Prayer & Christian Living
The practical heart of the Christian life — how to pray, what the Ten Commandments ask of us, how to live faithfully in a complicated world, and where to turn when God feels distant.
How to use this guide
Read the linked article for each session before your group meets. Then work through the discussion questions together — or use them as personal journal prompts. One session per week works well for most groups.
Session 1 — How Do You Pray?
Jesus was asked the same question by his disciples. His answer — the Lord's Prayer — is a pattern, not a script.
Read: How should I pray?Discussion Questions
- 1.Which part of the Lord's Prayer pattern do you find easiest? Which is hardest?
- 2.What do you do when prayer feels like speaking into silence?
- 3.How does Philippians 4:6–7 change the scope of what you bring to God in prayer?
Session 2 — What Are the Ten Commandments, and Do They Still Apply?
Ancient laws for an ancient people — or the enduring moral framework for human flourishing?
Read: What are the 10 Commandments, and do they still apply?Discussion Questions
- 1.Which of the Ten Commandments do you find most countercultural today?
- 2.How does the tenth commandment (against coveting) expose something the other nine don't?
- 3.Jesus said he came to fulfil the law, not abolish it. What does that mean practically for how you live?
Session 3 — Why Are My Prayers Not Answered?
Most Christians have prayed for something that didn't happen. What does the Bible say about unanswered prayer?
Read: Why are my prayers not answered?Discussion Questions
- 1.Can you think of a time when an unanswered prayer turned out to be the right answer?
- 2.What is the difference between God saying no and God being absent?
- 3.How does Jesus's prayer in Gethsemane model the right posture toward unanswered prayer?
Session 4 — Is Yoga a Sin?
A case study in Christian discernment: how do believers navigate practices from other spiritual traditions?
Read: Is yoga a sin?Discussion Questions
- 1.How do you apply the principle of Christian liberty to areas the Bible doesn't directly address?
- 2.What is the difference between cultural practices and spiritual practices — and does the difference matter?
- 3.How should the conscience of other believers influence your personal decisions?