Simply teaching the Bible, simply

Prayer (Acts 2:42) part two

This study was taught at our Sunday evening service by Sim Forder, our assistant pastor, on the 27th October 2019. You can listen to the audio on this web page or save it for later listening.

This week we looked at Acts 2:42 which records the foundations upon which the early church was built, and we continued from our previous study by considering the importance of prayer.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:42

Below is a brief outline of this study, where we considered the remaining three of four possible barriers to praying (see our previous Study for the first):

  • We don’t feel like praying
  • We don’t know what to pray (words or reasons)
  • We don’t have time to pray
  • We’re afraid of praying in front of others

During our study, we noted the following important verses in the Bible:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Romans 12:10-12

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13

The following helpful quotes were also mentioned, and noted here for reference:

It may suit a teacher of English composition to criticise your sentences, but God thinks much more of your desires than of the words in which they are expressed. It may be natural for a scholar to consider the accuracy of your terms, but God specially marks the earnestness of your soul.

Charles Spurgeon

It’s one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do.

Timothy Keller

 For prayer is request. The essence of request, as distinct from compulsion, is that it may or may not be granted.

CS Lewis

If God had granted all the silly prayers I’ve made in my life, where should I be now?

CS Lewis

Everything else seems more urgent than time in the word and prayer. But almost nothing is more important.

Kevin DeYoung

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