What is Prayer_ - A Study in Prayer Class 1 - Dana Patterson - 10-7-2020
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began with a brief welcome and prayer, then introduced the new semester’s focus on prayer, using the working title “Conversations with God: A Study in Prayer.” Dana Patterson explained that prayer is essentially communication with God, citing several concise definitions and highlighting the Greek word προσευχή (prosyukē) as the ordinary term for prayer throughout Scripture. He emphasized that this word denotes a general act of praying rather than a special type or occasion. To ground the discussion, he read Matthew 6:5‑6, where Jesus warns against hypocritical, public displays of prayer and instructs believers to pray in secret, assuring that the Father who sees in secret will reward them. Patterson also outlined the syllabus for the coming weeks, promising to explore various categories of prayer—faith, confession, intercession, praise, and corporate worship—as well as conditions that foster effective prayer, common hindrances, the mystery of answered prayer, and the lifestyle of a righteous person devoted to prayer. The session set a clear, biblical framework for the class’s ongoing study, encouraging participants to seek a deeper, more authentic relationship with God through consistent, heartfelt prayer.
Key Scriptures
When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners that they may be seen by others. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your father who is in secret. And your father who sees in secret will reward you.