Christians are people of prayer. Many larger congregations have multiple prayer ministries. Many people are regularly exposed to and participate in prayer in a variety of ways – alone and in corporate worship; through prayer lists or chains; as a prayer partner or in a prayer group; or as a student or leader in a class on prayer. While praying is a given, prayer guided by the example of Jesus is often limited to praying the Lord’s Prayer or Our Father.
Finding Jesus in His Prayers
H. Stephen Shoemaker’s Finding Jesus in His Prayers is a thoughtful study of the nine prayers of Jesus recorded in the gospels. By looking at Jesus’ prayers and teaching on prayer as found in the gospels, Shoemaker concludes that Jesus teaches much –
By His Praying:
- Jesus participated in the daily rhythm of Jewish prayers: every morning, afternoon and evening.
- Jesus prayed the Hebrew blessings before and after meals.
- Jesus prayed the prayers of the weekly Shabbat service in the synagogue, “as his custom was” (Luke 4:16).
- Jesus engaged in extemporaneous and private prayer.
- Jesus prayed prayers of blessing and intercession.
By His Teaching on Prayer:
- No show-offy prayers
- No long-winded prayers
- No embarrassed prayers
So What?
Prayer was central to Jesus’ life and ministry. The gospels record nine of Jesus’ prayers and numerous teachings of Jesus about prayer. Other than the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father), can you recall any of Jesus’ prayers? How have Jesus’ prayers and his teaching on prayer shaped your praying? What other factors have shaped your prayer life (i.e. denominational tradition)?
Consider
Shoemaker, H. Stephen. Finding Jesus in His Prayers. Abingdon Press, 2004. ISBN: 9780687352531. (Read my review here.)
Barrs, Jerram. The Heart of Prayer. P&R Publishing, 2008. ISBN: 9781596381032. (Read my review here.)
To view the syllabus and handouts for the class I taught on Jesus’ Prayers, click here.