Video Transcript: Lesson 8 Section 5

You may not have thought about the need to teach your students how to pray. But this is  actually an important thing to think about. Even Jesus disciples asked him to teach them how  to pray. Prayer is a spiritual discipline that will help your students mature. It is a way we both  deepen our faith and support those around us. Let's read what Jesus says about Prayer in  Matthew chapter six. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray  standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you,  they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room. Close the door  and pray to your Father, who is unseen, then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will  reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will  be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you  need before you ask him. Notice what Jesus says about the motivations and attitude we are to have toward prayer. First, prayer is not about impressing others. Our purpose is to seek God's  involvement in the needs of mankind. Another principle we can draw from this passage is that we can be confident to approach God with our needs, because he knows about them. Before  we even ask. However, we should still ask in a spirit of proper humility. We should not assume that God will intervene or answer our prayers in the ways we might expect. We should also  remember that prayer is about more than making requests of God. Let's look at the next few  verses of Matthew six, where Jesus teaches His disciples to pray. This is often called the Lord's Prayer. This, then, is how you should pray. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into  temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Notice how Jesus begins the prayer. He starts in a posture of worship. He affirms the truth that God is in control of all things, and allows that  statement to direct the rest of the prayer. Jesus Prayer includes three types of needs. He  prays for physical needs, relationships with others, and protection on our spiritual journey. In  asking God to provide the day's bread. He shows that it is okay to pray for the routine  physical needs in our lives. And the statement about forgiveness, Jesus addresses the need  for reconciliation with those we may have broken relationships with. He makes it clear that  repentance is the first step and that the ability to forgive comes from God. Finally, Jesus  instructs us to pray for spiritual strength to resist temptations along our journey. In the  circumstances that test our faith, we can pray for deliverance. Help your students understand  that one of the primary ways they can grow in their faith is to seek God and his will through  prayer. As they begin to practice the spiritual discipline of prayer, they will instinctively begin  to pray for the people in their life whom they care about. One good way to encourage  students to pray is to start with their own needs, and then move outwards from there. For  example, they can start with themselves, then move to those around them, their family and  friends. Then they can pray for people in their school, church and community. Finally, they can pray further outwards for their country and the world. Students can pray for the three types of needs. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for physical, relational, and spiritual. The goal is for  teenagers to begin to pray for people they might not even be connected to through natural  relationships. teaching youth to pray is primarily done by modeling prayer as leaders. Here  are some ideas for modeling a life prayer to the students who are watching and learning from  you. First, make prayer a priority in your individual life and time with God. We should also  make prayer an important part of small group meetings. It's also essential that we understand and teach our students that prayer is more than just asking God for things. Prayer includes  worship, and surrendering our lives and will to God. Finally, you can consider praying with  individuals as a regular way of ending your time with them. Make prayer a natural and public  worship as you engage with people and their needs. They can be short and simple, but still  powerful, and follow the pattern Jesus gave for prayer. These are good ways to model a life of  prayer. Now let's look at a few ideas that more directly create opportunities for students to  put what they see into practice. You should begin or end each small group time with prayer  for each member of the group. Ask your students to share specific prayer requests, then take  turns praying for each other out loud. You could also assign secret prayer partners within the  group. This more indirect approach can help students feel more free to share what's really  going on in their lives. Have each person write down a need and give them out randomly. So 

group members are praying for each other throughout the week. Finally, you might devote an  entire night to prayer and worship. Focus prayer on the three ways Jesus taught us to pray for physical, relational, and spiritual needs. Either pray as a whole group or divide into smaller  groups that feel more personal. As you engage in this important work of helping students  form the spiritual discipline of prayer, remember that it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who will  accomplish this in their lives. Now to Him who was able to do immeasurably more than all we  ask or imagine, according to His power, that is at work within us. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.