The ABC’s of Prayer – Small Group Study Guides
Week I. Why do we need to pray?
- What is prayer?
- Should prayer be passive? How should we pray?
- What is prayer to you? What role does prayer play in your life?
- Why should we pray if God knows everything? (Matthew 6:7-8)
- Do you have a testimony about a personal experience with prayer? What is your experience with prayer?
- Why do we need to pray?
- Why do we need to dedicate a special time of our day for prayer? (Romans 10:11-12)
Week II. How should we pray?
- What is your favourite place to pray?
- Is there a recipe for prayer? (John 14:13-14; Matthew 6:6) What about the Lord’s Prayer?
- Why should we pray in the name of Jesus?
- How should we not pray?
- What about recited prayers? How do we understand this issue?
- Is there an ideal place for prayer? Can we pray in any circumstances? What are the requirements for an effective prayer?
- Have you experience an answered prayer in an unusual situation?
Week III. Are prayers answered?
- How do you remind yourself that God answers prayers? How does that motivate you to pray more?
- Why does God answer prayers at different times? Why is God taking some time to answer my prayers? (Philippians 4:6-7) Is our time different from God’s time?
- Why do we have the feeling that God does not hear our prayers at times?
- How does God answer prayer? Is “No” a potential answer?
- Are there obstacles to an effective prayer? (Matthew 7:8)
- What should we ask God for?
- Have you experienced an answered prayer?
Week IV. Prayer, deliverance, and salvation
- Have you experienced deliverance through prayer?
- What is the relation between prayer and deliverance/salvation? (II Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 51:12)
- When does the process of salvation start once we start praying? (I John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13)
- What role does recognizing that Jesus is our deliverer play in our prayer life?
- We also may feel so unworthy as sinners that we may think there is no point in praying. Did this ever happen to you? What does the Bible teach us?
Week V. What is intercessory prayer?
- Who have you been praying for?
- What does intercessory prayer mean to you?
- What are the benefits of interceding for others? How does that approximate us to God’s own character?
- The Bible teaches us to pray for our enemies. Do you find it hard to pray for certain people or certain groups of people?
- How do we start the process of praying for someone else? Do we have to be specific in our prayers? (Romans 8:27)
- Are there things we should pray for as a church? (James 5:16-17)
- How does prayer for others combines with actions in their behalf?
Week VI. How to live a life of prayer
- What does it mean to pray without ceasing?
- How do we exercise a life of prayer? How do we start? What is the first step?
- Jesus’ story was one of prayer. What lessons can we draw from His example?
- Prayer is an exercise of faith. How do we experience that as human beings?
- What role does our dependence on God play in our prayer life?
VII. Prayer and the Great Controversy
- What have you learned about prayer in this prayer program?
- Is there a war between good and evil? How does it play out? How are we involved?
- What is the role of prayer in strengthening us in light of this battle? (Daniel 10:12-13)
- Do we run the risk of giving up in this process? (Ephesians 6:12-18)
- Is prayer the weapon to face the Great Controversy?
- Share your experience with prayer during this prayer program. Have you been strengthened for the battle?
- What transformations does prayer bring to your life in light of the Great Controversy?