Passionate Faith Communicates in Prayer
This week we look at prayer. It is probably the aspect of Passionate Faith we should have looked at sooner, but it is an integral aspect of cultivating Passionate Faith. It was a very important part of Jesus’ life and ministry, so much so, that the disciples noticed it and asked Jesus to teach them to pray. It was the only thing that they asked Jesus to teach them.
Luke 11:1–12
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
If you want to take notes as you listen, click here to get our fill in the blank notes.
Outline
From this story, we see four marks of successful prayer:
1. Successful Prayer Depends on a Relationship
2. Successful Prayer Emerges from a Need
3. Successful Prayer Is Persistent
4. Successful Prayer Is Put into Practice
How Do We Put Prayer into Practice?
Five practical steps:
1) Keep your relationship with God warm and active.
2) Scrutinize your prayers and motives.
3) Let God’s Word and God’s world shape your prayers.
4) Pray persistently.
5) Have confidence in the goodness of God.
Questions
· The sermon opened with a golf illustration—needing the basic mechanics to play well.
In what ways do you see prayer as a “basic mechanic” of the Christian life?
· The disciples had watched Jesus pray and asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
What do you think they saw in Jesus’ prayer life that they felt they lacked?
· What does your prayer life reveal about the closeness—or distance—of your relationship with God?
· Have there been seasons where prayer felt mechanical or dry? What contributed to that? How did the relationship get refreshed?
· Why do genuine needs often drive us to deeper prayer?
· What needs—personal, relational, or spiritual—are currently pushing you toward prayer?
· Do you ever hesitate to bring certain needs to God? Why or why not?
· Can you think of a time when you persisted in prayer and God answered? What did you learn through the process?
· What habits or rhythms have helped you cultivate a more consistent prayer life?
· If someone asked you, “Teach me to pray,” what would you tell them based on Luke 11?
