KELLER WEEK 1: Kingdom-Centered vs Communion-Centered Prayer: Tim Keller “Prayer” Study 1: Communion-centered means to experience God’s love and to know oneness with him. They promise a life of peace and of continual resting in God… regularly surrounded by the Divine presence. Kingdom-centered The essence of prayer not as inward resting but as calling on God to bring in his kingdom. Prayer is viewed as a wrestling match… often … without a clear sense of God’s immediate presence. In [Donald Bloesch’s] view… … the highest aim of prayer is not peaceful reflection but fervent supplication for the kingdom of God to come to fruition in the world and in our own lives. The ultimate aim of prayer is “obedience to God’s will, not the contemplation of his being”. prayer is both a conversation and encounter with God. These two concepts give us a definition of prayer and a set of tools for deepening prayer lives. 4: We are also told that God himself dwells within us through the Spirit (Romans 8:9-11) and helps us to pray (Romans 8:26-27) so that even now by faith we may gaze and contemplate the glory of Christ (2 Cor 3:17-18). 4: We are told that Jesus Christ stands as our mediator so that we, though undeserving in ourselves, can boldly approach God’s throne, and cry out for our needs to be met: (Heb 4:14-16, 7:25) 3: Psalms of complaint, cries for help, calls for God to exercise his power in the world (Kingdom prayers) Here we indeed see prayer as a struggle. Psalm 10 begins asking why God stands far off and hides himself in times of trouble. Suddenly the author cries (v12) “Arise Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless”. Psalm 13:1-2, Psalm 39:12, Psalm 42:9-11, Psalm 43:1-2, Psalm 88:1-9 Why the 2 views? Some discover that their emotions are unresponsive toward God and that even paying attention in prayer for more than a few minutes is extremely difficult. Others regularly experience a feeling of God’s presence. Also, “theological differences play a role”. Bloesh argues that mystical prayer fits more with the Catholic view that God’s grace is infused directly into us through baptism and the Mass rather than with the Protestant belief that we are saved through faith in God’s word of gospel promise. 2: Adoring communion with God. Psalm 23:4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. While David did in fact pray for other things, he means at the very least that nothing is better than to know the presence of God. Psalm 63:1-3, Psalm 84:2 , Psalm 131:1-2, Psalm 146-150. PSALMS: the inspired prayer book of the Bible. Both experiences of prayer are well represented in Psalms

Study for Timothy Keller: Prayer Week 1 Kingdom vs Communion Pages 1-5 Day 1: Introduction to Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God Read Pages 1-5. Study Psalm 27 (focus on verse 4), Psalm 63 (focus on v1-3) Day 2: Communion-centered prayer Study Psalm 84 (focus on v2), Psalm 131 (focus on v1-2) Day 3: Communion-centered prayer Study Psalms 146-150 Day 4: Kingdom-centered prayer Study Psalm 10 (focus on v12), Psalm 13 (focus on v1-2) Day 5: Kingdom-centered prayer Study Psalm 39 (focus on v12), Psalm 42 (focus on v9-11) Day 6: Christ as mediator for our kingdom prayers Study Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 7:25 Day 7: Spirit led communion prayer and contemplation Study Romans 8:9-11, Romans 8:26-27, 2 Cor 3:17-18