Key Thought : Prayer is the most important way of communing with God and should be engaged in as much as possible. Christ showed that prayer attitudes such as humility, persistence, and acceptance of God’s will greatly helps us.

[Teaching Plan for “The Promise of Prayer” March 7, 2012]

1. Have a volunteer read Matthew 26:39-41.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Why was Jesus asking not to do what He came to the earth to do? Are there times when we know what we’re supposed to do, but pray to God to get us out of doing it? Share.
C. Personal Application: How often do we actually pray for God’s will to be done instead of asking Him to honor and fulfill our will and wishes? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What does it mean when it says the flesh is weak but the spirit is willing? Isn’t the mind the source of the desires of the flesh? So what is the spirit of man if it is not the mind?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 11:6.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. What kind of faith leads to answered prayers – mental faith in belief or faith in action? What do we have to do in action to get results in our prayer life?
C. Personal Application: How strong is your faith on God answering your prayers based on your prayer history and success rate? How do we reason why God doesn’t seem to answer our prayers? Are these valid reasons or excuses?
D. Case Study: One of your friends states, ”Can people pray to Allah, Buddha, Krishna, or even Jehovah without faith in Jesus and expect God to answer and reward their prayers? Does God reward faith even if it is faith in the wrong things or person?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read James 5:16-18.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. If everyone’s a sinner, and all are saved by grace alone; how does God determine who is a righteous man and his prayers avail much? Share.
C. Personal Application: How fervent are your prayers? What does it mean to have fervent prayers?
D. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “What does it mean to confess our faults to one another to be healed? Is that like the confessional system in the Catholic Church? If not, how is it different?” How do you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read I Thessalonians 4:3,4.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. How important is it to allow God to sanctify us in overcoming our sins for us to have a successful prayer life? Share.
C. Personal Application: What are some of the leading reasons for
Unanswered prayer in our lives?.
D. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note: “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149)

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