These are suggested answers to the Message Based Discussion Questions included below.  They are designed to stimulate thought, not replace it, i.e. there are many more ways to answer the questions.

What should you teach about prayer?

1)    Jesus directs prayer for all men 2:1 

• Supplications – prayer seeking needs from God. deesis
• Prayers – prayer addressed to set God apart with men. It is an act of worship. proseuxe
• Intercessions – prayer falling in with, or meeting with God, enteuzis.
• Giving thanks – Prayer giving thanks for who God is and what He has done for men.   eucharistia

2)    Pray especially for those in authority 2:2a

3)    The purpose of prayer is that we lead godly lives 2:2b

How to pray:

• Confession Ps. 66:18
• Adoration  Ps. 9:1-2
• Supplication Phil. 4:6
• Thanksgiving 1 Thes. 5:18
• Rom. 1:21;  Dan. 6:10-11

Those who love Jesus Christ will pray for all people to be transformed!

• If you know the gospel, pray like you believe it.
• Prayer is your effective weapon in the good warfare.
• Transformation in people begins with prayer at God’s throne of mercy.

Colossians 1:9-11

Message Based Discussion Questions

1)    What are things that you think about when you pray?

• Praising God for His goodness and what He does.
• Asking to be empowered to do what pleases Him.
• Thanking Him for the opportunities that will exist in the day to honor Him.
• For specific needs of people in church.
• For specific needs of missionaries, but that is often very general.

Digging deeper:

2)    What was the one thing the disciples asked Jesus to teach them (Luke 11:1f)? __how to pray__ Note Luke 18: 1-8.  What do you learn about prayer in this account?

• The “Lord’s Prayer” was a pattern for prayer, not necessarily the exact words that become repetitious.
• Luke 18 is about a woman in great need. The judge was humanely tired. He was less concerned about the “need” than his own care. He did not want to be “bothered.” He eventually went to her aid for his own selfish reasons.  This is the opposite of God, who never tires and is always concerned about our needs. He is never “bothered,” because He does not slumber or sleep. How do you see God?

3)    What are other leadership positions that would be comparable to “kings” from 1 Timothy 2:2? __President, governor, mayor, chief of police_Why does Paul emphasize praying for kings? What attacks could national leaders have (Dan. 10:1-13)?

• Pray for kings, because they are the most influential. As go the king, so goes the country in most cases. Those in the country are the people for whom we are to pray. As people might have a good leader they rejoice, when they have a wicked king, they groan (Pro. 29:2).
• Leaders (at all levels) have additional attacks that followers do not have. The demonic warfare wants to cause kings to fall, because the people will spiral down into degeneracy watching the degeneracy of its leaders. You can see that in any country of the world over the last four decades.

4)    What kind of life did Paul say should result from prayer (1 Tim. 2:2)? __quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverance____  What does that look like? (cf. Matt. 28:19-20; John 17:20-23; Col. 1:9-10; 1 Pet. 4:12-14; 5:10)?

• Whether or not there is quiet and peace, there are people who are discipling others (Matt. 28:19-20).
• People are unified in Jesus (John 17:20-23).
• People are growing in spiritual understanding so that they might walk worthy of God, bear fruit in every good work, please God in all things and continue to grow in knowledge and wisdom (Col. 1:9-10).
• People who live with the fire and trials of life, but keep their eyes focused on Jesus and continue to exalt his name. (1 Pet. 4:12-13).
• People arm themselves with Jesus in the face of trouble (1 Pet. 4:1).
• People who are settled after going through the trials of life (1 Pet. 5:10).

Making application of the message to life:

5)    Meditate on 1 Corinthians 11:1.  If everything at Grace depended on you and people were following your example, would they be very involved in prayer? When would they be praying?

• Because I lead Men’s prayer and Sun am prayer, there would be those occasions and before and after every class, discipleship opportunity, counseling case and worship service.
• Additionally, they would be praying during the night and on the road regularly.

6)    What specific steps can you take to increase your prayer involvement for others?

• Invite people to prayer.
• Be willing to spend time talking to people about them leading in prayer.
• Be willing to do a half day of prayer.

7)    How would you disciple a Christian to understand and then live out prayer in his/her life?

• Help him understand the “first importance” of prayer (1 Tim. 2:1).
• Help him to understand how to pray (CAST).
• Practice with him (Phil. 4:9).
• Practice again and again and eventually turn it over to him (2 Tim. 4:1-4).