1. Basics Session 4 Prayer – Communicating with God

2. Assignment Discussion What did you learn? What did you find important and why?

3. Prayer Communicating with God What do you think are the top three important things on God's list for our lives?

4. Objective Gaining a solid understanding of the purpose and example of prayer based on how Jesus prayed and how He taught us to pray

5. Religion vs. Relationship Prayer – What is it? Just something to do? Good at holidays and at funerals? Time to ask God for stuff? It is more than just making requests known to God – it is communicating with a trusted friend and an all Holy God!

6. Questions About Prayer What is prayer? Why do we pray? What is it’s purpose? When is it appropriate to pray? What do you pray for? Jesus prayed, but why? How / when has God answered your prayers?

7. The Prayer Life Of Jesus He Prayed in Many Ways and in Many Places Matthew 14:22-24, 19:13 Mark 1:35 Luke 5:15-16, 6:12, 9:28 John 4:24, 17

8. The Prayer Life of Jesus He Prayed With Purpose Luke 6:12-16

9. The Prayer Life Of Jesus He Prayed with Humility Matthew 26:36-44

10. The Prayer Life Of Jesus He Taught Us to Pray Luke 18:1 Matthew 6:5-13

11. Sample Prayer Model Adoration Praise God for who He is, His character, His attributes, acknowledging His unchanging qualities like His omniscience, His power, His love, His justice, His perfection, His mercy, etc. This is where you praise God. Confession Acknowledge with a penitent spirit before God any known, un-confessed sin that is hindering your relationship with Him or another person. Agree with God, without excuses or rationalizations before Him. This is where you fess up. Thanksgiving Thank God for His forgiveness, His gifts, for anything and everything that comes to mind. Acknowledge His provision for all that you have. This is where you thank Him. Supplication In faith, make your requests known to God according to His Will, ultimately trusting that His answer is always the best for you. This is where you ask.

12. Application Points What is something new that you learned about God today? What is God telling you to do with this new knowledge? How can what you learned today help you in your daily life?

13. Prayer is simply talking to God. Using the prayer model or using your own, write a prayer from your heart to God. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Philippians 4:6 and put into practice what God tells you. For Next Week…