Engaging Gd s Presence: The Lrd s Prayer Our Father in heaven, Hallwed be yur name, Yur kingdm cme, Yur will be dne n earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day ur daily bread. Frgive us ur debts, as we have als frgiven ur debtrs. And lead us nt int temptatin, but deliver us frm the evil ne, Fr yurs is the kingdm and the pwer and the glry frever. Amen. (NIV) 1
Engaging Gd s Presence: The Lrd s Prayer Prayer isn t abut me- it s abut Gd James Mulhlland This prayer is nt fr getting what we want but fr bending ur wants tward what Gd wants learning hw t be a Christian by learning hw t pray as a Christian. William Willimn This prayer serves as a lens thrugh which t see Jesus himself, and t discver smething f what he was abut. When Jesus gave this prayer, he was giving part f his wn breath, his wn life N.T. Wright even if he des nt bring yu the answer yu want, he will bring yu himself. And maybe at the secret heart f all ur prayers that is what we are really praying fr. Frederick Buechner True, whle prayer is nthing but lve. Augustine It was a cntest f all the brute frce f Rme against a small sect that merely prayed. Wh wuld have predicted Walter Wink Cmmunin with Gd is the ne need f the sul beynd all ther needs; prayer is the essence f that cmmunin. Gerge McDnald When we pray, we enter int the real wrld, the substance f the kingdm, and ur bdies and suls begin t functin fr the first time as they were created t functin. Dallas Willard He welcmes us hme: hme t serenity and peace and jy, hme t friendship and fellwship and penness, hme t intimacy and acceptance and affirmatin. We d nt need t be shy He invites us int the living rm f his heart, where we can put n ld slippers and share freely. Richard Fster 2
Week 1: Beginning the Prayer Jurney Which f the qutes n prayer mst catches yur attentin? Why? Hw wuld yu describe yur experience f prayer? Hw did yu learn t pray? What d yu think f the idea f being trained in prayer? What d yu think that wuld lk like? Read Luke 11.1. What d yu think Jhn s prayer schl was like? Read Luke 11.2-13. What seems t be sme imprtant ideas Jesus wants his fllwers t understand abut beginning a relatinship with Gd? Have yu ever enrlled in the schl f ur Master, Jesus, t learn hw t pray? Wh d yu knw whse prayer life exhibits a deep intimacy with Gd? Why d yu think this persn has such a meaningful prayer life? The title f ur series is called: Embracing Gd s Presence. In what ways d yu understand prayer t bring the very presence f the Creatr beside yu in yur life-walk? It is an everyday adventure t live in the pwer f the Lrd s Prayer. This prayer f his presence and his will can be hid in ur hearts, allwing the Hly Spirit t bring it t ur minds thrughut the day and water the depths f ur suls in a way that surces ur living. It wrked that way fr Jesus. His disciples asked fr this gift abve any ther- abve healing, driving ut demns, walking n water. They sensed that Jesus cnstant engagement with the presence f the Father thrugh prayer empwered everything he did and all that he was. Will yu cvenant with the Lrd fr this series: Lrd Jesus! Enrll my name amng thse wh cnfess that they dn t knw hw t pray as they shuld. Teach me t be patient in Yur schl, s that yu have time t train me. Lead me t frget my thughts f what I think I knw, and make me kneel befre yu in true pverty f spirit. Fill me with cnfidence that with Yu as my teacher, I will learn t pray, and that I will learn t fllw. Signed: 3
Read Matthew 6.7-13. Break the prayer dwn int these seven parts and begin this week by spending ne day meditating and repeating ne part: Mnday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: End everyday: Our Father in heaven hallwed be yur name yur kingdm cme yur will be dne n earth as it is in heaven Give us tday ur daily bread Frgive us ur debts as we have als frgiven ur debtrs Lead us nt int temptatin but deliver us frm evil. Fr yurs is the kingdm, the pwer, and the glry frever. Share this prayer with yur grup: Dear Gd, I am s thankful fr yur invitatin t enter yur heart f lve. As best I can I cme in. Thank yu fr receiving me. 4
Week 2: Understanding the Essence f Prayer D yu ever feel yur prayer life just isn t wrking? Check the statements that characterize yur prayer life: My prayers hit the ceiling and bunce back I nly pray when its really bad I pray ccasinally I pray daily I find it difficult t pray fr a lng time I pray cnstantly I want t understand even mre abut Jesus presence Write and share what Gd is teaching yu in his schl f prayer: Based n ur teaching this mrning and yur practice last week, has yur apprach t the prayer been geared t hw the Master has taught? What have yu been expecting prayer t d fr yu? What wuld it lk like t yu if prayer were wrking? Is prayer suppsed t wrk at all? Lk at Matthew 6.6. Check the prmise cntained in this verse: Gd likes t keep secrets Gd rewards ur prayers Gd answers ur prayers the way we want Why d yu think Jesus urges his disciples t pray when he states: Fr yur Father knws what yu need befre yu ask him (Mt. 6.8). Pints: ü Having ur requests granted is nt the primary gal f prayer ü Prayer is nt a way t alert Gd t ur needs ü Prayer is nt abut answers 5
What d yu think is the difference between answers and reward? What d yu think is the reward that Jesus really speaks f? See Luke 11.13. What des Jesus see as the greatest pssible reward t prayer? What des that reward really symblize? Which best expresses the main purpse f prayer: Gd granting ur requests Making us feel better r mre peaceful Spending time in the Presence f the Father Making sure Gd knws ur needs Getting answers fr ur prblems Use this thught t guide yu in yur prayers this week: My gal is Gd himself, nt jy, nr peace, Nr even blessing, but Himself, my Gd; Tis His t lead me there, nt mine, but His- At any cst, dear Lrd, by any rad. Again this week, spend each day fcusing n ne phrase f the Lrd s Prayer using this translatin: Mnday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: End everyday: Dear Father always near us, May yur name be treasured and lved, May yur rule be cmpleted in us- May yur will be dne here n earth in just the way it is dne in heaven. Give us tday the things we need tday, And frgive us ur sins and impsitins n yu as we are frgiving all wh in any way ffend us. Please dn t put us thrugh trials, but deliver us frm everything bad. Because yu are the ne in charge, And yu have all the pwer, And the glry t is all yurs- frever- Which is just the way we want it! 6
Week 3: Where Prayers G T Die There is such a thing as mistaken prayer, accrding t ur Master Teacher, Jesus. They cme frm misguided mtives and mistaken thughts abut ur Father. The Phantm Prayer (Matthew 6.5a; Luke 11.8-10) One f the main prblems with ur prayer life is we dn t pray. Jesus assumed in his teaching that we wuld pray When yu pray He did nt say if yu pray r whenever yu feel like praying. A recent survey f ne large church fellwship shwed that 25% f its members never pray. Why d yu think many Christians fail t pray? Check ne r mre: T busy T self-cnfident T cmfrtable T depressed T guilty T undisciplined Is smething keeping yu frm having a dynamic prayer life? Describe the prblem and ask smene in yur grup t pray with yu. Think f similar analgies t a Christian wh never prays: v A ftball team that never practices v An rchestra that never tunes its instruments v A farmer wh never plants any crps v An artist wh never buys any paint v A craftsman wh never spends time learning frm a Master Share the fllwing scriptures and discuss the imprtant principles f prayer: Luke 6.12 Acts 1.14 Rmans 1.9-10 1 Thessalnians 5.16-17 The Phny Prayer When asked t pray in public, d yu Feel self-cnscius Change yur vcabulary r tne f vice Seem cncerned with what peple will think f yur prayers Feel a desire t impress thers Struggle with what t say Pray like yu wuld in private 7
Read Matthew 6.5-8. Jesus teaches abut the type f mtivatins that peple can have when they pray and their crrespnding rewards. Sharing prayer with thers is imprtant. We need t cnsider Jesus teaching regarding ur prayer with thers s that even ur public and cmmunal prayers can have the desired reward f sharing the presence f Gd. Read the fllwing scriptures and share what they teach us abut Jesus prayer life: Mark 1.35 Mark 6.46-47 Luke 5.15-16 Luke 9.18 The Frivlus Prayer T first century Greeks and Rmans, prayer had bth its frmal and magical sides. Prayer was the butter that greased the palms f the pagan gds. The amunt f time ne repeated prayer, the particular phrases used, the pattern t the prayer were all ways that peple felt like they culd cerce r persuade the gds t their favr. Hw d yu think these ideas stack up against Jesus teaching in Luke 11.9-13? What is the difference between what Jesus teaches in Matthew 6.7 and the idea f perseverance? What happens t prayer life when peple dn t persevere? Hw d perseverance and hpe wrk tgether? Instead f frivlus prayers, Gd wants us t pray fervently, bldly, and t cry ut t him in ttal dependence, believing that he will graciusly bless us accrding t his wisdm and lve. He asks that we seek his heart, nt his attentin. The One wh treasures ur intimate cnversatins with Him and knws what we need befre we ask him is nt testing ur faith with wrd cunts and endurance recrds. Mre Training in the Jesus Schl f Prayer: Hw d the fllwing scriptures help us understand the kind f prayers that Gd desires? Psalm 18.6 Micah 7.7 Luke 18.1-7 Luke 22.44 What d the fllwing verses tell us abut hw Gd respnds t ur chices abut prayer? Hebrews 11.6 Luke 12.31 Psalm 119.2 8
Again this week allw the teaching f Jesus t bring yu int the presence f the Father. In yur time sharing these wrds with Gd, think als abut the aspects f each segment t help yu understand hw the prayer ffers nt nly yur wrds but yur life t Gd s presence. Mnday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: End everyday: Our Father in heaven (stresses cmmunity, relatinship, nearness) hallwed be yur name (cmmitment t hliness) yur kingdm cme (cmmitment t participatin) yur will be dne n earth as it is in heaven (cmmitment t bedience) Give us tday ur daily bread (trust fr physical prvisin) Frgive us ur debts as we have als frgiven ur debtrs (trust fr cleansing and acceptance) Lead us nt int temptatin but deliver us frm evil. (trust fr pwer ver temptatin) Fr yurs is the kingdm, the pwer, and the glry frever. (fcuses n his rule, sufficiency, and his Presence) 9
Week 4: Three Realities Frm the Prayer f Jesus Our Father in heaven Share with Gd a new thught r actin that yu gleaned frm yur training in Jesus Schl f Prayer this week. Write it dwn and feel free t share it with yur grup as yu begin: Read Hebrews 10.19-20. What enables us t live ur lives in the presence f Gd? Read als Hebrews 7.25; Rmans 8.26 Reality 1: Cmmunity Cntext Every time yu pray Our Father yu are praying a relatinal prayer that is abslutely assured f placing yu in the awesme, hly, glrius presence f Gd. And it is s because f Christ and his life and lve fr us. Jesus paid the price fr ur privilege f prayer! Ntice the repetitin f the wrd ur and us in the Lrd s Prayer. What des that tell yu abut this prayer? What shuld that remind us f? In an individualistic and mdern culture, it is hard t think f urselves and humble urselves t be participants and learners in cmmunity. Think abut hw many times yu say I and Me in yur prayers. If yu replaced all thse terms with ur, hw wuld that affect yur prayers? Where d yu see failure in Christians t understand their faith as cmmunal and nt just individual? Reality 2: Family Cnnectin T the Jews f Jesus day, this intimate persnal way f addressing Gd was unheard f and terribly ffensive. Even in the Old Testament, Gd is rarely spken f as Father. Yet Jesus prayed like this regularly. All but ne f his prayers begin with Him saying Father. Read Rmans 8.15. Read 1 Jhn 2.28 3.2. Ntice hw ur acceptance and trust f Gd s lve is crucial t a vibrant life in his presence. Addressing Gd as Father each day gives us training and practice in understanding his lve and acceptance f us. 10
If yu have dubts f Gd s acceptance,jurnal the nature f these dubts and ask yur grup t pray fr yu Read Jhn 5.17-18; 6.32-38; and then Mark 14.35-36. What d yu see in each f these passages linked t Jesus understanding f Gd as his Father? What des this srt f intimate relatinship prduce in the life f Jesus? Read Isaiah 64.8. Because Gd is ur Father, hw shuld we think f urselves? In the Kran, the sacred writings f Islam, there are 99 wrds fr Gd but nt ne f them refers t Gd as Father r as Lve. When was the last time yu spke t Gd in prayer and simply spke f yur lve fr him? Reality 3: Always at Hand The place where we find Our Father is in the heavens. The issue is nt s much abut his lcatin as it is his availability and presence. The heavens are nt a far ff place beynd the csms, but the ultimate reality f existence where Gd reigns and lives. The heavens envelpe every bit f ur existence. The heavens are all arund us. Jesus came as ne wh pened up the activity f the heavens t thse wh embraced his kingdm. The heavens have frever cme near in Jesus. Children f Gd are citizens f the heavensthe sphere and rule f Gd. Jesus came t usher in the kingdm f the heavens, the reality f life with Gd but hidden frm the eyes f mst men. It is frm the heavens that Gd rules svereign in this wrld. See Jhn 1.51. What d the fllwing scriptures teach us abut Gd s nature r character? 1 Chrnicles 29.10-13 Psalm 100.5 1 Jhn 4.7-8 Hw des Gd s nature affect wh r what yu bring t him in prayer? Take time t pray in yur grup using the flwing names f Gd frm the Old Testament, sharing with him hw they are precius t yu: El Shaddai (Almighty Gd): He has abundant resurces and can enable us t d anything that he requires 11
Adnai (Lrd): He is Master f the Universe. Yu can knw that he is Sufficient. Jehvah Shammah (The Lrd is there): When yu feel alne and need t sense his presence, yu can call upn him because thrugh Jesus yu have entered int the kingdm f the heavens. This week begin t say the prayer in its entirety each day, slwly speaking the wrds and thinking f their implicatins fr yur life. Please take time t jurnal each day what Gd is teaching yu in Jesus schl f prayer: 12
Week 5: Callings Frm the Prayer f Jesus Hallwed be yur name, Yur kingdm cme, Yur will be dne n earth as it is in heaven. What d these clauses frm Jesus prayer really mean? Gd s name is hallwed, r Hly, whether we hnr it r nt. But when we enter his presence t live with him in this prayer, we declare that ur lives are cmmitted t giving hnr and hliness t his name- thrugh ur living! His kingdm will triumph whether we participate r nt, but when we give ur lives t this prayer, what d yu understand abut yur life and his kingdm? Read Matthew 6.24-33. Hw des this prayer specifically invite us t cmmit t the kingdm? Hw d we begin t see things frm a kingdm perspective? Read Jhn 4.34-35. Jesus lked n the twn f Sychar and saw things frm a kingdm perspective. Lking at yur neighbrs, cwrkers, church family frm Gd s pint f view, list specific needs: Hw wuld yu describe the way that Gd s will is dne in the heavens? Hw d yu imagine the angels and archangels respnd t his bidding? Hw d thse wh live in his face and enjy his lve respnd t his will n their lives? Read Jhn 4.34. Hw des Jesus characterize his life in relatin t Gd s will? Name ne thing Gd has dne thrugh yur life that nly He culd have accmplished. Share it with the grup. 13
Share this prayer with the grup: Heavenly Father, help me see the wrld frm Yur pint f view. Make me an instrument in accmplishing yur will. I dn t want t ask fr anything that will dishnr yur name. May I sense yur presence all thrugh the day and be sensitive t what yu are ding in the lives f thse arund me. The Calling t Hliness Regarding yur family name, what gives yu pride and/r appreciatin? What srt f reputatin ges alng with yur family name? Read abut the nature f Gd s Family name in the fllwing passages and nte sme f the things that are imprtant t Gd s reputatin. Revelatin 4.8 Jhn 4.24 1 Jhn 1.9 Matthew 5.43-48 2 Crinthians 1.18-21 Rmans 1.20 Ephesians 5.8-9 Hw have yu seen Christians bring dishnr t the name f Gd? Read Ezekiel 36.22-23 (rest f chapter if yu wish): Share yur respnse t that passage abut hw Gd prtects his hnr. Read Jesus prayer in Jhn 17. What similarities d yu see with Ezekiel 36? Hw can yu begin each day impacting yur life with the call t live Hly is yur name? Lk at Gd s kingdm call fr each f us in Matthew 28.19-20. Write a persnal statement that identifies hw yu will seek t make Gd s name knwn: 14
Week 6: The Calling t Kingdm Yur kingdm cme Based n a cuntry yu have visited, a mvie yu have seen, r a bk yu have read, what are sme f the characteristics f a kingdm? If yu lived in a cuntry ruled by a king in the 1 st century, what privileges and respnsibilities might yu have? Hw wuld yu relate these understandings t the kingdm f Gd? Read Jesus teaching and discuss what yu discver abut the kingdm f Gd: Matthew 12.28; 19.24; 13.11; 13.44-46 Mark 10.15; Mark 12.34; Mark 14.25 Luke 4.43; 10.9-11; 13.18-21 The kingdm f Gd is the sphere f Gd s rule. This prayer reveals t Gd ur desire fr the establishment in a greater way f his rule. While the kingdm is a cming event at the return f Jesus, it is als a present reality. See Matthew 3.2. Als see Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43. It is nt fully established, but it is nw n the mve. Heaven is breaking int this realm by the first appearing f Jesus in the wrld. The new age has dawned and the ld age is fading. Karl Barth wrte: T clasp the hands n prayer is the beginning f an uprising against the disrder f this wrld. Read Ephesians 6.10-18. Hw ften d yu think f prayer as warfare? Where is the battle chiefly t be waged? What d yu think f the way that Rmans 8.18-27 speaks f dawning and fading f the ages? Hw des prayer becme an imprtant part f that? Everywhere we g there are kingdm pprtunities! The Lrd s Prayer daily calls us t pen ur eyes t the reality f Gd s kingdm. Yur kingdm cme calls us int his activity and pleads fr ur hearts t be trained t see kingdm pssibilities. When yu stp fr gas n the way hme frm wrk: there may be pprtunities t hear smething, say smething. When yu take yur family ut t dinner- can yu bring kingdm t the waiter, the busby, the hstess, thers wh are waiting fr a table. When yu re at a ball game, is there smene sitting next t yu that the Spirit has placed there in this particular mment? 15
When yu are n vacatin, let Gd use yu t rest with a nvel r a part f his scenic beauty and prepare yurself t again enter yur vcatin where yu can be an even greater kingdm influence. When yur family is tgether at the hlidays, let Gd use yu t interject hpe and truth int yur family traditins. Where have yu fund kingdm pprtunities in unlikely places? This prayer leads us t live because the kingdm is here, because the kingdm is cming. List places yu will be r activities yu will engage in this week: List peple whm yu will intersect with this week: Discuss with yur grup and als with the Lrd hw yu can bring the cncerns f the kingdm int these pprtunities. Daily pray the Lrd s Prayer this week taking special cncern t write decisins that yu will make t have Gd s kingdm cme in a fuller way in yur life. Recrd hw yu have seen Gd reward yu in thse decisins. 16
Week 7: The Calling t Will Yur will be dne n earth as it is in heaven. What has been a primary drive f yur will the past week? What have yu been able t accmplish because yu have directed yur will s strngly? Hw ften d we realize that we are praying fr the FULL accmplishment f Gd s will in ur life? Which f the fllwing activities reflect yur cmmitment t the full accmplishment f His will? Which d yu need t wrk n? My calendar is cntrlled by Gd s pririties My daily schedule includes mments where I cnsciusly place myself in his presence My checkbk reflects kingdm activities I see my wrk as a ministry My life gals are in line with Gd s This prayer makes every mment f every day an adventure with the Father. Hw might the Father s will alter sme f yur activities? ILL: Interruptins: Read Luke 8.40-48. Have yu had a similar experience in which an interruptin turned ut t be a Gd- thing? If s, share it with yur grup. It requires bedience t allw interruptins t be seen as pprtunities instead f prblems. Read the fllwing teachings f Jesus and nte the ideas abut thse wh d the will f Gd: Matthew 7.15-23 Jhn 5.17-19 5.37-44 Jhn 8.42 Jhn 10.14-16 Jhn 12.15-17; 34-35; 15.9-17 17
Our will is the center f ur being; it drives ur chices and decisins. The Lrd s Prayer calls us, because we lve Gd and fllw Jesus, t lay dwn ur will s that it can be subrdinate t the leading f Gd s Spirit. Read Galatians 5.16-25. In what areas d yu mst struggle with releasing yur will t the cntrl f the Spirit? Which f the fllwing sins reveal that yu have struggled in releasing yur will t the guidance f the Spirit? Frenzied and jyless grabs fr happiness Unsatisfied desires A brutal temper Small-minded pursuits Addictive behavirs Lking at thers rivals Envying what ther peple have Paranid lnileness Hw d yu feel the Spirit f Gd grwing the fllwing in yur life: Ø Affectin fr thers Ø Serenity Ø Lyal in cmmitments Ø Marshaling and directing ur energies wisely Ø Exhuberance abut what Gd is ding Ø Sense f cmpassin in ur actins Direct yur thughts arund the Lrd s Prayer this week: Mnday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: The Lrd s Prayer in cmpletin (NIV) Yur will be dne n earth as it is in heaven Nt my will but Yurs This is my fd: T d Yur will Hw sweet are yur wrds t my taste The Lrd s Prayer in cmpletin (mdern) 18
Week 8: Trust frm the Prayer f Jesus (1) Give us this day ur daily bread. Describe hw yu experience Gd s prvisin fr yur daily needs? Are there needs that yu feel uneasiness abut r insecurity with? If s, share them with the grup and devte them t sme time in prayer befre ging further. Jesus in his schl f prayer teaches us t d tw things regarding ur existence: (1) He wants us t simply ask (2) He wants us t believe that Gd is lvingly dispsed t give What are the different dimensins f ur existence that Jesus leads us t bring befre Gd s presence in the phrases f the prayer abve? Read the fllwing and summarize their teaching in the space prvided: Matthew 7.7-8 Mark 11.24 Jhn 15.7 1 Jhn 5.14-15 In rder t accmplish the kingdm cmmitments yu have made in yur life, identify the tp three needs yu have in each categry: Physical Needs Emtinal Needs Spiritual Needs 1. 1. 1. 2. 2. 2. 3. 3. 3. Jesus prmises in Matthew 6.33 that if we as His fllwers will fcus n his kingdm, He will persnally manage the affairs f ur wn kingdms. We will knw that Gd s kingdm is cmplete when the day cmes, at Jesus appearing, in which we can live having all f these needs met directly by Gd himself- we will n lnger have t ask. He will meet any physical needs by his presence He will take away sin and its effects frever Our cmplete desire will be fr mre and mre f him 19
The Trust f Daily Sustenance Daily Bread is an imprtant kingdm cncern. In Gd s kingdm, everything cncerning us is sacred. Read 1 Crinthians 10.31 and 1 Timthy 4.4. What des this teach us abut rdinary things like meals? Read Matthew 6.26, 28-30. Recently, hw has Gd demnstrated that He cares abut the mst rdinary matters in yur life? Place a circle arund the area that tends t bring yu the mst anxiety: Jb Finances Relatinships Car Schl Children Parents Other: Share with thers in the grup and see hw their perspectives n the kingdm can help yu turn this ver t Gd. Have the grup pray fr yu abut this. Read Exdus 16.11: Hw culd yu hide this thught in yur heart s that it culd be present with yu at every instance that yu encunter Gd s prvisin? What des Gd want t teach yu abut relying n his prvisin? Read Deuternmy 15.7-11. What wuld help yu becme mre pen-handed in giving t the kingdm causes? v Mre trust that Gd will supply my needs v Mre awareness f needs arund me v Finding an apprpriate way t help v Praying fr cmpassin fr thers v Seeking frgiveness fr selfishness and harding 20
Week 9: Trust Frm the Prayer Of Jesus (2) Frgive us ur debts, as we have als frgiven ur debtrs. And lead us nt int temptatin, but deliver us frm the evil ne Read the fllwing passages and discuss the effects f sin n ur relatinship with Gd: Deuternmy 31.18 Psalm 66.18 Isaiah 59.2 Read 1 Jhn 1.8-9. Discuss with the grup the nature f cnfessin. Hw des cnfessin enrich ur relatinship with Gd? Review these different areas f yur life. If yu knw f sin that needs t be cnfessed befre Gd, bring it befre him and ask him t frgive it. Check each area as yu pray. Family Church Church members Church leaders Cmmunity Natin wrk kingdm cmmitments Other Read Matthew 18.21-35: Hw wuld yu summarize the parable? What is the fruit f a true experience f grace? Read Clssians 3.13. Which best describes ur mtivatin t frgive? Peple deserve ur frgiveness Peple deserve a secnd chance Christ frgave us Gd will punish them Wh d yu need t release frm their debt f sin against yu? What is keeping yu frm carrying harshness r a grudge against them? 21
Trust f Prtectin Read James 1.13-14. Hw can yu explain the rt f temptatin? When we pray fr prtectin frm temptatin, we are asking Gd t spare us frm expsure t situatins that wuld severely test ur vulnerability. Lk at Gd s prmise in 1 Crinthians 10.13. Share the circumstances in which yu are mst vulnerable t temptatin. List reasns why yu think yu fail in temptatin. Share with the grup hw Gd has helped deliver yu frm yielding t temptatins. Read Matthew 4.1-11. What d yu think helped Jesus remain fcused during this time f temptatin? Ntice that the Father supplied the Sn with everything that he needed. Jesus did nt need any f Evil s allures. In yur daily time with the Lrd s Prayer this week, call upn Gd as Jehvah Mekadesh: The Lrd wh Sanctifies. As yu pray this name, ask Gd t keep yu frm sin and allw yu t be used t serve Him. Remember nw matter yur needs, Gd has them cvered. 22
Week 10: The Pwer f Prayer Fr yurs is the kingdm and the pwer and the glry frever. Amen. Use these questins t help share with yur grup yur jurney in the Jesus schl f prayer: Kingdm Hw did yu advance Gd s kingdm this week? Hw did Gd demnstrate his prvisin and acre this week? In what areas d yu struggle t give Gd s name hnr? Pwer Read Jhn 15.1-8. Explain verse 5 in yur wn wrds. We need a cnstant check n ur wn pride and self-imprtance- a daily desire t d all things fr His praise and glry. Read Acts 17.24-25. What difference wuld it make in yur daily activities if yu reminded yurself that everything shuld be dne t advance Gd s kingdm, in His pwer, fr His glry? Jesus lived ut this prayer: See Jhn 7.17-18; 6.38-40; 5.30; Luke 22.42 If we are t live the prayer f Jesus, we will fllw in his steps. Write ut the key thught in each f the fllwing verses: Psalm 40.8: Psalm 143.10: Ephesians 6.6: James 4.15 Much f ur time and prayer life is devted fr tempral things like health and physical prvisin. Read Matthew 6.19-21. What s the prblem with fcusing n that? What situatin, circumstances, r events are yu ging thrugh in which yu feel pwerless (see belw)? 23
Parenting Marriage Caring fr Parents Health cncerns Jb Illness Finances Death in family Other: Read Genesis 50.20. What yu have yu experienced that lked unfrtunate but that Gd turned int smething gd? Write the main thught abut peple s experiences abut relying n Gd s pwer ther than their wn: 2 Samuel 22.33 Psalm 46.1 Matthew 19.26 2 Crinthians 12. 9-10 Which f the fllwing best expresses yur feelings abut relying n Gd s pwer? A crutch fr weak peple We all need Gd at sme pint I fight my wn battles I rely n Gd fr the big stuff He is my strength in all things Withut Him I can d nthing Read the amazing verse f Jhn 5.19-20. What kind f things can yu imagine ding fr Gd by his pwer? Are there things yu wuld like t d fr the kingdm but have been afraid t d? Glry Read 1 Peter 4.11; Matthew 5.14-16. Where Gd s peple are, there his glry shines! We are Gd s incarnatin, his visible glry here n earth. The Lrd s Prayer thrws us int the missin and calling f shining that glry everywhere we step. Hw have peple nticed the glry f Gd in yu? Read 2 Crinthians 3.17-18. Hw can yu begin t reflect the Lrd s glry in each segment f yur day? Hme Wrk Church Relatinships Recreatin 24
Share with the grup and with the Lrd hw yu wuld like him t help yu be a brighter vessel f His glry. I hpe that by nw yu have grwn thirsty fr the Lrd s Prayer t be a pattern in yur heart and n yur lips every day. I hpe that yu will cntinue in Jesus schl f prayer and allw this prayer t frm and rder yur life fr his glry. A Final grup Prayer: Father, remind us daily that yurs is the kingdm, the pwer, and the glry. Reveal yur glry in us. Express yur awesme presence thrugh ur wrds and actins- lighting the crners f ur wrld. Make us instruments f yur pwer. Let each mment be an pprtunity t make yur name Hly. Help us t remember that kingdm business is everything. Whatever yu want us t d tday, ur answer is Yes! Remind us that what we need mst, is YOU. In fact, that s all we need. In Jesus name. Amen. 25
Dear Father always near us, may yur name be treasured and lved, may yur rule be cmpleted in usmay yur will be dne here n earth in just the way it is dne in heaven. Give us tday the things we need tday, And frgive us ur sins and impsitins n yu As we are frgiving all wh in any way ffend us. Please dn t put us thrugh trials, But deliver us frm everything bad. Because yu are the ne in charge, And yu have all the pwer, And the glry t is all yurs- frever- Which is just the way we want it! (Dallas Willard) 26