Jesus Prayers Week 4

Content – What did Jesus pray about?
John 17 – Jesus High Priestly Prayer
As we read through this passage – Look for: Praise, Thanksgiving, Intercession, Supplication, and Confession.

Big Picture – What was the overall theme of this prayer?

Praise
In the OT the word for praise mainly used halal, the root meaning of which is
connected with making a noise; yada which was originally associated with
the bodily actions and gestures which accompany praising; and zamar, which
is associated with the playing or singing of music. (New Bible Dictionary)
Definition: to commend; applaud; to express approval or admiration of; to extol in words or in song; to magnify or to glorify. We praise God by directly by expressing our admiration for Him. We praise God by declaring, commending or magnifying Him to others. Praise is pre-occupied with who God is and what He has done.

• V3 the only true God
• V7 everything you have given me is from you
• V12 Given His name to Jesus
• V17 Your word is truth
• V25 You sent Me (Jesus)

Thanksgiving
• Mark 14:22 – Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it.
Why is this element difficult to see in this prayer?
Does this mean it is not important?
What does this say about formulas for prayer?

Intercession
• V9-11 I ask on their behalf, keep them in your name – that they may be one even as we are one.
• V13 that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
• V15 keep them from the evil one
• V17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is the truth
• V20-21 they may all be one; even as you are in me and I am in you.

Supplication
• V1 Glorify your son, that the Son may glorify you
• V5 Glorify Me together with yourself, with the glory I had with you before the world was.
• V24 Be with me where I am.
Confession
Obviously Jesus had no sin to confess. But confession can be confession of sin, confession of faith, or acknowledging our own condition or actions before God.

• V4 I glorified you on the earth, having accomplished the work which you have given me to do.
• V6 I have manifested your name to the men You gave me out of the world.
• V8 I have given them the words you gave me.
• V11 I am no longer in the world.
• V12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in your name which you have given me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that scripture would be fulfilled.
• V13 I come to you.
• V14 I have given them your word.
• V22 The glory which you have given me, I have given them, that they may be one, just as we are one.
• V25 I have known you.
• V26 I have made your name known to them.


What can we learn from this prayer?
Jesus had a purpose for this prayer.
Jesus focused on his relationship with the Father even amongst the other element of the prayer.
Unity is important.

Psalm 24 –The King of Glory

Jesus Prayers Week 3

Where did Jesus Pray?

Why is it against the law to text in a school zone? Because it might distract you from driving safely.

One thing that we know about Jesus’ prayer life is that when He prayed, he sought a place where He could concentrate on prayer – without distractions. Here are some scriptures that describe places where Jesus prayed.

And early in the morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there. ( Mark 1:35)

And immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the multitude away. And after bidding them farewell, he departed to the mountain to pray. ( Mark 6:45-46)

And they came to a place called Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed." And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch." And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground, and began praying. ( Mark 14:32-34)

And when day came, He departed to a lonely place; and the multitudes were searching for Him, and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from going away from them. ( Luke 4:42)

But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. ( Luke 5:16)

And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. ( Luke 6:12)

Do you multi-task? Watch tv and read? Eat and watch tv? Drive and talk on your cell phone?

Why do you think Jesus left the crowd to pray?

When you decide to pray, what are some of the most common distractions you face?

How can we overcome the distractions to prayer?

Testimony* Other than your prayer for salvation – Where were you when you had a prayer time when you really connected with God?

Jesus Prayers Week 2

Jesus’ life was characterized by prayer.
When do you pray?
Before
Mark 1:35-39 – Early in Jesus ministry, he was healing and preaching. This passage is recorded just after he heals Peter’s mother-in-law and many others. This prayer resulted in Jesus moving on to preach elsewhere.
Mark 6:45-52 – Jesus prayed before he walked on water.
Luke 6:12-16 – Jesus prayed before he named the 12 apostles
During
Luke 3:21-22 – Jesus was baptized as he was praying
Luke 9:28-32 – Jesus was transfigured while he was praying.
After
John 11:37-46 – Jesus prayed after raising Lazarus from the dead.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing
It seems as though Jesus was in prayer a lot.
Some people are interested in the taste of food – some people are more interested in volume.
What is more important in prayer, quality or quantity?
Are you more likely to pray before, during, or after an event?
Can prayer change us? How?
What can we learn from seeing “when” Jesus prayed (in these examples)?

Jesus' Prayers Week 1

There are 27 specific prayers in the Bible attributed to Jesus. In this series we will see what we can learn about prayer by studying how our Lord prayed. Since there are many, many passages in scripture that describe aspects of prayer, we know prayer is important to the believer. This week we will examine the model prayer, in Matthew 6:9-13.
What is your definition of prayer?
What are some mistakes people sometimes make in their understanding of prayer?
Verses 1-8 give some needed context to the prayer, so let’s read it first.
Matthew 6:1-8. According to this passage what does Jesus expect of believers?
• Don’t practice righteousness before men to be noticed by them.
• Give to the poor without fanfare
• When you pray – do it in private
• Don’t use meaningless repetition in prayer
There is a time for private prayer and there are times for public prayer. Jesus prayed alone, with others, and for others. Jesus uses the words “us” and “our” in the prayer. These are pronouns. They are also plural (meaning they are spoken on behalf of more than one person). “Us” is a first person plural personal pronoun, and “our” is a first person plural possessive pronoun. The idea is that this prayer is meant for a public setting as opposed to using “me” and “my”.
Now Let’s look at the Model Prayer: Mat 6:9-13.
Does this prayer focus more on God or more on the person praying?
Why do you think it is so short?
Simple Outline

God and His Kingdom
Us – Physical needs, relationship with others, relationship with God
God and His Power and Glory

As I look at this prayer, it begins and ends with an emphasis on God.
It’s clear that prayer is not something for us to do to be seen by others. V5
It’s also seems that Jesus is teaching that in our prayers, we need to make sure we realize who we are praying to. This prayer is the perfect example of how we can pray together, but it isn’t exactly how we do it. We often use our “prayer time” for sharing prayer requests and other information with each other. I think that is one of the best things we do as a group, but it does not always follow this pattern.

Ask for 9 Volunteers for the Model Prayer skit. – Model Prayer