Session Extras

Year 2

Prayer: Session 1
The Lord’s Prayer

Below are some great links for further study and discussion. Check out the book suggestions. We've also included additional resources for leaders.

Digging Deeper:

• Read the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4. Read the verses before and after the prayer and think about the context. What does the context tell us about the Lord’s Prayer?
• John Piper encourages us to live a life of prayer in the article “Pray Like This: Hallowed Be Your Name.” Besides giving an overview of prayer, Piper discusses how the phrase “hallowed by your name” can change a person’s life.
• In the article “Hallowed Be Your Name” Susan Maycinik Nicaido discusses how this phrase has changed her heart.
• When we pray “Your kingdom come,” we are expressing a longing not only for God’s future reign but for God’s authority over our lives now. Read more in the article “Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done On Earth as It Is In Heaven” by James Long.
• In the article “How You Can Live the Lord's Prayer” Whitney Hopler points out that when we live the words of the Lord’s Prayer, our lives will be transformed.”
• Read the play called “An Interactive Lord’s Prayer.” Do you agree with the part about “forgiving your offenses?” Refer to page 31 in the discussion guide for the author’s perspective.
• David Daniels helps us to takes another look at the Lord’s Prayer in the article “Encountering God in the Lord's Prayer.”

For Small Group Facilitators/Leaders:

The discussion session is designed for a one-hour session. Below are suggestions for how to shorten or lengthen the session.

Shorter session: In the Bring It Home section, Option 2 or 3 will take less time.

Longer session:

• Ask members of your group to read the play “An Interactive Lord’s Prayer” as a readers’ theater. After reading the script, ask your group if they agree with the part about “forgiving your offenses.” Refer to page 31 in the discussion guide for the author’s perspective.
• Even with a longer session, Option 1 in the Bring It Home section could take more time than you have available in one session. Talk about your ideas and sketch out the final design. Ask someone with gifts in this area to make a final product that you can display for your class or for the entire congregation.
• Give the group time to share and reflect on their lives. Use the questions in Option 2 or 3 of the Bring It Home section to get to know each other. Allow time for people to speak and respond to each other.

One of the wonderful opportunities in a small group is to know your group members better and build relationships that will last past this meeting. Make good use of the opportunity for sharing in the For Starters, Word Search, Options, and Prayer sections of this guide. Encourage sharing by asking good follow-up questions such as “Why did that have special meaning for you?”

Here are some additional ideas to help you tailor the lesson to your group.

• Ice Breaker: If your group knows each other well, ask your group to share one of the following topics:
  • A time in the last year when they felt close to God.
  • How they have come to this place in their faith journey.
  • A prayer they have memorized or lines from a prayer they have heard.
  • A prayer that our parents said or that we learned as children.
• For Starters: Your group could take up the whole meeting discussing the information in the devotionals. Watch your time. Heed the words “Don’t discuss it now.” Come to the meeting with one or two insights from the readings. (Note: If your group does a good job of talking and sharing, you don’t have to share all your insights. Remember that the health of the group is more important than your need to share.)
• Let’s Focus:
  • Select two or three paragraphs to read that summarize this section, such as the first two full paragraphs on page 6 and the second and third paragraphs on page 7.
  • Ask for volunteers to read. Be aware that some members of your group may not be comfortable reading aloud.
• Word Search: Read the verses before and after the suggested passages to put them in context.
  • Romans 8:14-17. Read all of Romans 8 and note its emphasis on our life through the Spirit. Refer also to the first and second devotionals in Prayer (Abba, p. 12; Our Father, p. 16).
  • Luke 17:20-21. This passage is set on the road to Jerusalem—Luke 9:51-19:44. During that time, Jesus often confronted the Jewish leaders and reminded his disciples of the coming of God’s salvation. This also prepared them for his suffering and death.
  • Matthew 18:21-35. This section in Matthew’s gospel is concerned with the relationships between believers. The parable of the unmerciful servant is a clear illustration of our need to forgive others. But we are not used to having our forgiveness based on our actions. Ask your group about their reaction to this parable. Think about which person you are in the parable.
  • Ephesians 6:10-20. These eleven verses are a final summary statement, echoing the themes in the book of Ephesians. Paul is writing to encourage us to stand in unity against the powers of evil with the Word of God and prayer.
• An Encouraging Word: As facilitator/leader you can’t solve everyone’s problem, no matter how badly you may want to. Your role may be to stand with the person who is harmed by sin by being open and respectful of their hurt and anger. Continue to build a relationship with this person even after this group study is completed. Encourage professional help if needed. Be open to God’s work in your life and seek his guidance in prayer. For more on the path of forgiveness, read the following articles:
  • In the article “Forgiven and Forgiving” Ronald J. Feenstra discusses how hard it is to forgive. Don’t miss the list of resources at the end of this article.
  •  “Forgiveness: How to let go of grudges and bitterness” by Katherine M. Piderman discusses forgiveness including knowing when it is time to forgive.
  • Read Tom Long’s article “Why Is Forgiveness So Rare?”
  • Check out the website Journey Toward Forgiveness for other articles and stories about forgiveness.
  • Forgiveness is a spiritual practice. Read more in the article “Forgiveness,” which explores the way our lives are shaped by practicing our faith through forgiveness.
• Bring It Home
  • Option 1: Creating a banner will take a little planning ahead of time. Have paper (large if possible), markers or crayons, and pencils available. Decide on a theme—are you trying to illustrate the whole Lord’s Prayer or focus on one of the parts as in the devotionals? If your group is good with technology, use a computer to help illustrate their thoughts.
  • Option 1: Depending on how big your group is, break into groups of 3 or 4 people to create the banner. Share what each group creates with the other groups. Talk about what they have drawn and why.
  • Option 1: Consider illustrating the words of the Lord’s Prayer. Check out the calligraphy of Timothy Botts. Choose a background color. Think about what color represents the words you will write. Select one or two words or phrases to emphasize.
  • Option 1: If your church or pastor subscribes to Reformed Worship, bring a copy of the Lord’s Prayer banner from Issue 68 on page 12 for your group to evaluate. Ask, “What does this artistic representation add to your understanding of the Lord’s Prayer?”
  • Option 2: Before meeting with the group, prioritize the questions for your group. Your group does not have to answer all of these questions. Check your time and then choose the questions that best fit your group or pick questions that emphasize a point you haven’t discussed yet.
  • Option 3: Come prepared to talk about someone who has influenced your life in prayer.
• Pray It Through: If you choose to pray one-word prayers, bring 3 x 5 cards and pens or pencils to the group meeting.
• Live It Out:
  • Challenge your group to pray the Lord’s Prayer daily. Suggest times of the day that might work such as at lunch, as you drive to work, or before you go to sleep.
  • Print the Lord’s Prayer on heavy paper or cardstock so your group members can put it in their pocket or use it as a book mark.

Submit your ideas!

Do you have suggestions for this particular session? Something that was especially meaningful for you or your group? Extra reading you’d like to suggest? Help others get the most out of this session. Send your ideas to editors@FaithAliveResources.org and we’ll consider adding them here!