Pray
Prayer is both a central spiritual practice for followers of Jesus, and, for many, one of the most difficult to grasp. It seems like prayer should be simple, just talking to God. But we worry about how we are praying, if we are saying the right words or doing the right things, and we wonder if anyone is really listening.
The practice, Pray, shows us how when we believe that prayer is important enough to worry about messing up, that someone is listening, and that the listener is concerned, we are engaging in supreme acts of trust. Prayer relies on our belief that God cares for us and hears us. This belief shapes us. In this unit, we share our pain, we hear other people’s pain, and are invited to pray for and with them. As we give thanks, we realize how much we truly have to be thankful for and grace is revealed.
Adult Leader's Guide
This leader’s guide uses the Adult Reflection Guide to lead a small group study on the practice. This guide contains a summary of the practice and the four (or six) sessions, background information on the Bible study for the session, and any preparation the leader may need to do ahead of the session. There are different options of activities and discussions to choose from throughout the session. Participants are asked to read through the Adult Reflection Guide, if possible, before each session. There are other great resources for adults in the Congregational Guide.
Featured in the Adult Leader’s Guide:
Pray Honestly (Matthew 6:9–13)
Pray Persistently and Humbly (Luke 18:1–14)
Pray with and for Others (James 5:13–16)
Pray with Your Whole Self (Psalms 63:1–4; 88:13–18; 139:15–16)
