ACTS of Prayer - Part 1 [Notes]

Join us for "The ACTS of Prayer," a six-week series designed to help you grow with God and others through the gift of prayer. Each week, we’ll explore different types of prayer—Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication—while addressing questions like, “Am I doing this right?” and “Why does God answer some prayers but not others?” Whether you’re new to prayer or looking to deepen your connection with God, this series will provide Biblical insights and practical tools to help you experience the power of prayer in a meaningful and guilt-free way.
Takeaway: Our Father delights in hearing from His children. 
The ACTS of Prayer:
  • Week 1 (Feb 2) – Introduction
  • Week 2 (Feb 9) – Adoration
  • Week 3 (Feb 16) – Confession
  • Week 4 (Feb 23) – Thanksgiving
  • Week 5 (Mar 2) – Supplication (others)
  • Week 6 (Mar 9) – Supplication (ourselves)
Our Father delights in hearing from His children.
Our Father delights in hearing from His children:
  • Who Do We Pray To? 
Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
–Matthew 6:9-13 (HCSB)
"You have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!'"
– Romans 8:15 (HCSB)
But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.
– John 1:12 (HCSB)
  • Jesus is our Mediator: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." – 1 Timothy 2:5 (HCSB)
  • The Holy Spirit intercedes for us: "In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings." – Romans 8:26 (HCSB)
Our Father delights in hearing from His children:
  • Who Do We Pray To? 
  • What Do We Say? 
"Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy."
– Matthew 6:9 (HCSB)
  • Pray = "proseuchomai"
    • Pros – meaning "to" or "toward"
    • Euchomai – meaning "to wish, to desire, or to pray"
  • Adoration – “Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy.” (Matthew 6:9)
  • Confession – “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12) 
  • Thanksgiving – “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)
  • Supplication – “And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13)
"This prayer is commonly called 'The Lord’s Prayer,' but it is actually 'The Disciples’ Prayer.' This prayer, which is repeated by many Christians, contains elements that are important for all praying… Jesus presented a model prayer for His disciples to follow.
– Dr. Louis Barbieri, Bible Knowledge Commentary 
Our Father delights in hearing from His children.
Our Father delights in hearing from His children:
  • Who Do We Pray To? 
  • What Do We Say? 
  • Where Do We Pray?
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
– Matthew 6:1 (HCSB)
Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.
– Matthew 6:5-8 (HCSB)
He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves.
– Matthew 14:19 (HCSB)
Father, I thank you that you heard Me. I know that you always hear Me.
– John 11:41-42 (HCSB)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
– Acts 2:42
Many had assembled and were praying.
– Acts 12:12 (HCSB)
Our Father delights in hearing from His children:
  • Who Do We Pray To? 
  • What Do We Say? 
  • Where Do We Pray?
  • When Do We Pray?
Give us today our daily bread.
– Matthew 6:11 (HCSB)
  • Daniel prayed three times a day – "He got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God three times a day, just as he had done before." – Daniel 6:10 (HCSB)
  • David prayed seven times a day – "I praise You seven times a day for Your righteous judgments." – Psalm 119:164 (HCSB)
  • Apostle Paul wrote, "Pray constantly." – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (HCSB)
Our Father delights in hearing from His children:
  • Who Do We Pray To? 
  • What Do We Say? 
  • Where Do We Pray?
  • When Do We Pray?
  • Why Do We Pray? 
“This is the confidence we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
– John 5:14 (HCSB)
“Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares about you.”
– 1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)
Our Father. Familiar words, maybe so familiar that they are no longer real. Those words were not only real, but also revolutionary to the twelve disciples. Pagan philosophers such as Aristotle arrived at the existence of God via human reason and referred to Him in vague, impersonal terms: the uncaused cause, the immovable mover. The prophets of Israel revealed the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in a warmer, more compassionate manner. But only Jesus revealed to an astonished Jewish community that God is truly Father. If you took the love of all the best mothers and fathers who have lived in the course of human history, all their goodness, kindness, patience, fidelity, wisdom, tenderness, strength, and love and united all those qualities in a single person, that person’s love would only be a faint shadow of the love and mercy in the heart of God the Father addressed to you and me in this moment.”
– Brennan Manning

Discussion Questions // 

  1. What comes to mind when you hear the words “pray’ and “prayer”? Why do you think most people tend to struggle with prayer?
  2. Who do we pray to? Read Matthew 6:9. Why do you think Jesus specifically taught His disciples to address their prayers to “Our Father in heaven”? How does that shape the way we approach God? 
  3. What do we say when we pray? Read the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Of the four main themes (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication), which comes most naturally to you, and which is the most challenging to pray? Why do you think that is
  4. Where do we pray? Jesus prayed both in private and in public. Why do you think Jesus warned against making prayer a public performance? How do you balance private and prayer with others in your life? 
  5. When do we pray? Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Paul says to “pray constantly.” What do you think that means? How can we develop a habit of more regular prayer? 
  6. Why do we pray? Read 1 Peter 5:7. What does this verse reveal about God’s heart toward us? How does knowing that He cares for us impact the way we pray? 

Worship Setlist // 

He Lives // Crowns Down // The Truth // Trust in God

Devotional // 

Each week, a new devotional will be available. This devotional is based on the previous Sunday's message, and it aims to take the message further and help you dive deeper into the topic. You can find the devotionals at the link, or sign up to receive weekly emails.

Catch Up // 

You can watch or listen to past messages online!

Give // 

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