A series of studies on prayer
Classes on prayer
Notes on How to Pray in the Spirit
Sunday School classes on prayer
(also suitable for other Bible-study groups)
Introduction
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Ask for questions about prayer.
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Take the prayer quiz.
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Have students grade their own quizzes.
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Ask which questions the class would like time on.
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Take up quizzes (not keys).
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Assign chapters 4-6 of John Bunyan's How to Pray in the Spirit.
Pray in Jesus' name
Chapter 6: True prayer is in union with Christ
Chapter 29: Come to God washed by the blood of Christ
Assign chapters 7-10, 20, 29.
Praying in the will of God
Chapter 8: True prayer agrees with the word of God
Chapter 9: True prayer is for the good of the church
Chapter 10: True prayer submits to the will of God
Chapter 20: Give God reasons to give you what you ask for
Ask God to give what he has promised (1 Chr 17:23-25; "thy kingdom come"; Ps 106:23, 44-45), especially the good of God's people (Eph 6:18; Rom 8:26-30). Assign chapters 11-17.
Praying in the Spirit
Chapter 7: True prayer is by the Holy Spirit
Chapter 11: The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses
Chapter 12: Any prayer not sent by the Spirit is ineffective
Chapter 13: Only by the Spirit can we call God 'Father'
Chapter 15: You cannot lift up your heart to God without the Spirit
Chapter 16: The Spirit helps when we have difficulty praying
Chapter 17: Some of the best prayers have less words than groans in the Spirit
Assign chapters 18-22 and 28.
Always pray and don't lose heart
Chapter 18: Those who do not continue to pray in the Spirit will not have eternal life
Chapter 21: Do not give up praying if God doesn't answer right away
Chapter 22: Keep praying until you receive the blessing
Chapter 28: Keep praying, even when you don't feel loved by God
Jude 20 (p. 84 - cf. "forgive us our debts"; "lead us not into temptation"; Luke 21:36). Gen 32:22-32; Hosea 12:4-6. Luke 18:1ff; 11:5-7.
More information on perseverence
Pray without hypocrisy
Chapter 2: True prayer is sincere
Chapter 14: Pray the Lord's Prayer sincerely
Chapter 24: True prayers and false prayers
Chapter 25: Pray in awe of God, not for honor from men
Chapter 27: Do not pray words without really meaning them
Prayer is effective
A slide show presentation, Scripture references, and quotes on effective prayer
How to Pray in the Spirit
By John Bunyan (edited by L. G. Parkhurst, Jr.)
Chapter 1: Seven components of true prayer
True prayer has seven components:
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True prayer is sincere.
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True prayer has feeling.
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True prayer affectionately pours out the heart to God the Father through his Son.
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True prayer is strengthened and helped by the Holy Spirit.
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True prayer is for what God has promised in the Bible.
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True prayer is for the good of the church.
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True prayer is by faith and with submission to God's will.
Chapter 2: True prayer is sincere
God does not hear prayers said to be heard by others; he looks at the heart, not at the lips.
Chapter 3: True prayer has feeling
Prayer involves the emotions, and is often motivated by a sense of sin, of needed mercy, of received mercy, or of God's readiness to give mercy and forgiveness.
Chapter 4: True prayer is affectionate
Chapter 5: True prayer pours out the heart to God
Chapter 6: True prayer is in union with Christ
Chapter 7: True prayer is by the Holy Spirit
Chapter 8: True prayer agrees with the word of God
Chapter 9: True prayer is for the good of the church
Chapter 10: True prayer submits to the will of God
Chapter 11: The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses
Chapter 12: Any prayer not sent by the Spirit is ineffective
Chapter 13: Only by the Spirit can we call God 'Father'
Chapter 14: Pray the Lord's Prayer sincerely
Do you really want the Lord to bring his kingdom? Are you ready for Judgment Day?
Chapter 15: You cannot lift up your heart to God without the Spirit
Chapter 16: The Spirit helps when we have difficulty praying
Bunyan described some of his personal experiences.
Chapter 17: Some of the best prayers have less words than groans in the Spirit
Chapter 18: Those who do not continue to pray in the Spirit will not have eternal life
Bunyan understood the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. Luke 18:1 was cited.
Chapter 19: Pray with the Spirit and with understanding
Chapter 20: Give God reasons to give you what you ask for
Chapter 21: Do not give up praying if God doesn't answer right away
Chapter 22: Keep praying until you receive the blessing
Luke 18:1-7. Bunyan was encouraged by God's promises to sinners.
Chapter 23: What to do when it is hard to pray
Chapter 24: True prayers and false prayers
Pray for more of the Spirit. True prayer has these qualities:
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a desire for God's holiness, wisdom, love, and glory;
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an uninterrupted fellowship with God, continuing eternally;
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a continual waiting on God to answer prayer.
Chapter 25: Pray in awe of God, not for honor from men
Chapter 26: Some do not have because they do not pray, but others do not have because they pray wickedly
Chapter 27: Do not pray words without really meaning them
Chapter 28: Keep praying, even when you don't feel loved by God
Luke 11:5-7 is encouraging to any believer who feels his prayers aren't being answered.
Chapter 29: Come to God washed by the blood of Christ
If Christ were not punished for our sins, God would not hear our prayers, but would punish us with separation from him.
Chapter 30: If you are not a praying person, then you are not a Christian
Chapter 31: Look most at the things which are not seen
From John Bunyan's poem, "One Thing is Needful,"
Wouldst thou have that good, that blessed mind,
That is so much to heavenly things inclin'd
That it aloft will soar, and always be
Contemplating on blest eternity.
That mind that never thinks itself at rest,
But when it knows it is for ever blest;
That mind that can be here no more content,
Than he that in the prison doth lament;
That blessed mind that counts itself then free
When it can at the throne with Jesus be,
There to behold the mansions he prepares
For such as be with him and his co-heirs.
This mind is in the covenant of grace,
And shall be theirs that truly seek his face.
Amen.
