the Lord.” Reflect on your last week. What would those closest to you say your soul magnified? How might you recenter, even now?

How does this prayer get lived out in the life of Jesus? Can you see any overlap between Mary’s prayer and the way Jesus lives and loves? 

Why is it important for you to know and do the will of God? 

In your own words, define the prayer of indifference. 

Read and reflect on this version of The Lord’s Prayer. 

“Dear Father always near us, may your name be treasured and loved, may your rule be completed in us— may your will be done here on earth in just the way it is done in heaven. Give us today the things we need today, and forgive us our sins and impositions on you as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us. Please don’t put us through trials, but deliver us from everything bad. Because you are the one in charge, and you have all the power, and the glory too is all yours—forever— which is just the way we want it!”

Jesus spoke “all of His words in the joyful awareness of the presence of God.” How might you learn to live and love like Jesus in this same way? Who might join you on this journey? 

As you begin take a few minutes and watch the Bible Project’s introduction to the book of Daniel. Note how you see God at work in the midst of this story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cSC9uobtPM

Read Daniel 9. What speaks most personally to you in Daniel’s posture and prayer? 

How significant to you is that Daniel is “reading the Scriptures” as part of his regular time in prayer and study? Daniel is reading from the prophet Jeremiah. Read Jeremiah 29.10-14. How does this prophecy intersect with Daniel’s reality? 

Daniel is going to live out what he is reading in the text. When you read Scripture, how does it become part of your life? How do you live out the truth of the text? 

Daniel prays a prayer of confession on behalf of the people of Israel. How does Daniel identify himself with the sin of the nation? 

How would you describe Daniel’s understanding of sin? What is the relational consequence of our sin? How are we restored to right relationship with God through confession? 

In what ways do you see similarities between the people of Israel and the people in our neighborhood? 

Have you ever prayed a prayer of confession, or sought forgiveness from someone on behalf of another? What was the result of that confession?

In Daniel’s prayer, how does he view God? How does Daniel approach God, speak to God, and trust God? 

Read 1 John 1.5-9 and James 5.16. How do these passages encourage you?

What’s the role of community in prayer? How are we healed through confession? 

Read Matthew 3.8. What does it look like for you to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance?” 

Read 2 Corinthians 5.1-21. What does the “ministry of reconciliation” mean to you? How is God calling you to lean into this ministry? What’s His heart for your partnership as an “ambassador”? 

Read Psalm 139.22-24. Allow God to search you, allow Him to speak to you about what makes you anxious. Allow Him to lead you in the way everlasting.

What speaks to you most personally today in the Lord’s Prayer? 

How impactful is it for you to have someone pray for you? 

Choose a few of Paul’s “pastoral prayers” and receive them as being prayed for you. 

• Romans 1.8-12
• 1 Corinthians 1.4
• 2 Corinthians 1.3-4
• Ephesians 1.3, 15-19
• Ephesians 3.14-21
• Philippians 1.3-5, 8-11
• Colossians 1.3-4
• Colossians 1.9-21
• Colossians 4.12
• 1 Thessalonians 1.2-3
• 2 Thessalonians 1.3-4
• 2 Timothy 1.3
• Philemon 1.4-6

Read Philippians 1.3-6. What does Paul celebrate about the church in Philippi? What brings him joy? What part do you play in the partnership in the ministry of the Gospel at Sanctuary? How does verse 6 particularly encourage you? 

Read Philippians 1.9-11 as a prayer. Allow it to minister to you. 

What is the role of God in prayer, and what is your role? 

What does Paul pray for here that ministers most personally to you? To what in the prayer do you say, “Amen”?

What does it mean for His love to abound in you? Be specific. 

What’s the difference between “abiding in His work” and “abounding in His love”?

Describe a time when you were tempted by the seductiveness of self-righteousness. 

Read Ephesians 3.17-21. Allow it to minister to you. 

What, if any, does Paul prayer posture mean to you? 

What does humility in prayer sound like to you? 

Where do you sense the need for faith to arise in your life? 

Take a few moments and describe the depths of God’s love for you. 

What’s the difference in knowing love, and the knowledge about love? 

Read Acts 22. How does Paul’s testimony speak to you? Where have you been zealous without empathy or compassion? What was the outcome of that season? 

Read John 16.1-4. What does Jesus mean here? What does this mean today? 

Pray Ephesians 3.17-21 again. Receive this prayer as a prayer over you. Take a few moments and pray this prayer over your family and friends. Take a few moments and text this prayer to a friend, or to someone in our Faith Family. Rest in its truth. 

Read Genesis 4. As you read, consider what this text says about the character of God, what it says about the nature of God, and what it says about the love of God. 

The first two thirds of the text recount the story of Cain and his family. What speaks most personally to you in this section of the narrative? 

Why does God respond so favorably to Abel’s offering? Why does he reject Cain’s offering? 

What’s the ultimate consequence of Cain’s sin? 

How do you see God as the Divine Initiator in moving toward Cain, even after Cain has killed Abel? How have you seen God come to you even after you’ve sinned against Him? 

Read Genesis 4.9. The word “keeper” can also be translated as “guardian.” Keeper, implies someone who keeps watch, someone who waits for, someone who treasures, someone who restrains, someone who celebrates.

Who treasures you, who restrains you, who celebrates you? Who do you treasure, restrain, celebrate? Describe a season where you didn’t celebrate another, or a season where you weren’t celebrated? What was the outcome of that season? 

How might you grow in a current relationship to become a more trusted “keeper”?

Read the last portion of the text, Genesis 4.17-26. What do you learn about the spread of sin from the fall through Cain and his descendants? 

What similarities do you see between Genesis 4 and January 2021? 

What happens to a society that serves itself rather than trusting God for His will to be done on earth as in heaven? 

How have you experienced the pain of unforgiveness? 

Where do you sense a need to forgive yourself? To forgive another? 

How do you see God continuing to move in the birthing of Seth, and then Enosh? 

It’s here in this text where we find the first recorded season of prayer. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD. For whom, for what, are you currently “calling on the name of the LORD”? 

The message on Sunday concluded with communion and the invitation to pray for unity. Spend some time praying for unity, unity between you and God, between family members, members of our Faith Family, our neighborhood and nation.