The 3rd Mark, Study 1: Exploring Prayer

For Sunday Jan 18th, 2009

[Note: This study opens a series on Prayer. There is no formula to prayer, and it is important for the youth to understand that. Encourage them to explore ideas about what prayer is about.]

1) [Note: This first batch of questions is meant to get everyone discussing what they believe prayer to be. Use any of these questions that feel appropriate, and throw in others that may not be listed here.]
What does it mean to you to "pray"?
How often do you pray?
Do you pray by yourself, or with others?
Do you pray aloud or silently?
Do you say memorized prayers, or make them up as you go?
Do you pray at particular times, or whenever you feel like praying?

2) Activity (part 1): On post-its, write some things that you would like to pray for now. Use one post-it per prayer. Nothing is off limits; write down anything that you specifically want to pray for. In the bottom corner of each post-it you write up, also put your name. Put these up on the wall as you go.
[Note: Let them share while they write them up. Mentors should participate as well. Try to make sure everyone puts up something that is a prayer personal and meaningful to themselves.]

3) Read: Matthew 6:5-15

When you pray, don't be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward. When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you. When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.
You should pray like this:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.

If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. But if you don't forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

[Note: The Lord's Prayer in this passage has been substituted with the version from the Book of Common Prayer (rite 1) for consistency purposes.]
Jesus models the Lord's Prayer for us as an example of how to pray. When you read this prayer, what do you notice about it?

4) Activity (part 2): [Note: It would be best to have wall space where you can create multiple separate columns to re-organize the post-its into.]
Break up the Lord's Prayer into sections. For example, the line "Give us this day our daily bread" is a section asking God for what we need. Do this with the rest of the prayer and create a post-it for each section. Write that portion of the prayer down along with a quick summary of what that section is about.
[Note: There's no "right" answer, but likely it will break up into 4-7 sections. There should at least be 3 sections roughly mapping to "praising God", "asking for what we want/need", and "asking for forgiveness". Other ideas are: "seeking his will", "asking for guidance", "asking for protection", "giving thanks".]
Now, organize your post-its of your own prayers to into columns to match up the portions of the Lord's Prayer.
Are there sections of the Lord's Prayer that your prayers didn't fall into? Why might that be?

5) Read: Psalm 29

All of you angels in heaven, honor the glory and power of the LORD!
Honor the wonderful name of the LORD, and worship the LORD most holy and glorious.
The voice of the LORD echoes over the oceans. The glorious LORD God thunders above the roar of the raging sea, and his voice is mighty and marvelous.
The voice of the LORD destroys the cedar trees; the LORD shatters cedars on Mount Lebanon.
God makes Mount Lebanon skip like a calf and Mount Hermon jump like a wild ox.
The voice of the LORD makes lightning flash
and the desert tremble. And because of the LORD, the desert near Kadesh shivers and shakes.
The voice of the LORD makes deer give birth before their time. Forests are stripped of leaves, and the temple is filled with shouts of praise.
The LORD rules on his throne, king of the flood forever.
Pray that our LORD will make us strong and give us peace.

This is a psalm written by King David. It is primarily praise for God and an affirmation of his faith in God. Why do you think David wrote this?
What parts of this psalm do you particularly like?

6) Activity (part 3): What sort of questions do you have about praying? Write them down on a post-it and stick those on the wall.
[Note: This is a good opportunity to get them asking each other questions and brainstorming, but don't feel the need answer the questions. Collect the questions and email them to me (sboding@gmail.com).]
Before we leave, everyone take a post-it of someone else's prayer from the wall. Keep that post-it with you during the week and pray for that prayer. Put it somewhere that it will remind you to pray. Perhaps in your locker, in your pocket, or on your bedroom door. It doesn't matter how long you pray, but try to pray at least once a day, each day this week.