Lesson 54

What does God teach us about

prayer?

What is prayer?

Luke 2:37

...She never left the temple but

worshiped night and day,

fasting and praying. worship

What is prayer?

Matthew 15:8-9“These people

honor me with their lips, but their hearts

are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught

by men.”

What is prayer?

Psalm 19:14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O

LORD, my Rock and my

Redeemer.speaking to God from the heart

What is prayer?Isaiah 1:15

When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer

many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of

blood…

What is prayer?

Hebrews 11:6And without faith it

is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. only believers

are heard

Key Point #1

Prayer is an act of worship in which believers in Jesus speak

to God from their hearts.

Agree or Disagree?

God listens to all people’s prayers because he created all

people. They are all his children, and so he also knows all their

needs.

Brian says, “We have to pray.” Brett says, “We want to pray.” Who expresses a more God-

pleasing attitude? Why?

What’s wrong here?

Prayer is sort of getting in touch with your own hidden ideas and deep desires. It makes you feel better if you can put those ideas

and desires into words for yourself.

What’s wrong here?

It’s no use to teach young children to pray until they’re at least five or six years old and can understand what they’re

praying about.

How does God want us to speak to him when we pray?

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but

in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.


Ephesians 3:12

In him and through faith in

him we may approach God

with freedom and confidence.


John 3:1How great is the

love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called

children of God! And that is what

we are! boldly and confidently


1 Samuel 1:10-11,13aIn bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD Almighty,

if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and

remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to

the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will

ever be used on his head.”…Hannah was praying in her

heart…


Hosea 14:2Take words with you

and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins

and receive us graciously, that we

may offer the fruit of our lips.”


Matthew 6:9-13This, then, is how you

should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us

today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we

also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not

into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ using any

fitting words


John 16:23In that day you will

no longer ask me anything. I tell you

the truth, my Father will give

you whatever you ask in my name.


1 Timothy 2:1I urge, then, first

of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be

made for everyone… for anything

and anyone


Ephesians 6:18And pray in the

Spirit on all occasions with all

kinds of prayers and requests. With this in

mind, be alert and always keep on

praying for all the saints. at any time


1 Timothy 2:8

I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without

anger or disputing.

from anywhere

Key Point #2

God wants us confidently to ask and to thank him for anything,

anytime and anywhere.

Agree or Disagree?

It’s too bad our church doors are often locked. That makes it

harder for people to pray to God, since they can’t do it in God’s

house.

Mary tells the class, “Each day I’m going to set aside the ten minutes before I go to bed for prayer. I think that everyone in this class should do the same

thing.” How would you respond?

Renee says, “We don’t pray before meals at our house

because we hardly ever sit down together to eat.” How would you

respond?

When might it be better to speak a private prayer out loud? When

might it be better to pray silently?

How would you explain the address of the Lord’s Prayer to

someone who has never experienced love from an

earthly father?

Evaluate…

Duane, a freshman in high school, asks God to give him a Porsche by his 18th birthday. He

feels he is praying boldly.

Evaluate…

Sarah’s grandma has cancer. The doctors say she will die in only a few days and nothing they can do

will change that. Sarah asks God to perform a miracle, if it is his will, and heal her grandmother. Sarah

feels she is praying boldly.

A pastor asks his class to explain why we can pray to God boldly and

confidently. Melissa says, “I think the main reason we can pray to God boldly

and confidently is because he’s so powerful.” Megan says, “I think the

main reason we can pray to God boldly and confidently is because he’s so

loving.” Who do you think gave the better answer? Why?

Agree or Disagree?

Prayer is hard work.

Martin Luther once said, “A Christian is always praying,

whether he is sleeping or waking; for his heart is always praying.” In what sense would this statement not be true? In what sense would it be true?

Martin Luther once said, “The Pater Noster [Our Father] is the

greatest martyr on earth; for everyone torments and misuses it.” How is the Lord’s Prayer

abused? How, specifically, can we keep it from happening?

Project

Write a prayer to God, asking for help with something

important to you that you hardly ever or never have prayed about.

Project

Write a prayer to God, thanking him for something that you hardly ever or never have

thanked him for.

Project

Ask your father and mother what prayers they were taught to

pray at home when they were young.

Search Christian Worship…

Find the two hymn versions of the Lord’s Prayer. (Hint: Find the prayer section.) Who wrote the words of the second hymn? Why do you think he wrote it?

On television Ken saw some Muslims praying in a mosque, their worship building. The program also

showed the Muslims turning toward Mecca at regular hours

every day for prayer. He says, “I think we can learn a lot about

prayer from the Muslims.” What do you think?

Evaluate…

Kimberly, your friend, says she trusts that God is her Father by

faith in Jesus. But she also says that she feels she can pray more boldly and confidently when she asks the virgin Mary to speak to God for

her.

Agree or Disagree?

You cannot confidently ask God to help you do well on a test

unless you have studied a proper amount of time for the test.

A friend of yours who belongs to a Baptist church says, “We all

pray the same Lord’s Prayer, and when we say ‘Our Father,’ we are expressing our unity in faith with each other.” How do

you respond?

Lesson 54

Prayer is confidently speaking to God, asking or thanking him for anything, anytime and anywhere.

Vocabulary…

“Prayer”

an act of worship in which we speak to God

from the heart

Vocabulary…

“Prayer Fellowship”

biblical teaching that we only join in prayer with

those who are united in faith with us

Vocabulary…

“Address”

words indicating the person to whom we’re

speaking

Vocabulary…

“Petition”

a request for something

Vocabulary…

“Intercessory Prayer”

praying for something on behalf of others

Vocabulary…

“Mediator”

a middle-man

Lesson 54

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Transcript of Lesson 54