Connect As we begin a new series, how do you think you could best prepare for it?

Warm-Up

1. What do you do first thing in the morning? How have these habits changed over time? 
2. What is a recent habit you’ve been trying to cultivate?

Read Luke 11:1-4 

3. What other times (in the Gospel of Luke) is Jesus found praying? 
4. What insight does verse 1 give us about Jesus’ habit of prayer? 
5. What type of things are included in the Lord’s prayer? Who are they all related to? How does the Lord’s prayer compare with the type of things you pray for?
6. What is the implicit regularity of prayer? How are you going with praying regularly? 
7. Why does Jesus pray? What does it reveal about the heart of prayer?
8. Do you ever think about prayer being relational? How does communication deepen our relationships? How might that apply to your prayer life?
9. In the Lord’s prayer, what type of things does Jesus teach us to depend on God for? How much does your prayer reflect this daily dependence? 
10. Describe the pattern of your own prayer life: When do you pray? What do you pray about? Why do you pray? How do you pray? 
11. What would it look like to take one step in involving the Lord more each day?

Read Luke 11:5-13

12. What is the reason the man received the bread? What is the approach Jesus wants us to take?
13. Does this mean that our unanswered prayer is just a matter of not asking enough? Why can that suggestion be harmful to people? 
14. How is this parable more about confidence in who we are asking rather than how persistently we ask? Why can a child in a secure, loving family, boldly ask their parents for something?
15. What type of things do sinful fathers usually give their children? What does our Heavenly Father give?
16. What type of response to prayer are we assured of? Does this mean all our prayers will be answered how we want? What are other responses we might get to what we ask for?   
17. What is the ultimate good gift we are given by the Father? How does the Spirit transform our prayer?
18. In the garden of Gethsemane, how does prayer fit into God’s ultimate salvation plan?

Apply What would it look like to pray more regularly, dependently, and relentlessly this week?

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On Your Front Line this Week

What are your current habits of prayer? If you don't have a daily pattern of prayer, start with the Lord's prayer each day.

For Families

• Download: some of the family resources to use at home: stbartskids.org

Listen, Watch, and Read

• Listen (sermon): “The One About Receiving Gifts” by Richard East:
  https://bit.ly/4uZdlKs 
• Listen (sermon): “The Privilege of Prayer” by Stephen Nichols:
  https://bit.ly/4wdUUTm 
• Listen (sermon): “Praying to the Father” by Glen Nesbitt:
  https://stebbes.org/sermons/to-the-father/#sermons 
• Listen (sermons): “The Who, What, and How of Prayer” by Brian Rosner:
  https://www.stbarts.com.au/resource-training-centre/focus-2025-who-what-how-of-prayer 
• Listen (podcast series): “The Lord’s Prayer” by Nijay Gupta & A.J. Swoboda:
  https://bit.ly/4gJPISx 
• Listen (interview): “Christian Apologist: The Truth About Christianity” by Steven Bartlett:
  https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-diary-of-a-ceo-with-steven-bartlett/id1291423644?i=1000771108492 

Series Resources

• Read: “Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction” by Justin Whitmel Earley. 📚
• Read: “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster. 📚
• Read: “Prayerfulness” by Peter Adam. 📚
• Read: “A Meal with Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community, & Mission Around the Table” Tim Chester.
• Read: “Extraordinary Hospitality (for ordinary people)” by Carolyn Lacey.
• Read: “Subversive Sabbath” by A. J. Swoboda.
• Read: "Sabbath as Resistance” by Walter Brueggemann.

📚Available to borrow from the St Bart’s Library (Toowoomba): stbarts.com.au/library 

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