Prompts and Notes - STEP SEVEN

Purpose of Step Seven: To strengthen our prayer life.

Remember: Your own hunger and desire to seek and serve the Lord is one of the most

powerful aspects of your disciping relationships. Keep asking the Lord to renew your own life and to use you to raise up those who will disciple others. Encourage your disciples to do the same. Do not become tired of reviewing the basics.

1.1 When and where should we confess our sins? The idea is to keep short accounts with

God and to confess immediately wherever we are.

1.2 How do we adore or praise God? With our lives, music, and in prayer with our words. Of

the four elements of prayer adoration is generally the weakest. That is why part of the homework in this STEP is to make a list of the names and descriptions of God for use in prayer. We can read from the list as we adore and worship God. We find models of this kind of prayer in 1 Chron 29:11-13 and Rev 5:12-13.

1.3 When should we give thanks to God? (See each verse). Even though we do not

understand the reason for many things that happen it is God's will that we give thanks in and for all things. It is the response of a child to a loving and trustworthy father that says "Even though this is not what I would choose, I am thankful, God, because you see the end from the beginning and know what is best."

1.4B What are some of the ways that we can pray for laborers to be sent out? As we

become aware of other countries and cities in the news or hear of needs and people's problems, we can pray in that moment for the Lord to send His messengers to help them and pray that they may also come to know our Lord and Savior.

2.1 How can we pray constantly? Do we have to have our eyes closed in order to pray? We

must learn to constantly be in communication with the Lord and let our whole life be lived in His presence letting Him share in all our relationships and acivities by simply sharing with Him our innermost being, our thoughts, our fears, and our joys and victories.

3.4 Does one's relationship with a spouse affect the way our prayers are answered?

Remember: Learning to pray is more than knowing about it. Experiment with it. Ask your

disciple(s) to pray for you as you pray for them.

4. Which of these helps to prayer do you consider the most difficult to experience?

4.1 What would be the Lord's principle commands for us? "...to believe in Jesus and love

one another."--1 Jn 3:23

4.2 What is the primary way of knowing God's will? His word--2 Tim 3:16

4.3 What can we do when we are having a hard time believing while we pray? Pray the

prayer in Mk 9:24, "Help my unbelief."

4.4 What do you think it means to "remain in the word?"--Jn 15:7

4.5 Why should we forgive others? God forgives us as we do others-Mt 6:12

4.6 What is the source of personal recognition and exaltation? The Lord Himself exalts us-

-1 Chron 29:12 and 1 Pet 5:6

4.7 How do you prioritize the following items in your life: family, ministry, church activities,

the Lord, work, school, recreation etc.?

4.8 How could a prayer list help you? Discipline, awareness of answers etc.

5 What do you think can be done to experience more fruit in our Christian lives? Don't give

up--Gal 6:9 and remember Jesus example--Heb 12:3

5.7 How do Abraham's petitions change with each successive request? As his faith grows

with each new answer his prayers become more bold.

5.8 What activity precedes revival and renewal? Prayer with humility.

6 What might be an advantage of group prayer over private prayer? More discipline in

prayer, encouragement to keep on praying, increased faith and boldness to serve the Lord--Acts 4:29

Homework: There are different kinds of prayer lists: e.g. a general list or one for each day

of the week, Monday through Saturday, listing different categories like family, friends, work related issues, church, ministry, salvation of certain people, missions/missionaries etc. On Sunday pray without a list. The variations are many. Be sure to include praise and adoration in your prayer times using the list you make with this homework assignment.

Note: Answer #4 in the exercise at the bottom of Step Seven (distributed answer) means

that the answer comes bit by bit over a period of time.

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