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Prayer in the New Testament

What we can learn about prayer from the New Testament beyond Jesus (and pray better as a result)

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we Pray 2026

  • we Pray 2026: developing a habit of prayer
  • Lesson 1: Prayer Basics
  • Lesson 2: Jesus and Prayer
  • Lesson 3: Jesus and the Prayer Before the Crucifixion

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  • Today: Learn about the importance and practice of prayer for the first Christians, and how we can apply those teachings to our prayer lives.

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Background: Prayer and the Early Church

  • Believers prayed in community
  • Prayer was an integral part of their spiritual lives
  • The Apostles modeled prayer
  • Paul incorporated and emphasized prayer in his letters
  • James encourages prayer
  • The New Testament has 157 examples of prayer or references to prayer.

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Prayer Examples from the NT

  • Luke 1:46-55, Mary’s Prayer (the “Magnificat”)
  • Questions to consider as we read:
  • What makes this a different kind of prayer?
  • What prayer categories did Mary use (praise, thanksgiving, requests, confession/repentance)?
  • What characteristics/acts of God does she include?

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Prayer Examples from the NT

  • Luke 1:46-55, Mary’s Prayer (the “Magnificat”)
  • Application (prayer time):
  • Using Mary’s titles/names for God and her list of God’s characteristics/acts as a guide, pray a prayer that is only praise to God.

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Prayer Examples from the NT

  • Acts 4:24-31: �Peter and John pray after their release from prison
  • Questions to consider as we read:
  • How do the apostles open the prayer?
  • What is different about verses 25-26?
  • For what do the apostles ask?
  • What was the outcome of the prayer?

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Prayer Examples from the NT

  • Acts 4:24-31: �Peter and John pray after their release from prison
  • Application (prayer time):
  • Try opening your prayer with “Sovereign Lord”
  • Try praying scripture (Psalm 146)

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1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul.

2 I will praise the Lord all my life;�   I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,�   whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—�    he remains faithful forever.�7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.� The Lord sets prisoners free,�8    the Lord gives sight to the blind,

the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.�9 The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow,

but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

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Psalm 146

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Prayer Examples from the NT

  • Ephesians 3:14-21
  • Questions to consider as we read:
  • What prayer posture does Paul use?
  • How does Paul describe/say about God?
  • What does Paul ask of God for the believers in Ephesus?

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Prayer Examples from the NT

  • Ephesians 3:14-21
  • Application (prayer time):
  • Pray boldly, asking that through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ would dwell within us to help us understand the immeasurable love of Christ, a love that surpasses our understanding, and that as the Church we would work to bring God glory as we follow Christ’s teachings.

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Conclusion

  • Early believers prayed constantly, which is an important model for us.
  • Early believers prayed boldly, asking for God’s very power to enable them to do His work on earth; we should too.
  • Mary’s prayer of praise reminds us of the importance of praising God in our prayers, and not just offering requests.

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Conclusion of the Study

  • Jesus is our ultimate model and teacher of prayer. His prayer life was so powerful that the disciples asked Him to teach them to pray like He did. We can pray like that too.
  • Jesus’ prayer before the crucifixion, even though He was under terrible stress, included praise to God, obedience to God’s will, concern for His close followers, and concern for disciples yet to come. His prayer reminds us of the importance of praying broadly for the Church, and for those yet to believe.
  • Following the examples of Jesus and the first believers, we should strive to make prayer a daily habit, and use it to build our relationship with God as we praise Him, thank Him, offer requests to Him, and come before Him in confession.
  • Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Amen.

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