Making Space for Prayer (discussion questions)

Here are the discussion questions that accompany my message, “Making Space for Prayer,” from this past weekend at Eastbrook Church. This is the first of a three-part series, “The Art of Prayer,” looking at Jesus’ approach to the life of prayer from the Gospel of Luke. This week we looked at Luke 5:16; 6:12-13a; 9:18.

Discussion Questions:

1. Answer one of these two questions:
   • What do you find most difficult about prayer?
   • What do you find most life-giving about prayer?
2. At Eastbrook we are beginning a new series called “The Art of Prayer.” We are going to look at Jesus’ life of prayer in the Gospel of Luke as a way to learn about prayer ourselves. It’s good to begin a series on prayer in prayer! Take some time, whether on your own or with others, to asking God to teach you to pray before you begin this study.
3. We are looking at three short, separate passages from Luke. Do the following for each of these passages: read them out loud, identify what is happening in the context of that passage, and then identify some key aspects of Jesus’ prayer life from the passage.
   • Luke 5:16
   • Luke 6:12a
   • Luke 9:18a

4. In what ways do you think Jesus’ life of prayer is similar to our own life of prayer? In what ways is it different?
5. What do you find to be the most significant lesson about prayer that you see from Jesus’ life and practice of prayer here?
6. Make it real: What is one way you could put something you learned about prayer into practice in your daily life this week?

[Next week we continue this series by looking at one of Jesus’ major teachings on prayer in Luke 11:1-12. Read that passage ahead of time to prepare.]