Prayer

Luke 18:1 KJV 1900

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 KJV 1900

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Week 4

Text:

Topic: Prayer, Bible Study

Big Idea of the Message: (Prayer) Prayer is an integral part of Bible study. It keeps our hearts open to what God wants to accomplish, gives us time to reflect on his words, and is crucial in keeping hearts humble and in relationship with Jesus (instead of just filled with biblical knowledge without understanding).

Application Point: Praying is crucial to staying to connected to God with humility. Meditating on his Word brings enlightenment and commitment to the faithfulness of his words to us.

Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

1. Prayer is the final focus of the SOAP acronym. In addition to praying in communication with God, focus also on the importance of meditating, listening, and being still in light of what the Bible says to us. It is by the Spirit at work in us that we are able to understand and apply Scripture to our lives. gives us instruction on good and evil, life and death, and the path of happiness or destruction. This short Psalm tells us that the path to prosperity of spirit (not financial gain) is found in delighting in God’s law and meditating on it. This is our source of life, our stream of water. We know the ultimate “living water” is found in Jesus and in relationship with him.

John 7:37 KJV 1900

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

and in relationship with him.

2. Prayer is simply talking with God. Help your congregation move past what they may perceive as the “right” way to pray—professional church prayers, liturgical readings, or blessings before meals—and to a more holistic view of prayer. Prayer can be done anywhere. Prayers can be given through artistic expression, like writing, painting, dance, music, or any way a person can express themselves to God. Prayer should be honest, not just for when things are going well and you have a “praise report” to give, but even in the most difficult times when you might be angry, sad, or hurting. Prayer isn’t just for big things, but for the seemingly mundane as well. We can pray for help, to chat with God, and to ask him for understanding. We can pray in confidence, knowing he hears us. We can sit in silence before him, listening in prayer. The method isn’t what matters, the connection is. A selection of writer Flannery O’Connor’s journaled prayers give a glimpse of the vulnerable, humble, and honest way we can approach the Lord: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/09/16/my-dear-god.

3. Abraham Lincoln was attributed with saying, "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day" (Michael Burlingame, Lincoln Observed: The Civil War Dispatches of Noah 1. Brooks [Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998], 210) When we consider prayer in light of Bible study, we can acknowledge that sometimes even our best efforts may not bring understanding of a biblical text or clarity on how to apply it.

James 1:5 KJV 1900

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

The fact is that, for all its practical purposes, the Bible remains a story about God—and even with our best efforts, we may not, and likely won’t, always understand, but approaching a text in humble prayer and seeking God’s wisdom, even when things aren’t clear, can bring understanding through the Holy Spirit or contentment in embracing the mysteries of God that have not yet been made clear to us.

says, “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.” The fact is that, for all its practical purposes, the Bible remains a story about God—and even with our best efforts, we may not, and likely won’t, always understand, but approaching a text in humble prayer and seeking God’s wisdom, even when things aren’t clear, can bring understanding through the Holy Spirit or contentment in embracing the mysteries of God that have not yet been made clear to us.

4. Prayer should not be an attempt to change God, but prayer is a way to open the door to allowing God to change you. It aligns the believer’s will to God’s purposes shown through Scripture. In a short clip, Judah Smith stresses this point (Judah Smith [@judahsmith], Prayer changes you,” Twitter, April 19, 2018, 6:30 p.m., https://twitter.com/judahsmith/status/987141468950167552?lang=en).

5. John Hyde was a Presbyterian minister who devoted his life to the people of India. He earned the nickname “Praying Hyde” because of his tendency and passion to spend entire nights on his knees, praying for the people of India to know the truth of Jesus. Prayer changed his life and the lives of many others in India. Read more of his story here: https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1801-1900/indias-praying-hyde-11630541.html.