How to P.R.A.Y.
Philip Yancey observes that the beginning of prayer is ‘that I begin to see the world as God does.’
Similarly, it’s notable that the disciples, in observing Jesus’ life, didn’t ask Jesus the proper way to ______ (you fill in the blank), but how to pray. There was something distinctly different about the way He prayed.
With this universal ache for transcendence, popular forms of Christianity are occupied with teaching us how to live for God. Gather with us as we are equipped to Pause, Reflect, Ask, and Yield to live with Him.
Week 1: Pause: The Beginning of Prayer
Philip Yancey said: “Prayer is the act of seeing reality from God’s point of view”.
It’s noteworthy, Jesus’ disciples never asked him the proper way to heal the sick, order a church, teach the Scripture, or engage the world socially. They did ask him — ‘teach us to pray’.
Many of us have questions and fears about prayer. Join us as we explore why don’t we pray, what prayer isn’t, and what prayer is. Mainly, to start, it begins with seeing and pausing.
Week 2: Rejoice & Reflect: How to Hallow
What is the Lord’s Prayer about? According to a few scholars, it teaches us a way of praying in two distinct parts: (1) Gets us in on God’s World & (2) Gets God in on our world.
But, what does that mean? How does that happen? With words like ‘hallow, kingdom, and will, ’ do these words have any bearing on our life today? Join us as we look at how the earth largest’s camera can help us see the Lord’s Prayer the way Jesus saw it.
Week 3: Ask: Daily Bread & Unanswered Prayers
Following our P.R.A.Y. acronym, we zoom in on A; asking. Through simplicity and dependency, we can experience the heart soaring power of prayer. But, what do we do with prayers that go unanswered? The Psalms provide us examples of how, when we process with God, we invite God into the process. We can bring our agony to the Almighty.
In asking, we come to trust that God gives us what we would have asked for if we knew everything He knows.
Week 4: Yield: Fighting Like Jesus
In the final message of our P.R.A.Y. series, we see that yielding is a battle posture, rooted in surrender and grounded in God’s Word.
To fight like Jesus means giving God our feelings, our desires, and — ultimately — our trust. Join us to recover intimacy, identity, and our spiritual resiliency by Jesus teaching us how to pray.
Sermon Resources
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Sermon Resources 〰️
Books
How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People, Pete Greig
Written by Pete Greig, founder of 24-7 Prayer and pastor of Emmaus Road Church in Surrey, England, How to Pray will awaken a passion for prayer in all types of people, from the committed follower of Jesus to the skeptic. Accessibly and engagingly, Pete demystifies prayer, helping you see it as attainable and enjoyable, and ultimately life-giving and life-changing.
What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual Practice Most of Us Get Wrong, Skye Jethani
In What If Jesus Was Serious About Prayer?, you’ll benefit not only from Skye’s words of wisdom but his doodles that help the visual learner connect with spiritual truth. Prayer isn’t about getting answers, but getting God. We need more prayer in our lives—not because God can give us what we crave, but because He offers himself to us in love.
Podcasts
Prayer - Vintage Church LA
Part 1: Talking to God
Part 2: Talking with God
Part 3: Listening to God
Part 4: Being with God
Practices & Guides
Praying the Bible, every day. For both, adults and kids.
With the Lectio 365 app you pray the Bible by meditating on the scriptures and asking God to speak through them. This is a sustainable and life-giving model of spiritual formation and prayer for ordinary people. Jesus and his early followers paused to pray three times a day, and you can join in with this ancient rhythm and pray like Jesus did, with three short prayer times each day, easily accessible on your phone.
Download this simple, reflective practice designed to help you slow down and listen deeply to your mind, body, heart, and ultimately to God. Through a series of guided prompts and Scripture references, you'll take a few quiet moments to name your thoughts, notice how your body feels, identify your emotions, and acknowledge your desires. Don’t overthink it or filter your responses. Just listen, write, and be open.
