Discipleship 101 Bethany Christian Church 6282 Oram St; Dallas, Texas 75214 (214) 827-6383 Rev. Lisa Klaus Fall 2016 1
Praying Your P.A.R.T. Agenda (5-week study) Welcome & Opening Activity Week 1 Introduction to Praying Your P.A.R.T. Becoming a Prayer Warrior Practice your P.A.R.T. Praise Admit Requests Thanksgiving Week 2 Week 3 God s Part 6 Patterns of Prayer Common Roadblocks of Prayer Week 4 Week 5 Closing Activity Blessing 2
Becoming a Prayer Warrior Those who prayed most accomplished most. Matthew 6:31 34 (NRSV) 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, What will we eat? or What will we drink? or What will we wear? 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today s trouble is enough for today. Philippians 4:6-7, 19 (NRSV) 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 19 And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. James 4:2 (NRSV) 2 You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. Why isn t wanting to pray enough? How do we start? Look up Matt. 6:6. Jesus example of prayer in this short verse. 1. When you pray a time for prayer 2. Go into your room a place for prayer 3. Close the door privacy for prayer 4. Pray to your Father specifically sharing our P.A.R.T. with our Father in heaven 5. Then your Father will reward you God answers prayer! 3
Practice your P.A.R.T. My P.A.R.T. is where I talk to God and I trust that God is hearing my every word. Next to each letter of our prayer acronym, write some common words or phrases that explain each word. Praise Admit Real prayer is something we learn! Foster, 36 Request Thank you Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us. The closer we come to the heartbeat of God, the more we see our need and the more we desire to be conformed to Christ. Richard Foster, The Celebration of Discipline, 33. 4
Praise Psalm 146 (NRSV) 1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! 2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. 4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. 5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith for ever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 10 The LORD will reign for ever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD! God wants us to focus on Him in praise, worship, and adoration. In what is called The Lord's Prayer, Praise comes first. Look up Psalm 148: List the various groups in this scripture called to praise God. What ways has God specifically blessed you? Write a few ways you can praise God for these blessings. Psalm 146: 13 (NRSV) 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. 5
Admit Psalms 139:23-24 (NRSV) 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. This section is meant to foster an environment where God can change our hearts and our directions. 1 John 1:9 (NRSV) 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Romans 12: 1-2 (NRSV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. Admit means to acknowledge or confess. (www.yourdictionary.com) Confession is not easy. It requires that we acknowledge and articulate to God our sins. What are some things some sins you need to admit to God? 1 John 1: 8-9 (NRSV) 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. On a scale of 1 to 10, one being easy and ten being difficult, rate the ease of this step in praying your P.A.R.T.? 6
Request Psalm 5:3 (NRSV) 3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch. Request is the third step in praying your P.A.R.T. It is here that we come to ask God for our needs and the needs of others. There are many demands on our prayer time - many topics and issues that we could pray for, so we need to choose, and to be specific. Pray for others. In the epistles, we read of the Apostle Paul praying for those he has led to faith, and asking them also to pray for him. So, you too can pray for others, and encourage them to pray for you. Pray for your family members, and for neighbors and friends. It's also good to pray for those who don't know Jesus to come to faith - many Christians have come to believe in Christ through the prayers of others. Pray for world issues: for peace in difficult situations, for leaders and those in influential positions, for global issues such as care of God's environment, justice for the poor, relief of suffering in less developed countries, and other issues that come to you. Pray for your own needs too. It's easy to neglect this, but Jesus encourages us to do so in the Lord's Prayer - the model for prayer that He gave us. In addition, you can pray the scriptures. Pray, as many of the psalmists did, for God s intervention, presence, comfort, and more. Add photos to your prayer lists. It helps personalize an event, person, or issue for you. For instance, as you see pictures of Haiti, your prayer requests may take on new meaning and dimension. Can you ask too much or too often? Philippians 4: 6 (NRSV) 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Can you pray too long for something? 7
Luke 18: 1-8 (NRSV) Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, Grant me justice against my opponent. 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming. 6 And the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? What are some requests that are on your heart right now? Can you think of a specific request that God has provided you with an answer? Our prayers make a difference! Journaling is a powerful tool used to keep track of your prayers. When you review your journal, you can see how God answers prayers! 8
Thanks From childhood we are brought up to say "Thank You" when someone does something for us, or gives us a gift. Each moment God is blessing us, every minute we can recall the wonderful things that God has done for us, and the gifts that we have been given. And so, we need to be constantly thanking God for our many blessings. 1 Timothy 2: 1 (NRSV) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone. Psalms 95: 1-2 (NRSV) 1 O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Watch your language! Luck Chance Coincidence List three things that have happened to you that were orchestrated by God. 1. 2. 9
3. Thank God for not only material blessings but also: Emotional Physical Mental Spiritual Take these P.A.R.T. s and build a letter of prayer to the Great I AM. 10
Listening: We hear God through: a. Prayer b. Scripture c. Circumstances d. People God s Part in Prayer Share two times in life you heard God speak, and what forum did God use to communicate with you? God Answers prayer. Mark 7: 24-30 (NRSV) 24 From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children s food and throw it to the dogs. 28 But she answered him, Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children s crumbs. 29 Then he said to her, For saying that, you may go the demon has left your daughter. 30 So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Look up Jonah 3: 5-10 What does this scripture tell you about God answering prayers? 11
Read the following scriptures and give your impression: Psalm 119 Joshua 1:8 Psalm 12:2 Psalm 19:11 In prayer, is should be a great yearning of our heart to know the will of God. In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God s thoughts after [God]: to desire the things [God] desires, to love the things [God] loves, to will the things [God] wills. Foster, 33. 12
6 Patterns to Prayer 1. Receiving and asking prayer. Philippians 4:6 (NRSV) 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Tell God what you need and thank God for all God has done, is doing, and will do. 2. Revealing prayer. James 1: 5 (NRSV) 5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 3. Believing Prayer. Matthew 21:22 (NRSV) 22 Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive. 4. Interceding Prayer. Ephesians 1: 16-19 (NRSV) 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 5. Agreeing Prayer. Matthew 18: 19-20 (NRSV) 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. 6. Persevering Prayer. Luke 18:1 (NRSV) Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. Which pattern of prayer have you used in the past? Are you more comfortable with one specific prayer pattern? 13
10 Common Roadblocks to Prayer Paraphrase listing from Partners in Prayer, John Maxwell, 1996. 1. Unconfessed Sin. Psalm 66:18 (NRSV) 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 1 John 1:9 (NRSV) 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Are we always aware of our sin? How do we overcome this roadblock? 2. Lack of Faith. Mark 6: 1-6 (NRSV) He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. 2 On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us? And they took offence at him. 4 Then Jesus said to them, Prophets are not without honor, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house. 5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. James 1: 5-8 (NRSV) If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 6 But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7, 8 for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord. This double mindedness is a condition where a person is emotionally divided, in conflict with him/herself. The conflict needs to be resolved so that faith can blossom, because faith is an issue of trust. Matthew 21: 22 (NRSV) 22 Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive. 14
3. Disobedience. 1 John 3: 21-23 (NRSV) 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 4. Lack of Transparency with God and with Others. James 5:16 (NRSV) 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. The most difficult part of being honest is confessing. 5. Unforgiveness. Matthew 18:22 (NRSV) 22 Jesus said to him, Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. Why is forgiveness so difficult? 6. Wrong Motives. James 4:3 (NRSV) 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. 7. Idols in our lives. Idols come in many forms: money, career, children, pleasure it s an issue of the heart. Ezekiel 14:3 (NRSV) 3 Mortal, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and placed their iniquity as a stumbling-block before them; shall I let myself be consulted by them? Why do you think Martin Luther said: The last conversion is the conversion of the pocketbook? 15
8. Disregard for Others. John 13: 34-35 (NRSV) 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. It is impossible for a person to hate or criticize someone they are praying for. Prayer breeds compassion, not competition. 9. Disregard for God s sovereignty. Jeremiah 1:5 (NRSV) 5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. Matthew 6: 9-10 (NRSV) 9 Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Our relationship with God: That of a child under the God s authority. Any time we disregard the divine order of things, we are out of bounds, and we hinder our relationship with our heavenly Father. Can you think of a time when your rule was more important that God s sovereign rule over your life? 10. Unsurrendered Will. A person whose will is unsurrendered to God has a relationship with God similar to the one described in the parable of the vine and the branches. John 15: 5-10 (NRSV) 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, 16
ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father s commandments and abide in his love. God s love flows through us, gives us power, and produces much fruit. Psalms 139: 23-24 (NRSV) 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. David overcame some horrible sins in his life to be close to God. If God is able to forgive David and build a special relationship with him, then God can and will do the same with us. If we are faithful, God will draw us close to God s self and God will answer our prayers. How many of these roadblocks have caused you to detour in your love language of prayer with God? Let s commit now to laying them down at the feet of the Master. Let s grow in our language of love through prayer with the one true God. 17
Resources: All scriptures presented are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible. http://bible.oremus.org/ http://www.yourdictionary.com Richard J. Foster, The Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, HarperSanFrancisco, 1998. Donald K. McKim, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Westminister John Knox Press, 1996. http://www.prayerguide.org.uk/actsmodel.htm John Maxwell, Partners in Prayer: Support and Strengthen Your Church Leaders, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996. Pastor and http://prayerpartners.com/howto/personalprayer.htm This discipleship series was inspired through God and the work God has done in the lives of our mentors, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Russell and the Rev. Diana Russell. I give God all the glory for their leadership in our lives and the leadership of so many who have guided me in our prayer journey with God. Pastor Lisa Klaus 18