Break the ice
Which of these scenarios is most frustrating for you?
- Basically knowing how and what to pray about?
- Trying to find the right words to say when you pray?
- When you have to pray in public and everyone can hear you?
- When someone prays for a really long time?
- Being forced to pray?
Small group questions
- In your own words, how would you explain prayer to a friend?
- Read Matthew 6:5-8. How did Jesus teach His disciples to pray in this verse
Teaching about Prayer and Fasting
5“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
- Why did Jesus teach to pray without big, impressive words and long, lengthy prayers?
- Read Matthew 6:9-13. What stands out to you about this prayer Jesus prayed.
9Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11Give us today the food we need,[1]
12and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13And don’t let us yield to temptation,[2]
but rescue us from the evil one.[3]
Translation notes (3)
- 6:11 Or Give us today our food for the day; or Give us today our food for tomorrow.
- 6:13a Or And keep us from being tested.
- 6:13b Or from evil. Some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
- How do you see the A.C.T.S. acronym (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) for how to pray used in this prayer Jesus prayed?
- Jesus prayed “May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” in this prayer. What does this teach you about the purpose of prayer?
- Jesus cares about our needs. What is something you are currently needing prayer for?
Moving forward
At the end of your group, have everyone take out a piece of paper or a card and write down 3 - 5 things that they want to commit to praying for this week. Then encourage them to practice the A.C.T.S acronym as they are working through their prayer requestions. They may want to add one of the prayer requests from the other students that they heard during small group time. Encourage each student to commit to praying through their requests every day this next week.
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