The Four P’s of Prayer | October 22-28, 2023

Lesson: Four P’s of Prayer 

October 22-28, 2023  

Conversation Starter- Dinner Conversation 

Share about your prayer life. What feelings come up for you around the topic of prayer? 
 
Previous Week Review 

Review the practices from last week’s lesson. Do not skip this step even if people are reluctant to respond as it is vital to see how each week’s topic is being practiced during the week. If people did not apply the practice, ask what the obstacles were.  

Group Readings and Discussion  

Read the following scriptures together. Pause after each passage to discuss for 2-3 minutes to discover what it teaches us as followers of Jesus. Do your best to allow different people to share the readings and discussion. 

Matthew 14:23 Jesus prays on the mountain 

Luke 18:1-14 Parable of the persistent widow & Prayer of Pharisee and tax collector 

Matthew 26:36-42 Jesus praying at Gethsemane 

Luke 11:1-4 Lord’s prayer 

Group discussion:  

Ask these questions about the passages just read. 

• How is the practice of prayer taught and modeled by Jesus? 

• What one idea stands out to you about prayer?  

Leader reading: read the following passages to the group and then discuss them 

Prayer takes all kinds of forms. Prayer is personal and a reflection of our personal relationship with God. Here are four P words to consider: 

• Pause: you may find it hard to pause but seek out a location whether it is the bathroom away from the kids, a walk, a view to the outside or something from the ordinary. When you pause take time to be silent before the Lord for a few minutes ignoring all the busy thoughts that come into your mind. 

• Praise: praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for who they are and what they have done in this world. 

• Plead: pray for people in need. Keep a list or allow the Spirit to remind you of their need. 

• Personal: pray for your own needs and wants and ask God to help you grow to be the person who he desires you to be. Share pains and encouragements, fears, and successes, but share your needs with him. 

• Throughout all four of the P’s, take time to listen for God’s voice. Conversation with God requires both talking and listening.  
   
   
   Practice Together 
  Group prayer: Do not take time for “prayer requests” or to talk about prayer, just pray.  
  P-Pause to be still for a few minutes 
  P-Praise, give a few minutes for people to pray out their praises to God.  
  P-Plead, take a few minutes to pray on behalf of others. 
  P-Personal, pray for your personal needs and desires.  
   
  Handout: leader passes out the practices for this week and reviews them with the group. 

Handout: The Four P’s of Prayer 

October 22-28, 2023  

Practice this week 

The four P’s 

• Pause 

• Praise 

• Plead 

• Personal 

Using the four P’s. 

• During the week take time to pray the four P’s. It does not need to be a long time. Do it at least one day, but more would be better. Start small and work up over time. 

• Pray the four P’s but take longer time on one of the P’s as you are led by the Spirit. 

• Journal your thoughts after you pray so you can review them later. 

• Make a list of people to pray for and/or needs you want to share with the Lord. 

• Select a Psalm that emphasizes the character of God and pray it for the Praise portion of time.  

Preparation for next week 

Come to the community next week ready to share something from your practice this week.