The 3rd Mark, Study 4: Praying for Ourselves

For Sunday Feb 8th, 2009

1) [Note: These questions are probably best done in a batch one person at a time, or in a very conversational way.]
Did you pray for yourself last week?
What did you pray for?
Were your prayers answered?
How did you pray? (out loud, silent, with others...)
Did you like a particular style of prayer?

2) Read: Mk 14:32-36

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

[Note: These questions can open up a wide variety of questions from the participants. It's not necessary to have all the answers, but rather to let the participants attempt to answer those questions themselves.]
Jesus knows what is going to happen to him: He is facing his own death. He knows it has to happen, and yet he still prays to God. How do you think Jesus feels when he prays?
Why do you think he prays? [Note: No right answer here, but one idea to share is that Jesus is not praying for God to change the events so much as he is praying for God to give him the strength to face those events. This models an important facet of prayer for us, which is being open to transformation when praying.]

3) [Note: This semi-fictional story is completely optional. Its value should be determined based on the nature of the group at the time.]
Read this small story:

Ben and Ann had been married for a few years and decided to finally have a baby. After 3 years of trying and being unable to get pregnant, Ben was getting frustrated. He prayed to God often about it. He prayed in church. He prayed with friends. He would pray silently, and aloud. He even tried very hard to be a good person, thinking that would make the difference. Eventually, Ann became pregnant. After two months they went to the doctor and received some alarming news: Ann had had a miscarriage. After a silent drive home from the doctor, Ben dropped Ann off at home and headed to work. On the car ride by himself, Ben began yelling at God. Ben couldn't understand how all of his praying and all of his work at being good had resulted in this tragedy. He yelled and yelled out loud, as if God were sitting in the car with him. Ben was mad at God for several days. He didn't pray and he didn't go to church. Then something happened. Ben moved on. After speaking with a close friend of his, he realized that God doesn't answer every prayer, and perhaps there was a reason for not answering this one. Ben has since gone back to praying, and going to church. He and Ann ended up having twins eventually, and the trials that they faced brought them closer to each other, to God, and to their children. In the end, Ben looked back at his prayers and realized that God was preparing him. God's answer to his prayers was so much more than what Ben had wanted, in many ways, and for that, Ben felt incredibly blessed.

Do you think it was wrong for Ben to yell at God?
Why do you think that God waited to answer Ben's prayers?
How do you feel when it seems God is not answering your prayers?

4) Lightning quiz round!

• Is there a particular way you are supposed to pray? No, the important thing is that you pray, not how.
  
• Does God hear all of our prayers? Yes, God wants us to pray, and listens to all our prayers.
  
• Does God answer all prayers? No, God's plan is bigger than we can understand, and we must be open to it.
  
• Is it ok to ask God for what we want? Yes, but we also have to be open to God giving us something else.
  
• If God is going to answer a prayer, does He do it right away? No, He will wait until the right time.
  
• Should I pray to God, or to Jesus? Either one or both. Pray to the one that helps your prayer feel more personal.
  
• Should we pray even if we don't think God will answer our prayer? Yes! Praying is a way to talk with God and ask for help so that we can be closer to him.
  

[Note: Use this opportunity to tackle any additional questions about prayer. I have not specifically answered all of the questions from the first session, so if there are additional "tough" questions, participants are welcome to email me (sboding@gmail.com).] 5) One option when you need to pray is to pray a psalm. Psalm 23 is perhaps the most well known of King David's psalms and is often prayed by people when they are feeling afraid or sad. Let's read this psalm together. Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

[Note: Use this opportunity to let talk about this psalm if they wish.]