From Duty to Delight - Rethinking Prayer (Part 1)

TABLE TALK  

A dinner table discussion guide for your family and friends.

Discussion:  What about Sunday’s message impacted you the most? 

Scripture Engagement:  “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, 

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.” - Matthew 6:5-9

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Do you see God as your friend or your king? Or do you see Him as both? In what ways?

  2. How do reverence/respect and friendship go hand in hand?

  3. Is it easy to have a relationship with God or does He seem distant/uninterested?

  4. Do You think less of yourself if you don’t feel “close” to Him?

  5. What does it mean to be a son/daughter of God?

Praying Together: 

  1. Thank Him. What can we thank Him for? 

  2. Praise Him. What is one thing about who Jesus is that we can praise Him about?

  3. Ask Him. What is a need we have or an area in which we would like to see God break through. 

  4. Listen to Him: What is on God’s heart about your need. What is He saying to you? Let Him complete this sentence to you. “My child, I love you, and I want you to know...” 

Gunter Akridge