Week 3

Living As Disciples Worship Series: WEEK 3
July 28, 2019

Read: Luke 11:1-13

• How did you learn to pray? Who were your role models?
• Why do you think Jesus follows up his instructions with what to pray with the encouragement to persevere in prayer? What might that say about the nature of prayer? [Prayer is not transactional, but is about developing an ongoing, trust-filled, dependent relationship with God.]
• What does the second illustration that Jesus gives (vv.11-3) tell us about the attitude of how we should pray and the One who is listening to our prayers? [We pray as beloved children to a God who is eager to hear, knows what we need better than we do, and desires to respond.]
• What do we learn about God, ourselves, and our relationship with God and the world through the Lord’s Prayer?
• If God already knows what we need, knows the best response better than we could imagine, why do you think we are still commanded to pray? [God responds to prayer; develop an ongoing, sanctifying relationship with God.]
• If there is uncertainty of how to pray among the group, share the A.C.T.S. outline for prayer:
  • Acknowledge – acknowledge who God is
  • Confess – confess our unworthiness and God’s assurance
  • Thanksgiving – give thanks for the many blessings we have received
  • Supplication – offer request to God, boldly, for loved ones, for the church, and for yourself.
• In groups of two or three, allow participants to share prayer requests and take turns praying for one another’s request.
• In groups of two or three, have participants name one person they will seek to be in prayer for this week. (It can be a member of the group or someone outside the group.)

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End by praying the following or similar prayer:

“Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.”