April 25, 2010

Core Rhythms - Prayer

Speaker: Scott C. Jones Series: Core Rhythms Topic: Topical Passage: Matthew 6:9–6:13

The Dance of God

 

The Privilege and Intimacy of Prayer

Why should I pray?

Objection #1: God’s Sovereignty

 

Our Father …

 

Objection #2: Prayer Doesn’t Work

 

Thy Kingdom Come …

 

Objection #3: I Don’t Need It

 

Forgive us … Deliver Us

 

How do I pray?

 

A - doration

 

T - hanksgiving


R - epentance

 

I - ntimacy

 

P - etition

 

When should I pray?

Early, Often

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

 

With whom should I pray?

Our Father—The importance of praying together

 

Provoking our “Want To” for Prayer

What does an unused prayer link look like? Anxiety.  Instead of connecting with God, our spirits fly around like severed power lines, destroying everything they touch.  Anxiety wants to be God but lacks God’s wisdom, power, or knowledge.  A godlike stance without godlike character and ability is pure tension.  Because anxiety is self on its own, it tries to get control.  It is unable to relax in the face of chaos.  Once one problem is solved, the next in line steps up.  The new one looms so large, we forget the last deliverance.

Paul Miller, A Praying Life, p 70

When you stop trying to control your life and instead allow your anxieties and problems to bring you to God in prayer, you shift from worry to watching. You watch God weave his patterns in the story of your life. Instead of trying to be out front, designing your life, you realize you are inside God’s drama. As you wait, you begin to see him work … you are learning to trust again

Ibid, p 73

Community Meditation

  • What is your current relationship with prayer? Do you pray as often as you’d like? If not, what is the biggest challenge for you to overcome in this area?
  • Which of the three objections mentioned in the sermon most deeply resonates with you?
  • What would most readily increase your “want to” when it comes to regularly spending time before God in prayer?
  • What is an achievable rhythm of prayer in your daily life? What would be the best time to set aside to pray?
  • Read John 14:12-15 and John 16:22-24. What do you think it means to pray “in Jesus’ name” or what might it look like to not be praying “in Jesus’ name”?
  • Take some time this week to pray through the ATRIP paradigm. Consider doing so with your spouse, friend, roommate, children, etc.

other sermons in this series

May 30

2010

Core Rhythms - The Lord's Table

Speaker: Reid S. Monaghan Passage: Luke 22:13–22:20 Series: Core Rhythms

May 23

2010

Core Rhythms - Baptism

Speaker: Reid S. Monaghan Passage: Romans 6:3–6:4 Series: Core Rhythms

May 16

2010

Core Rhythms - Gathering as the Church

Speaker: Reid S. Monaghan Passage: 2 Timothy 4:1–4:5 Series: Core Rhythms