Preparing for Sunday - Matthew 6:5-8

November 15, 2012

Read Matthew 6:5-8.
How does this illustrate the principle of 6:1?
Why would Jesus use prayer to illustrate this principle?
How does Jesus describe the hypocrites approach to prayer? What makes it hypocritical?
What does Jesus indicate is the alternative way to approach prayer?
Why would he suggest this approach?
Verse 7 describes the prayer habits of the Gentiles?
What is the difference between the Gentiles and the hypocrites? What is similar about them?
What motivates the Gentiles to pray as they do?
What does Jesus indicate is the alternative to the Gentile approach to prayer?

What words would you use to describe your personal prayer life?
When you pray, what tends to motivate you to pray?
What do you find yourself praying about?
How would the principles on prayer mentioned in 6:5-8 best be applied to you in your prayer life?
Where is your “secret place” for prayer?
What is the Father hearing from you in secret?
Is Jesus against all public prayer? Why or why not?
If not, what sort of approach to public prayer would he advocate from what you read in these verses?

Make a list of items that would help grow your prayer life?
Which two on the list are most important?
What will you do this week to begin addressing those top 2 issues?
What did you learn about yourself and your prayer life that needs to be confessed as sin? Spend a few moments in prayer now.
What do you find in this passage that is most helpful or encouraging regarding your prayer life? Spend a moment thanking God.
Who could you pray with more regularly that would assist you in growing in your prayer life?
Listen carefully to all of the public prayers given on Sunday. How could they be useful in helping you in your personal prayer life?
How can you participate more intentionally during public prayers that are offered in our weekly gatherings?
Pray for those in our service this Sunday who do not know Christ; that they hearts will be helpfully convicted of their need of Christ.
Pray for those leading the service – that they will edify the body: Dawson Bryant, music; Mark Krystyniak, Elders’ prayer and Scripture reading, Bret Capranica, teaching.
Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will sing on Sunday and listen to them in preparation for our time of singing together.