Anchored in Christ

This free mini course shares several practical prayer tips to help you. Each session has discussion questions and additional resources to go deeper.

For more encouragement on prayer, download my free eBook A Short Book on Effective Prayer or buy my book When Prayer Is Struggle: A Practical Guide to Overcoming Obstacles in Prayer.

View the mini-course on YouTube.

💬 Comment on the videos to share what encourages you.

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1. Remember Who You Pray To (video)

Scripture:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 
Your kingdom come, 
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day 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 evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13)

Questions:

1. Are you tempted to view God as a boss, an ATM, or an impersonal force like in Star Wars? How should viewing God as Father change your perspective?
2. According to the Lord’s Prayer, what should we pray for? What is the hardest petition for you to pray, and why? Ask God to help you.
3. Spend a couple of minutes meditating on the Lord’s Prayer and ask God to shape your heart for His purposes.

Additional Resources:

1. Teaching: Why Prayer Matters: An Explanation of the Lord’s Prayer by Kevin Halloran (part of the course Pray the Bible)
2. Article: How the Lord’s Prayer Can Help You Overcome Your Prayer Struggles by Kevin Halloran
3. Recommended Sermon Series: Six Things to Ask of God by Pastor Colin Smith

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2. Overcoming Guilt Through the Gospel (video)

Scripture: 

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15–16)

Questions:

1. Have feelings of guilt impeded your prayer life before? If so, how?
2. How does thinking of God as your heavenly Father, instead of as a harsh taskmaster, change your attitude toward prayer?
3. When guilt impedes our prayer lives, it’s often because we trust our feelings more than the Word of God. How can you grow in the area of letting the Word of God shape your feelings of guilt?

Additional Resources:

1. Article: Prayer and the Gospel by Tim Keller
2. Article: Five Onramps to Joyful Prayer by Kevin Halloran
3. Sermon: Blessed Are Those Who Mourn by Pastor Colin Smith

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3. Pray the Bible (video)

Scripture:

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Questions:

1. How can praying the Bible help your relationship with God?
2. How can it help you practically?
3. What would your Bible reading routine look like if you incorporate prayer in response to what you read?

Additional Resources:

1. Free Course: Pray the Bible by Kevin Halloran
2. Article: 12 Reasons You Should Pray Scripture by Andy Naselli
3. Book: Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney (here’s free two-hour seminar based on the book)

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4. The 3 R’s (A Simple Tool for Praying the Bible) (video)

Questions and Exercises:

1. Exercise #1: Read Romans 12:1–2 and respond in prayer with the 3–R method: Rejoice, Repent, Request.
2. Exercise #2: Read Proverbs 3:5–6 and respond in prayer with the 3-R method.
3. How did the 3-R method help you? Who can you teach it to?

Additional Resources: 

1. Article: 25 Powerful Prayers from the Bible by Kevin Halloran
2. Book (that the 3-R method came from): God’s Prayer Book by Ben Patterson

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5. Get Organized (video)

Scripture:

“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. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:6–8)

Questions:

1. What practical organization method might help you bear more fruit in prayer?
2. What change do you think could happen in the world if you took praying for others more seriously?
3. Describe what the future might look like if you took the challenge to get organized to heart.

Additional Resources:

1. The PrayerMate App
2. A Free PDF Worksheet for Organizing Your Prayer Life
3. Article: How to Plan Your Daily Prayer Routine by Kevin Halloran

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6. Pray Big, God-Centered Prayers (video)

Scriptures and Quote:

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20–21)

“Thou art coming to a King, 
large petitions with thee bring, 
for His grace and power are such 
none can ever ask too much.” John Newton

Questions:

1. Has God ever answered a “big prayer” for you?
2. What keeps you from praying big prayers?
3. Spend five minutes reflecting on how God might want you to pray big for the most important things in your life: your walk with Christ, your marriage (if married), your children (current or future), your career, your gospel witness and ministry.

Additional Resources:

1. Teaching: Praying the Apostle Paul’s Prayers by Kevin Halloran (from the Pray the Bible course)
2. Podcast Episode: Pray Big by Paul E. Miller
3. Article: Pray Something Bigger by Matt Bradson at Desiring God