For the past week the topic of prayer has been preying on my mind. (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun.)
I agreed to substitute for our regular teaching leader and give tomorrow's lecture for BSD (Bible Study Discussion). Our study this year is called Revealing God and examines the attributes of God. Tomorrow's subject: "The God Who Hears Prayers".
Thanks to the Wall Street Journal's article on the history of inaugural prayers and the fact that a whole lotta praying has been going on in Washington DC between the inauguration and several prayer breakfasts and services, I can bring in some examples from recent news stories.
As the Church Lady would have said, "how convenient"!
Lecturing is not really my strong suit, though. I've taught lots of adult groups, but they were usually small enough that I could encourage questions and comments from the group. But this group is too large for that, so a lecture it is!
I agreed to substitute for our regular teaching leader and give tomorrow's lecture for BSD (Bible Study Discussion). Our study this year is called Revealing God and examines the attributes of God. Tomorrow's subject: "The God Who Hears Prayers".
Thanks to the Wall Street Journal's article on the history of inaugural prayers and the fact that a whole lotta praying has been going on in Washington DC between the inauguration and several prayer breakfasts and services, I can bring in some examples from recent news stories.
As the Church Lady would have said, "how convenient"!
Lecturing is not really my strong suit, though. I've taught lots of adult groups, but they were usually small enough that I could encourage questions and comments from the group. But this group is too large for that, so a lecture it is!
Since the lesson focused on prayers in scripture and the components of prayer, I'm going to focus the lecture on how God communicated with people in scripture and then I'm using Dallas Willard's Hearing God to talk about how we can learn to listen to God's response to our prayers.
Back to work!
Back to work!
4 comments:
I think your lecture sounds fascinating, and I wish I could be there for it! I'm sure there will be extra interest as well on the part of the participants, because as you say there's been lots of prayers this week. Sounds like you've got seeds for a great discussion!
I'd like to hear you as well. What serendipity here! The sermon for us last Sunday was on prayer. The pastor used Matthew 6:5-8. Plus gave a great history lesson on the tabernacle and the ark and how only the one head priest got to go into the ark once a year to pray. Great stuff.
I especially liked the part of the sermon where he elaborated on "and when you pray, do not repeat your words like the pagans, for they think that because of much talking they will be heard." That one was good for me to remember.
You'll be great. Wish I could be there.
I'll bet your favorite form is the Socratic method. We can never escape that, can we?
Any chance you will publish your notes?
Thanks for asking, Mac.
A podcast of my lecture will be available on MDPC's website in a day or two. When it is, I'll post the link.
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