1. Men’s Journey Group Spring 2019
Enjoy your prayer life by
Michael Reeves

2. A typical Night Brief recap of past reading
Recite the verse you memorized
Discussion questions about reading
Recap of Reading
Pray though a selected passage

3. Recap of Reading Chapter 1 The ‘problem’
Definition: most people are not good at prayer
From leaders to new Christians
The ‘problem’ exposes our self-love and self-dependence
‘Prayerlessness always goes hand in hand with a lack of Christian integrity.’
Chapter 2
What is prayer?
It is not primarily: a thing ‘to do’ in need of a better method.
It is not: a pragmatic way to get what you want
It is not: a magic ‘spell’
It is: ‘the primary way true faith expresses itself’ or ‘the chief exercise of faith’

4. Recap of Reading Chapter 3 Reality: you naturally lack faith
Your prayer life reveals the state of your faith
Your faith’s enemies – world, flesh devil
Your faith’s friend - Jesus
Chapter 4
Good News: you’re in good company
‘spiritual giants’ still were human like you
You have not managed to invent the problem of prayer being hard
Chapter 5
What is going to fuel our faith to pray?
The Word (Rom 10:17)
Grace of Christ revealed
Hear/sing/speak it
Awakens your faith
The Response: Prayer

5. Discussion Questions Recite the Memory Verse.
Why is Jesus the best person you could ask for help with ‘how to enjoy prayer’?
What does Jesus teach us about prayer when he tells us to address God as ’father’?
How does the idea of ‘God as father’ give clarity to unanswered/repeat prayers?
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: 
“Father, hallowed be your name. 
Your kingdom come. 
3  Give us each day our daily bread, 
4  and forgive us our sins, 
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. 
And lead us not into temptation.” 

6. Recap of Reading Chapter 6 Jesus and Prayer He best understand prayer
He has constantly been in prayer (communion) with God and still is
Prayer: you are invited by Jesus to now enjoy his communion with the Father
‘Prayer is learning to enjoy what Jesus has always enjoyed’
Chapter 7
The ‘first lesson’ / command
Praying to God as ‘Father’
Father - kind
Open-armed, friendly, desired
Invitation into the relationship and fellowship – and then his blessing
Pleading for God to act as he does
Father – acceptance
Fixed, attentive
adopted

7. Prayer
Read: Psalm 103
Pray (let each member of your group pray)

8. On your way out-
Grab a copy of the schedule
Get a book ($5)