Prayer

DISCIPLESHIP LESSON 3

PRAYER

This week’s teaching:  Luke 11:5-13

ASSIGNMENT:
1.  Prayer 15 minutes per day minimum
2.  Bible memorization Mark 11:24 and Philippians 4:6-7
3.  Written study

SECTION I: JESUS AND PRAYER
1.  What did Jesus do before making important decisions?  (Luke 6:12-13)

2.  What does Jesus teach about prayer? (Matt. 7:7-8)

3.  For what did Jesus pray?
a.  John 17:9 & 15

b.  John 17:20-21

c.  Matthew 26:42

d.  Luke 23:33-34

4.  Why did Jesus give to the disciples this prayer known as the Lord’s
prayer?  What would be a better name for this prayer rather than the
Lord’s prayer?  What would the disciples learn from this prayer? (Luke 11:
1-4)

5.  Jesus never left urgent ministry opportunities in order to spend time in
prayer. (Luke 5:15-16)  True   False

APPLICATION:  Today, pray for the things that Jesus prayed for in question 3
above.

SECTION II:  OBSTACLES TO PRAYER
1.  What are seven great hindrances to prayer?
a.  Isa. 59:1-2

b.  Proverbs 28:9

c.  James 4: 6

d.  James 4:3

e.  Matthew 5:23 & 24

G.  Psalms 66:18

2.  Why was the Pharisee’s prayer unacceptable to God?  Why was the tax
collector’s prayer acceptable? (Luke 18:9-14)

3.  What is a necessary characteristic of group prayer?(Acts 1:14, Matt 18,19)

APPLICATION:  Today, pray that God would remove the hindrances to answered
prayer in your life.

SECTION III:  GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS PRAYER
1.  What is characteristic of God’s answers to prayer?  (Jer. 33:3, Eph. 3:20)

2.  Why should we give thanks in everything?  Should we give thanks for a
situation even though it seems an adversity?  (I Thes. 5:18)

3.  Read Matthew 7:9-11 and answer the following:
a.  What kind of gifts does God give His children?

b.  How do you think God would respond to a request for something He knew
would be bad for you?

c.  What do you think God would do if He knew the answer to your request
would be better for you at another time?

4.  Why do you think God honors prevailing prayer?

APPLICATION:  Write down the attributes of God which motivate you to pray.

SECTION IV:  THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER
1.  Name the purposes of prayer
a.  Matt 26:41

b.  Luke 18:1

c. I Peter 5:7

2. Read Acts 4 and answer the following:
a. What was the problem that the apostles faced?

b. What didn’t they pray for?

c. What was their motive? (See John 14:13)

3. What was the purpose of Paul’s prayer in II Thes. 1:11-12?

4. Is it logical to expect God to give us things? (Rom. 8:32)

APPLICATION: List four (or more) reasons why you pray.

SECTION V: BENEFITS AND CONDITIONS OF PRAYER
1.  Name the benefits and/or conditions for answered prayer from the following
verses:
a.  Matt.18:19 & 20

b.  John 15:7

c.  Mark 11:24

d.  Philippians 4:6-7

f.  John 15:14-15

APPLICATION:  Examine yourself to see what conditions you meet or do not meet
for answered prayer.  Pray for God’s help to meet those conditions which are
currently unmet.

SECTION VI:  PROCEDURE IN PRAYER
1.  What is prayer?  In whose name should we pray? Why?  What results from
prayer?  (John 16:24)

2.  Name and define the different modes of prayer.
a.  I John 1:9

b.  Psalms 48:9-10

c.  Isa. 40:31
d.  Ezekiel 22:30

e.  Matthew 21, 22

f.  Psalms 116:12-17

g.  Joshua 1:8

3.  For what specific thing do we all need to pray?  (Jas 1:5)

4.  What help do we have in prayer?  (Rom. 8:26)

5.  Who should take the initiative?  What action is required?  What does God
promise?  (II Chron. 7:14)

APPLICATION:  How long should we pray for someone or something?

SECTION VII:  MODELS OF PRAYER
1.  Jesus
a.  What kind of place did Jesus choose for prayer?  What time did Jesus
choose for prayer?  (Mark 1:35)

b.  What qualities should characterize our prayer life?  (Eph. 3:12)

c.  Where does Jesus tell us to pray?  (Matt. 6:6)

2.  Daniel
a.  How   did Daniel pray?  How often did he pray?  (Dan. 6:10)

3.  Paul
a. Col. 1:9-12

1.  How did Paul pray?

2. For what did he ask?

3.  Why did he pray for this?

4.  What would be the results of his prayer?

b.  II Cor. 12:7-10

1.  What was Paul’s petition?

2.  Why did God not grant it?

3.  How did Paul then respond?

4.  What does this passage teach us about unanswered prayer?

c.  Eph. 3:14-21
1.  To whom did he pray?

2.  What did he ask that the Holy Spirit do for them?

3.  What did he pray that they might understand?

4.  What did he pray that they might be filled with?

5.  With whose glory was Paul concerned?

4.  What did the following men accomplish through prayer:
a. Moses (Ex. 15:23-25)

b. Samson (Judges 16:28-30)

c. Peter (Acts 9:36-41)

d. Elijah (Jas. 5:17-18)

APPLICATION: Pray that your prayer life would become a model prayer life.