October 8 - Session Two

In this session, we want to look at Jesus` teaching on prayer, and discuss it together.

For Here:
Take a look at what Jesus had to say about prayer. The verses are included below for your convenience, but you are welcome to read them in your own Bible as well. After reading the verses together, consider the questions that follow. The object is to get everyone thinking, not to provide one right answer.


Luke 11:1-13 (The Message)
1 One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, "Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." 2-4So he said, "When you pray, say, Father, Reveal who you are. Set the world right. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil."
5-6Then he said, "Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don't have a thing on hand.'
7"The friend answers from his bed, 'Don't bother me. The door's locked; my children are all down for the night; I can't get up to give you anything.'
8"But let me tell you, even if he won't get up because he's a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbours, he'll finally get up and get you whatever you need.
9"Here's what I'm saying: Ask and you'll get; Seek and you'll find; Knock and the door will open.
10-13"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children. And don't you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?"
For discussion/reflection:

Why do you think Jesus talked about prayer here?
What does His teaching tell us about prayer?
What does His teaching tell us about God?
How does prayer factor into your life (if it does)?


To Go:
Take some time this week to read the following verses and consider what they tell us about prayer, especially in light of what we saw in Jesus’ teaching in Luke 11. Use the table of contents in your Bible to help you find the references, if necessary. You can also look them up at http://www.biblegateway.com/.

Matthew 6:5-18

Hebrews 11:1-6

Philippians 4:4-7



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Blessings,
David