Prayer - Drawing Near To God August 16, 2026 Part 1: The key Purpose points of Prayer Message Summary When the disciples saw Jesus perform miracles, signs, and wonders, they recognized that these things flowed from His life of prayer. They asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” In Prayer - Drawing Near to God," Duane Sheriff teaches that prayer is not about bargaining with God, nor should it be a last resort when everything else fails. Prayer is God’s means of relationship and partnership with us. Through the new birth, we are restored to God’s design to walk with Him, hear His voice, and partner with Him so that His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus’ model of prayer is divinely designed to first turn our hearts toward our Father, His name, His Kingdom, and His will before turning to our needs, forgiveness, temptation, and deliverance. Prayer is something we learn, beginning with God’s priorities and presence, then moving to our requests and struggles. Learning to pray does more than change how we talk to God. As we draw near, listen, and align our hearts with Him, prayer transforms our decisions, deepens our spiritual awareness, and helps us become more sensitive to His leading.
Key Points •
The disciples observed Jesus's prayer life and concluded that his miracles and ministry flowed from it, prompting them to ask to be taught to pray -- and Jesus responded by
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actually teaching them, not by simply telling them to "just pray". The Lord's Prayer is a structured masterpiece of grace, not a vain repetition, organized around a "four by four" framework: the first four elements (Father, name, kingdom, will) calibrate the heart vertically before the second four (bread, forgiveness, temptation, deliverance) address personal and practical needs. Prayer is not a human construct or religious tradition but God's own ordained method for relationship, fellowship, and partnership with humanity.
Scripture References •
Luke 11:1
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Luke 5:16
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John 5:16
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Matthew 6:1-13
Study Notes
Prayer - Drawing Near To God August 16, 2026 Part 1: The Purpose of Prayer
Discussion Questions •
The disciples observed Jesus's prayer life and concluded that it was the source of all the miracles and signs happening around them -- what does your own prayer life communicate to those who observe you closely?
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Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for praying to be seen and heard by men, warning that human approval would be their only reward -- in what subtle ways might the desire for recognition still influence how or when we pray today?
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Duane contrasts praying out of obligation or condemnation with praying as a natural rhythm of relationship -- how has your own motivation for prayer shaped the quality of
your connection with God? •
Jesus taught in Matthew 6 that God already knows what we need before we ask, yet he still instructs us to pray -- what does this tension reveal about the true purpose of prayer beyond simply informing God of our needs?
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Duane spent 15 years praying without recognizing answered prayer, and then experienced a dramatic shift -- what do you think are the most common barriers that prevent believers from recognizing God's responses to their prayers?
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The Lord's Prayer begins with 'Our Father' rather than 'My Father,' suggesting that prayer is inherently communal and not merely personal -- how might this corporate dimension of prayer reshape the way your church or small group prays together?
Study Notes
Prayer - Drawing Near To God August 23, 2026 Part 2: The key Lord’s points Prayer Message Summary Prayer is not a religious obligation. It is about aligning our hearts with God's will. James 4:8 promises that when we come closer to God, He comes closer to us. In Part 2 of Prayer Drawing Near to God, Duane Sheriff explores Jesus' model for prayer found in the Lord’s Prayer. This "four-by-four" pattern starts with a vertical focus on God, His name, His Kingdom, and His will, then turns to our needs, forgiveness, temptation, and deliverance. To pray effectively, we need to know who God is and who we are to Him. We come to God as His children, trusting in Jesus. When we start by focusing on God—His character, His desires, and His Kingdom—we prepare our hearts before bringing our own needs to Him. Prayer is not about pleading with God or trying to get Him to agree with our plans. It is about letting our hearts and desires match His will. As we ask for our daily needs, forgive others, face temptation, and deal with evil, we learn to rely on God's grace rather than our own efforts. When we focus on God first, the rest of our prayers start to make sense.
Key Points Prayer is primarily about relationship and partnership with God, not a tool for manipulating
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God into fulfilling personal desires. The Lord's Prayer functions as a prayer grid with four vertical declarations — recognizing God as Father, hallowing His name, seeking His kingdom, and aligning with His will — which must be established before moving to horizontal petitions. Praying "in the name of Jesus" means standing in His authority and righteousness as an ambassador, not merely attaching a phrase to the end of a prayer. Shame and guilt are major obstacles that prevent believers from developing a healthy prayer life, believers come to God clothed in the righteousness of Christ, not their own merit.
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Scripture References •
James 5:7-8, 5:16
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Matthew 6:9-13
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Mark 11:23-25
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Hebrews 4:16
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John 17:15
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2 Corinthians 2:11
Study Notes
Prayer - Drawing Near To God August 23, 2026 Part 2: The Lord’s Prayer
Discussion Questions •
Duane describes prayer as 'family business' rooted in identity, suggesting that how we see ourselves before God fundamentally shapes how we pray -- in what ways might a distorted sense of identity as an orphan, beggar, or rebel be quietly undermining your own prayer life??
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Jesus modeled going vertical before going horizontal in prayer, prioritizing relationship and kingdom before personal needs -- how might deliberately reordering your prayer life in this way change not just how you pray but how you live throughout the day?
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Duane argues that shame and guilt over past failures are among the greatest
hindrances to developing a consistent prayer life -- how does understanding that you approach God clothed in the righteousness of Christ rather than your own holiness practically change your willingness to pray? •
The message draws a distinction between God being in control and God controlling everything, suggesting that some circumstances are the work of the enemy rather than God's design -- how does learning to discern between the two change the way you respond to hardship and the way you pray through it?
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Duane identifies unforgiveness as the number one hindrance to effective prayer,
connecting it directly to Mark 11 where Jesus links mountain-moving faith to a forgiving heart -- is there a person or situation you have been praying about while simultaneously holding onto offense, and what might releasing that do to the power of your prayers?
Study Notes
Prayer - Drawing Near To God August 30, 2026 Part 3: Delay Is Not Denial key points Message Summary Delay does not mean denial. When an answer to prayer does not come as quickly as we hoped, it's easy to become discouraged, question God's willingness, or wonder if our prayers are heard. In Part 3 of Prayer - Drawing Near to God, Duane Sheriff teaches the importance of persistence in prayer. Through Jesus' parables of the persistent friend and the persistent widow, he explains that God is not reluctant or unwilling to answer His children. Instead, believers are called to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking without giving up or losing heart. When the manifestation of answered prayer isn't immediate or takes longer than we expect, we can assume it's a denial. But sometimes, God needs to work in our hearts to strengthen our character, reveal areas of weakness, and deepen our relationship with Him. Persistence is not about begging God, wearing Him down, or trying to convince Him to act. It's about standing in faith, trusting in His goodness, and refusing to allow delay to bring discouragement. Pray without ceasing, stand when answers seem delayed, and remember delay does not mean denial.
Key Points • • • • •
God is not a reluctant friend who must be worn down or begged; he is a willing and eager Father who desires to move on behalf of his children more than believers desire it. The parable of the friend at midnight in Luke 11 is a comparison by contrast, with the focus being on the persistence of the one asking, not the reluctance of the friend. Delay in answered prayer does not equal denial; every answered prayer involves time, and believers must not interpret the passage of time as God withholding. Persistence in prayer develops character and deepens relationship with God; waiting period often involves God preparing the believer's heart for the manifestation for the answer. Believers are called to pray without ceasing, not give up, give in, or give out.
Scripture References •
Luke 11:5-13
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1 Thessalonians 5:13-18
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Luke 18:1-8
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James 5:13-18
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Ephesians 6:18
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Hebrews 6:12
Study Notes
Prayer - Drawing Near To God August 30, 2026 Part 3: Delay Is Not Denial
Discussion Questions •
Duane draws a distinction between 'the persistence of prayer' and 'persistence in prayer' -- how would you describe the difference in your own words and which do you find more challenging to practice in your own spiritual life?
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Reflecting on the idea that delay does not mean denial, can you think of a time when a delay in answered prayer ultimately shaped your character or prepared you for what God had for you?
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Duane suggests that persistence in prayer is not about wearing God down but about refusing to waver in your confidence in his goodness and will -- how do you personally
maintain that confidence during extended seasons of waiting? •
James 5 describes the prayer of a righteous person as effective and fervent, and the pastor clarifies that righteousness here is rooted in Christ rather than personal holiness -- how does understanding your standing before God as a gift of grace change the boldness with which you pray?
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The focus of the parable in Luke 11 is not the reluctance of the friend but the persistence of the one asking -- how does reframing God as eager and willing rather than reluctant change the way you approach prayer?
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Paul's instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5 to pray without ceasing is interpreted here not as constant verbal prayer but as a refusal to give up or give in when believing God for something -- in what areas of your life do you most need to apply this kind of relentless, non-ceasing faith?
Study Notes
Prayer - Drawing Near To God September 6, 2026 Part 4: God Speaks key points
Message Summary Many believers want to hear God but struggle to recognize His voice or distinguish His voice from the many others competing for their attention. If we only realized that God has been speaking to us all along, we did not know how to listen. In Part 4 of "Prayer – Drawing Near to God," Duane Sheriff teaches that prayer should be a dialog, not a monologue. Jesus said His sheep hear His voice and know Him. Learning to hear God begins with understanding how He speaks and training our spiritual ears to recognize His voice. God speaks into our lives in four primary ways: through His Word, His wisdom, His servants, and the Holy Spirit. Scripture gives direction, God's wisdom helps us apply truth to specific situations, godly relationships can speak into our lives, and the Holy Spirit leads through promptings, conviction, righteousness, joy, and peace. Hearing God is not about waiting for a booming audible voice. Instead, it is a whisper, close and intimate, because He is not far off. He is right here. As we grow in our relationship with Him and become still, we will learn the language of the Holy Spirit and recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd.
Key Points • • • • •
Prayer is designed to be a two-way dialogue, and believers must learn not only to pray but also to hear and discern God's voice. Every kingdom has a language, and the kingdom of God is no exception; believers must learn the language of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised in John 10 that His sheep hear His voice, but this is a promise that must be received through faith and an active choice to listen. There is a significant difference between the voice of the Lamb and the voice of the dragon, and training the ear to hear God makes it easier to recognize deception. There are four pillars: God’s Word, God’s Wisdom, God’s Servants, & The Holy Spirit.
Scripture References •
John 10:1-5, 14-16, 27
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Psalms 119:11, 105, 130, 133
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1 Peter 4:10-11
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James 1:5-8
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Romans 14:17
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Revelation 13
Study Notes
Prayer - Drawing Near To God September 6, 2026 Part 4: God Speaks
Discussion Questions •
Duane describes prayer as a dialogue rather than a monologue -- in what ways might your current prayer life lean more toward monologue, and what practical steps could you take to create more space for listening?
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Just as every kingdom has its own language, the speaker argues that the Kingdom of God has a language that must be learned -- what does it look like practically to immerse yourself in that language the way you might immerse yourself in a foreign culture?
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Duane reflects on years of feeling spiritually flawed because he was looking for an audible voice from God rather than understanding the many ways God actually speaks -- how has a misunderstanding of how God communicates affected your own spiritual confidence or sense of belonging in the faith?
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Duane draws a striking parallel between recognizing the voices of close friends and recognizing the voice of God, suggesting that familiarity comes through relationship -how does the depth of your relationship with God directly affect your ability to discern His voice?
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Duane distinguishes between knowing what the Bible says and letting the Bible read you -- what is the difference between those two postures, and which one best
describes how you currently engage with Scripture?? •
Duane describes peace as an internal umpire that God uses to guide decisions, referencing Colossians 3:15 -- can you recall a time when the presence or absence of peace served as a clear signal from God, and how did you respond to it??
Study Notes