Prayer (Men's Retreat)

Introduction (10 mins)

(One person) Pray for the weekend

Explain changes coming - get to be the guinea pigs

Based on discipleship principles

(4 mins) List - What does it mean to be a Godly person?

(To me) Give me a list

Servant, teachable, filled with HS, enthusiastic about role, humble, forgiver, loving, admitting faults and weaknesses

How about a Godly husband?

We are to be heads (leaders)

Read 1 Peter 3:7

1 Peter 3:7 ESV

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Husbands are

Understanding, honoring, recognizing Spiritual equality

What happens if we don’t? Prayers are hindered!

Bill Allison’s discipleship concept is a great way to live this out!

Its a mutual approach to growing in Christ!

As men, we can lead with this: ask your wife, ask your kids, ask your friends, ask your parents!

That’s leading, but then you do it together

We think of “leading” as I’m above you, let me teach you!

That’s not it at all!

Let’s talk about the process

Explain (TW+K4)xD3 (10 mins)

TW (20 mins)

Discipleship happens WITH PEOPLE

Jesus spent time away, but He spent a TON of time with people!

Jesus calls us to a personal relationship with Him, not a private one!

(5 mins) Share how God is working in your life right now

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Proverbs 27:17 ESV

17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

(haver) Hebrew friendship

Includes grappling in twos and threes over Scripture

(4 mins) Who are your friends?

One more thing:

Our friendships might be missing the mark!

Me+HS - Good, but it stops here

Me+You - Good, but no Holiness

Me+You+HS - Discipleship!

John 3:22 ESV

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.

With them is (diatribo) - means withness

Extended and intentional time together!

Luke 8:1–3 ESV

1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

(To me) Who is Jesus spending time with here?

He’s impacting the world

AND He’s doing it with His friends

That’s not Jesus’ way of doing things for us

That’s His way of teaching us how we’re supposed to be!

(4 mins) - Pray! Who do you need to spend more intentional Jesus time with? (diatribo and haver?)

Review K4

Prayer

Scripture

Loving extravagantly

C323 - all of life is worship

These are the 4 things we do in disciple making relationships

Not a trick, not a class...

Spend time with people and intentionally do these 4 things

Prayer (30 mins)

Let’s start with prayer tonight

Luke 18:1 ESV

1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

(4 mins) Why does Jesus tell His friends to not give up on prayer? What does it mean to “always pray?”

What is prayer?

Bible talks about it, never defines!

Mark 1:35 ESV

35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Jesus prayed - wasn’t He God? Why did He need to pray?

Maybe we misunderstand - God is our Spiritual vending machine

Prayer is about relationship

It’s communication, it’s focus, it’s the presence of God...

So what do we do if not a list of asking God for stuff?

(To me) What is the acts prayer?

Adoration

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication

Notice the order

Reminds us who God is

Reminds us of who we are

Reminds us of what He’s done

THEN we ask for stuff...

If we get the top 3, it’ll affect the last one

When we ask, God responds one of 3 ways

Yes, no, later...

None of those responses mean we stop praying!

If he says yes, you cover it at least in thanksgiving...

If He says wait, keep asking! Or ask for strength, patience...

If He says no, ask what next

Each of those changes us, we don’t pray to change God’s mind!

Let’s take some time to pray together

Pray for your family at home (Parents, wife, kids, grandkids, roommates)

Pray for God to reveal that person to sit down for “haver”

(To me) What would you like to pray for? Top 4...

If Needed: Inflow/Overflow (10 mins)

Inflow - things that strengthen “us”

Overflow - things that bring in the “new”

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

(4 mins) Where do you see inflow?

(4 mins) Where do you see it turning to overflow?

Back Up Discussion

How is prayer both talking and listening?

Who is the most prayerful person you know? What can you learn from them?