Prayer Circles
Introduction Move #1: Almost Everyone Prays
Almost everyone prays. Overall, nine in ten Americans claim to engage in prayer, a proportion that has not changed over the last half-century. Three out of four Americans say that they pray on a daily basis. Why do people pray? The survey results indicate that people pray for a range of reasons— from asking for their family’s wellbeing, to adoration of God, to winning the lottery. I know a few “lottery” prayers over the years! Scientists have studied prayer. Those who pray 30 minutes a day have lower blood pressure, reduced stress, and better focus. They report feeling more powerfully connected to God and experience him directly.
What has your experience with prayer been like? (Discuss)
Mine has been mixed. At times, I’ve felt connected and strengthened. Other times, it feels like the prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. What if we could experience more of the benefit of prayer and less of the “bounce-back” from the ceiling? Would you be interested?
Introduction Move #2: Jesus Gives a Better Way to Pray
As disciples, we decide to follow Jesus in Prayer. Jesus’ way of prayer will lead us into the deepest benefits of prayer. One time his disciples asked him, “Can you teach us how to pray?” (Luke 11:1).
Jesus introduced us to what is now called the Lord’s Prayer. In that prayer, He introduces us to a pattern for prayer that we can use as a guide. We call these the prayer circles. Jesus wants prayer to encircle all our entire life with his peace, provision, and a sense of His presence. How do we engage prayer in the same way Jesus did? The Prayer Circles.
This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,’”
Matthew 6:9
Circle #1: Listening Prayer
(Draw the first circle and write “Listening” in it.)
Hallowed means to reverence, to respect, and to honor. When we begin in prayer, Jesus tells us, to start with both a sense of rest, “My Father,” and also respect, “Hallowed be your name.” He’s asking us to hold two these two together: rest and respect. (Write the words respect, rest, and ready in the circle or by the circle)
Let’s talk about respect or reverence. If I were to have the privilege to come into the presence of a great King or the President; I would not begin by talking their ear off. I would remember, “Do not speak until spoken to.” I would take a posture of listening and a posture of respect. Without a doubt, if respect is owed to the office of President, how much more to our Creator, the King of the Entire Cosmos? Jesus says, “Bring respect to your prayer.”
But he also says, “You can rest and relax in prayer.” How so? The first thing Jesus reminds us of is that God is Our Father. He is our perfect Dad, so we can find perfect rest and relax in His presence because Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, made a way for us to know we are God’s beloved children. Jesus has removed all the shame and carried the judgment of sin for us, so we can be completely at rest in God’s presence. Jesus even teaches us to call God our Abba. The word, Abba, in Jesus’ culture was a particularly affectionate term for Father, the equivalent of Daddy or Papa in our day. We’ve all experienced broken earthly Fathers, but Jesus reveals to us the God who is the perfect Dad, in whose presence we can finally and fully rest.
In the listening circle, we come with a profound sense of respect and rest, ready to listen.
Most of us don’t associate prayer with listening, only talking. But prayer isn’t just a monologue, it’s a dialogue. God speaks to us through His Word and His Spirit. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice (John 10:27).” All through the Story, we see the Spirit giving very specific instructions through prayer. It says of Jesus that, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:16).” What was Jesus doing in those lonely places? He was listening to His Father. He would come out of those prayer times and say things like, “I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me,” (John 8:28). Or, Jesus said, “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given…what to say and what to speak.” (John 12:29). Jesus calls us into the same listening posture to His voice. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice,” (John 10:27). All through the Story, we see the Spirit giving very specific instructions through prayer. One time, He even gave a disciple named Ananias the address he was to walk to (Acts 9:10-11)! The prophet told us that when the Spirit comes, He will guide us step by step, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it (Isaiah 30:21).” Of course, we test what we “hear” through the Word of God and the counsel of our spiritual family so
we don’t get lost in our own inner chatter and mixed motives (1 John 4:1-6).
What do you think about Listening Prayer? How have you heard the God influencing you in the past? (Discuss)
Share a personal story from your life on Listening Prayer guiding you. That’s Listening Prayer. With each of these circles we will give you a question or two to begin with in prayer. When we begin in prayer, we start by breathing in, through a listening type of prayer.
Ask and Listen: Father, how are you already at work in me and around me where I live, work, study, and play?
Ask the Lord each day, first thing in the morning and before you go to bed, “Where are you at work in me?”
Then, breathe in, and listen.” As you drive into work ask, “Father how are you already at work in my workplace?” Then, breathe in, and listen. In the evening, as you walk the dog or go to get the mail, ask, “Father, how are you already at work in my neighborhood?” Then, breathe in, and listen. When you head to your kid’s ball game ask, “Father, how are you already at work in the lives of these kids and their parents?” Then, breathe in, and listen. If you start with little bursts of listening at first, maybe a minute or two, eventually, over time, you’ll find the amount of time you spend listening in prayer growing. We’ll talk about that a little later, but first let’s look at the next two prayer circles.
From Listening Prayer, Jesus proceeds with two types of breathing out prayer found within the next phrases of the Lord’s prayer.
“…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10
Circle two: Missional Prayer
(Draw a second circle below the first circle, overlapping on the bottom. Write “Missional” in the circle.)
“Kingdom Come” is an invitation to step back, lift our eyes, and remember Jesus has a mission in this world and nothing matters more. We have this unbelievable privilege of attaching our lives to Him and His mission. What does this Kingdom mission look like? In Matthew 19:28 Jesus describes it with five words, “The renewal of all things.” Everything broken made whole. Everything shattered, restored. The ultimate extreme makeover project and we are invited.
Jesus said the Kingdom of God is the place on earth where heaven is breaking through. That begins in our hearts. That starts where we live, work, study, and play. It continues to include the whole world. If the key words in the listening circle are respect and rest, the key words in the missional circle are surrender and serve. (Write “surrender” and “serve” in or around the second circle.)
First, we surrender to His will, His mission. In later parts of the Lord’s prayer, we will see we need to surrender our own faults and also our grudges against others (Matthew 6: 12). We will need to surrender to our powerlessness and ask for His power to deliver us from temptation and demonic evil (Matthew 6:13). His mission is our life. As we surrender all of our life, then, we also look for how we can serve His will and His mission around us.
Here’s a simple question to begin with…
Ask and Listen: Father, how can I join you? When I listen, He will speak. His voice will guide me. I’ll start noticing things I didn’t notice before that I need to surrender in my heart. I will decide to trust Him and choose His way over mine. I will also start to notice ways to serve around me. Opportunities and conversations will emerge that have a light bulb over it. Then, I start praying, “Father how can I join you in what you are doing in me and around me?”
That will naturally lead to the next type of breathing out prayer, the third prayer circle. Jesus teaches us to pray,
“Give us today our daily bread.”
Matthew 6:11
Circle #3: Practical Prayer
(Draw the third circle overlapping below the second. Write “Practical” in it.)
Every day, Jesus cares about our daily bread. He wants to know about our practical needs daily. (Write the word “needs” in or around the circle). Prayer takes us beyond merely human effort producing merely human results. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results (James 5:17). When we pray, it releases a new Kingdom energy into situations and lives that only Jesus can bring. Still prayer is not first about getting something; Prayer is first about getting Someone. Ultimately, prayer is communing with Jesus. If we have Him, we have the Source for all we need. Asking for practical needs keeps us motivated to come back to Him daily.
Also, notice Jesus doesn’t say, “Give ME today MY daily bread.” It’s a communal prayer, “Give US today OUR daily bread.” As I get a sense of where God is at work in others, as I join him, I have the amazing opportunity to prayer with and for people by name. Start by praying for your neighbors and co-workers by name. (Write the word “neighbor” in or around the circle.) You’ll be amazed at what happens in your heart as you do.
Ask and Listen: Father, here are my needs, how can I trust you?
Ask and Listen: Neighbor, how can I pray for you?
Also, start asking permission to pray for specific requests for your neighbors and coworkers. This is a tangible way to show your love. It also creates an opportunity for them to experience the grace and power of God directly.
Insert a personal story of answered prayer here. (An example: One of our neighbors was pregnant for the first time. Michelle and I were just a couple of years ahead of them, so this gave us plenty to talk about over the fence. One evening, our neighbor opened up about some complications that were happening with the pregnancy that were life-threatening to the baby. I knew that was a precious gift, to open up and share that burden with us. So, I asked them, “I’d like to pray for you and your baby. Can I do that now?” We prayed. I told her, we will continue to pray. A few days later, I was getting out of my car, she came flying across the yard like a bullet. She said, “I don’t know what to say! The doctor said everything looks normal now. I had to let you know. It worked!” That was a catalytic moment for them. Within a few months, they were following Jesus in our church family.) The Bible says the gospel is accompanied by signs and wonders, but so often, we don’t see them because we’re not praying for these miracles in the context of mission and advancing the gospel. Even if the prayers aren’t answered in the way we ask, we can be confident that God is going to answer that prayer in the way that is most helpful in drawing that person to Himself.
What are some of your practical needs right now that are weighing you down? (Discuss)
Let’s give those to God in prayer right now. Pray together.
Here are the three circles and the corresponding questions:
Listening Prayer:
Listen and ask, “Father, where are you already at work in me and around me where I live, work, study, and play?”
Missional Prayer:
Listen and ask, “Father, how can I join you?”
Practical Prayer:
Listen and ask, “Father, here are my needs, how can I trust you with this?” Listen and ask, “Neighbor, how can I pray for you?”
Prayer flow and overlapping circles
Let me ask you, if we were to survey the average prayer life of the average person, including even devoted praying people, which one of these types of prayer do you think probably receives the most airtime? If you have to represent it by the size of the circles, how would you draw it?
(Allow the person to draw the circle sizes. Discuss)
Without a doubt, in my experience, Practical Prayer gets 80-100% of our prayer time. Yet, in the pattern Jesus gives us for prayer, the two other circles of prayer take priority. Listening Prayer and Missional Prayer, make up 80% or more of the pattern Jesus gave to us.
(Draw an arrow pointing down alongside the prayer circles). The goal is that our Listening Prayer will inform our Missional Prayer which will inform our Practical Prayer. There’s is a flow from Listening to Missional to Practical Prayer. When we get in that flow, we experience the deepest benefits of prayer.
Eventually, we won’t see these as competing that circles, but complimentary circles and concentric circles, that completely overlap each other. (Draw the three circles like concentric circles of a bullseye with “L” in the first circle, “M” in the second, and “P” in the third.) That’s what the Bible calls “prayer without ceasing,” where we are communing with Jesus in a conversation that never ends. Our whole life is encircled in prayer.
“…A bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”’
Matthew 17:5
“Listen to Him!” The Father said, as the disciples stood in awe and respect. Jesus was transfigured and the two great figures of the Old Testament—Moses, who read the Law to the people of God, and Elijah, who spoke God’s Word to Israel – were talking with him. Moses and Elijah were marvelous, but the Father wanted Peter, James and John to focus their attention on and LISTEN to another: Jesus.
Listen to Him! Fundamentally, discipleship is not just about literacy or fluency but attentiveness—listening to the voice of Jesus and following His Mission. In other words, a follower of Jesus must first be a listener to Jesus.
We begin in prayer by listening:
“Hallowed be your name,”
Where are you at work in me?
Where are you at work where I live, work, and play?”
Then, we move to Missional Prayer:
“Let your kingdom come and your will be done,”
Father, how can I join You?
And then, we move to Practical Prayer:
“Give us today our daily bread,”
Father, here are my needs.
Neighbor, how can I pray for you?
What stood out to you about your prayer life?
Now, who can you share this with this week?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What has your experience been like in prayer? Pick a few words to describe it. Explain.
What are the benefits of prayer? What are the challenges?
Read the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13. What are the three types of prayer we discover there through the Prayer Circles? Briefly describe each kind of prayer.
What do you think about Listening Prayer? How have you heard the God influencing you in the past?
How formative was Listening Prayer in the life of Jesus? How about other followers of God in the Scriptures? Explain your answer.
On a continuum, with 1 being “Not picking up the signal,” and 10 being “I can hear loud and clear,” where are you when it comes to hearing through Listening Prayer? Explain.
What were the key words when it comes to the attitude we bring to Listening Prayer? (Respect, Rest and Ready to Listen). Which of these is easiest for you? Which is most difficult?
What is the key question of Listening Prayer? (“Father where are you at work in me and around me, where I live, work, study, or play?”) Where do you see God at work in your heart? Where do you see God at work in your neighborhood or network?
Missional Prayer is driven by Jesus’ mission, “Kingdom Come.” He summarized that mission this way in Matthew 28:19, “The restoration of all things.” How does that strike you? What response does that draw from you?
The Kingdom is also the place where God’s will is “done on earth as it is in Heaven.” What would that look like in your neighborhood or network? Dream! Describe it.
What were the key words to describe the attitude of Missional Prayer? (Surrender and Serve) Which of these is easiest for you? Which is most difficult? Why? How can you grow in that?
What is the key question for Missional Prayer? (Father, how can I join you?) How can you join where God is at work in you? How can you join where God is at work in your neighborhood or network?
Practical Prayer is initiated by Jesus invitation for us to ask for our daily bread. What are some practical needs that are weighing on you right now? How can we best pray about that?
What were the key words to describe Practical Prayer? (Needs and Neighbors) How consistently are you praying for your or with your neighbors? What is one step you can take? Check out www.blesseveryhome.com as a helpful tool to begin praying for neighbors by name.
What is the current distribution of your prayer life between the three circles? How would you like that to change?
What is one step you can take toward that this week?How is your daily communing with Jesus going? Do you live interacting with Jesus regularly? Or is it more sporadic? Rare? What’s your next step to increase spending an ordinary day aware of and responding to Jesus?
Picture to understand: What do the prayer circles show you about being a disciple of Jesus?
Mirror to reflect: What do the prayer circles show you about yourself?
Window to see: What should you do about what you seen in and through the prayer circles?
KEY SCRIPTURES FOR THE PRAYER CIRCLES
Matthew 6:9-13
John 10:27
Luke 5:16
John 8:28
John 12:29
John 10:27
Acts 9:10-19
Isaiah 30:21
1 John 4:1-6
Matthew 19:28
James 5:15-16
Matthew 17:1-8
DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDIES FOR THE PRAYER CIRCLES
Matthew 6:9-13
Acts 9:10-19 (Listening)
Acts 4:23-31 (Missional)
Psalm 86 (Practical)
Ephesians 3:14-21