Plan for a Bible Study Group on Prayer

Introduction

1. Welcome and Introduction Opening Prayer

• Introduction
• Welcome everyone to the session
• Briefly explain the purpose and objectives of the lesson
• Call for Request and Thanksgiving from the Group - Encourage participants to share their prayer requests and Thanksgiving.

Brief Prayer to Set the Tone (A.C.T.S. Example)

Adoration: Heavenly Father, we come before You in awe of Your greatness and majesty. You are the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. We praise You for Your infinite wisdom, boundless love, and unchanging faithfulness. Your name is above all names, and we glorify You for who You are.

Confession: Lord, we acknowledge that we have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. We confess our wrongdoings, our failures, and the times we have turned away from Your guidance. We ask for Your forgiveness and mercy. Cleanse our hearts and minds, and help us to turn away from sin and walk in Your righteousness.

Thanksgiving: Father, we thank You for Your many blessings. Thank You for the gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your provision, protection, and the love You pour out on us daily. We are grateful for this opportunity to gather together to learn about prayer and to grow closer to You. Thank You for the fellowship we share and for the work You are doing in each of our lives.

• ?Use the Requests from the Group - Allow participants to share their personal prayer requests and thanksgiving.

Supplication: Lord, we bring our requests before You. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to receive the lessons we will learn today. Help us to deepen our prayer lives and to grow in our relationship with You. We pray for each person here, that they may experience Your presence, peace, and guidance. Bless our time together, and let Your Holy Spirit lead us in all we do. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Section 1: Understanding Prayer

Definition of Prayer - What is Prayer?

Prayer is our direct line of communication with God, an expression of our faith, and a vital component of our spiritual journey. It is a two-way conversation with God, involving speaking and listening. It is through prayer that we can share our thoughts, feelings, and desires with God, and also receive His guidance and comfort.

Importance of Prayer in Christian Life

Communication with God: Prayer is the primary way Christians communicate with God, sharing their thoughts, feelings, and desires. It allows believers to connect with God on a personal level, deepening their relationship with Him.

• "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." (Psalm 145:18)

Expression of Faith and Dependence: Through prayer, we demonstrate our faith in God's power and our dependence on His guidance and provision. It is an act of trusting God with all aspects of life.

• "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Confession and Forgiveness: Prayer provides a means for believers to confess their sins and seek God's forgiveness, leading to spiritual cleansing and renewal.

• "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Thanksgiving and Gratitude: Through prayer, Christians express their gratitude for God's blessings and provisions, cultivating a heart of thankfulness.

• "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Seeking Guidance and Wisdom: Prayer is a way to seek God's wisdom and guidance in decision-making, ensuring that believers align their actions with His will.

• "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5)

Peace and Comfort: In times of anxiety and trouble, prayer provides comfort and peace, reminding believers of God's presence and control over every situation.

• "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Spiritual Growth and Strength: Regular prayer helps believers grow spiritually, strengthening their faith and equipping them to face life's challenges with resilience.

• "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)

Group Discussions:? - Share experiences of how prayer has helped you communicate with God, express faith and dependence, seek forgiveness, give thanks, seek guidance, find peace, and grow spiritually.

Section 2: Challenges and Misconceptions about Prayer

Misconceptions

Prayer as a ‘Magic Formula’: Believing that saying the right words in order will automatically get results.

• "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." (Matthew 6:7)

Only Clergy or “Super Spiritual” People Can Pray Effectively: Thinking that only pastors or very spiritual people can pray effectively.

• "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16b)

Common Challenges

Distractions and Lack of Focus:

Trying to pray while being distracted by work tasks or family responsibilities.

• Strategies for Staying Focused: Setting aside a specific time and place for prayer, free from distractions.
• "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:6)
• "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)

Examples of When People in the Bible Practiced this:

Daniel had a specific time and place for prayer despite living in a foreign land under challenging circumstances. He prayed three times a day with his windows open towards Jerusalem.

• Daniel 6:10: "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."

Jesus often withdrew to solitary places to pray, demonstrating the importance of finding a quiet, distraction-free environment for communion with God.

• Mark 1:35: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
• Luke 5:16: "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

David, the psalmist, often mentioned seeking God early in the morning and setting aside specific times for prayer and meditation on God's word.

• Psalm 5:3: "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."
• Psalm 63:1: "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water."

Peter and John went up to the temple at the hour of prayer, showing a dedicated time and place for seeking God.

• Acts 3:1: "One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon."

Paul and Silas had a practice of praying and singing hymns to God, even in prison, setting aside time for worship and prayer despite their circumstances.

• Acts 16:25: "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."

Cornelius, a Roman centurion, had specific times for prayer, which led to a divine encounter.

• Acts 10:3: "One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, 'Cornelius!'"
• Acts 10:30: "Cornelius answered: 'Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me.'"

Feeling of Unworthiness: Feeling unworthy to approach God in prayer due to past sins or mistakes.

• Understanding God's Grace and Acceptance: Reminding oneself of God’s unconditional love and acceptance, despite imperfections.
• "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
• "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

Doubt and Lack of Faith: Doubting that God will answer prayers or that prayer makes a difference.

• Building Faith Through Scripture and Testimony: Regularly reading the Bible and sharing testimonies of answered prayers to strengthen faith.
• "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." (Romans 10:17)
• "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." (James 1:6)

Group Discussions: - Discuss strategies for staying focused during prayer, understanding God's grace, and building faith through scripture and testimony. Share personal experiences of overcoming prayer challenges.

Section 3: A.C.T.S. Framework

The ACTS Framework for Prayer: The ACTS framework for prayer stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. This is one of many models that can help us structure our prayers and ensure that we are covering all aspects of our relationship with God.

It helps us to deepen our prayer life and draw closer to God. Let's get started with our first section, Adoration.

Adoration: Praising God for who He is. Recognize God’s attributes and greatness.

• "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." (Psalm 145:3)

Examples of Adoration for the Group to Read:

• David’s Psalms (Psalm 103:1-5) “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
• Isaiah’s vision of God (Isaiah 6:1-4) “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.”

Confession: Acknowledging and repenting of sins. Seek forgiveness and strive for a pure heart.

• "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Examples of Confession for the Group to Read:

• David’s confession (Psalm 51)

1. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
5. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
14. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

• The publican’s prayer (Luke 18:13) "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. -- But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Thanksgiving: Expressing gratitude for God’s blessings. Make gratitude a daily practice.

• "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:15-17)

Examples of Thanksgiving for the Group to Read:

• Paul’s letters (Philippians 1:3-5) - “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
• "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17
• ?"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." Psalm 100:4
• "Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20
• "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34
• "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1
• "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2
• "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name." Hebrews 13:15
• "Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." Psalm 95:2

Supplication: Presenting requests to God. Bring personal and intercessory prayers to God.

• "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6)
• Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39). "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'"
• Paul’s prayers for the churches (Ephesians 1:15-19). “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. --- I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength.”

• The Lord’s Prayer as a Model - Breakdown of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). "This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

A - To honor God’s name.

• your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

A - To see the Fatherhood of God and accept His will.

• Give us today our daily bread.

S - To ask for our daily needs.

• And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

C - To forgive so we may be forgiven.

• And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'"

S - To ask for power to overcome evil forces.

• For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

A - To ask for the demonstration of God’s power on earth.

Group Discussions: Discuss how each component of the ACTS framework can be incorporated into daily prayers. Share personal experiences of using the ACTS framework and its impact on their prayer life.

Section 4: Developing a Personal Prayer Routine

Importance of a Routine - Establishing a consistent prayer routine helps build a deeper relationship with God and strengthens spiritual discipline.

• "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16)

Tips for Developing a Routine

Set a Specific Time and Place: Designate a quiet place and set a regular time for prayer each day.

• "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." (Mark 1:35)

Use a Prayer Journal: Write down prayer requests, answered prayers, and reflections.

• "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it." (Habakkuk 2:2)

Incorporate Scripture: Include Bible reading in prayer time to hear God’s word.

• "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." (Psalm 119:105)

Pray Throughout the Day: Maintain a continuous conversation with God.

• "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Building Accountability: Find a prayer partner or join a prayer group for mutual support and encouragement.

• "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20)

Group Activity:? Create a sample daily prayer routine using the ACTS framework and share with the group. Pair up with a prayer partner to practice accountability and support each other in developing a consistent prayer habit.

?Section 5: Practical Applications of Prayer in Work-Life

Praying for Your Work

?Seeking Guidance: Ask God for wisdom in making decisions and handling work-related challenges.

• "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5)

Integrity and Excellence: Pray for strength to maintain integrity and strive for excellence in all tasks.

• "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Colossians 3:23)

Relationships with Colleagues: Pray for positive and productive relationships with coworkers.

• "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18)

Dealing with Stress: Ask for peace and the ability to manage stress effectively.

• "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

Examples of Workplace Prayers

1. ?Morning Prayer: Asking for guidance and strength for the day ahead.
2. Prayer Before Meetings: Seeking wisdom and clarity for discussions and decisions.
3. Prayer for Colleagues: Praying for the well-being and success of coworkers.
4. Evening Prayer: Reflecting on the day, giving thanks, and seeking rest and rejuvenation.

Group Discussions: Share examples of how prayer has positively impacted their work life. Discuss practical ways to incorporate prayer into the daily work routine.

Section 6: Interactive Prayer Session

Group Prayer Exercise - Divide into small groups and practice the ACTS framework together. Encourage each group to share their prayer requests and pray for one another.

?Individual Reflection - Spend a few minutes in silent prayer, reflecting on the day and seeking God’s guidance.

?Encouragement and Sharing - Allow participants to share their experiences from the group prayer exercise and individual reflection.???

Conclusion

1. Recap of Key Points - Summarize the main lessons learned about prayer, its importance, and practical applications.
2. Encouragement for Continued Prayer - Encourage participants to continue developing their prayer routine and to rely on God in all aspects of their lives.
3. Closing Prayer - Lead the group in a closing prayer, thanking God for the time spent together and asking for His continued guidance and blessings.
4. Follow-up and Support - Offer additional resources or follow-up sessions for those who want to continue learning and growing in their prayer life. Provide contact information for participants to reach out for support or with questions.

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