Bible Study: Through the ‘Six Streams’ in the Life of Jesus
The following Bible Study is to help us to stay connected to God’s Word and each other.
As you study, know that you do not study ‘alone’, but with many brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Bible Study I will be using is an excerpt from The Reservoir, by Renovaré, Christopher A. Hall,
et al., a wonderful book I am working through daily. This study will include ‘six streams’ in the life of Jesus developed by author Richard Foster for followers of Jesus. The six streams include the Prayer-filled life, the Virtuous life, the Spirit-empowered life, the Compassionate life, the Word-centered life, and the Sacramental life. So please enjoy and I pray that this will add to your sense of God’s presence, love, and sustaining grace.
With great love for all of you,
Deacon Becky
Week 1: How did Jesus pray?
N.T. Wright is quoted to say “The Lord’s Prayer is not so much a command as an invitation:
an invitation to share in the prayer-life of Jesus himself.” The disciples knew Jesus had an intimate relationship with the Father. So they asked, “Lord teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Jesus responded with the Lord’s Prayer. But a better name might be “The Disciples’ Prayer”. After all, it’s our prayer—the model Jesus gave us to pray. This might be the most famous prayer in all of history, and things this familiar sometimes become cold and mechanical. Perhaps it’s that way for you. Or, perhaps it pulses with life within you. Or, perhaps you’ve not spent much time with it before. In any case, there is more here to be discovered. This prayer can be a vessel to take us deeper to discover God more fully.
Read: Matthew 6:9-13
1) Take a moment to reflect on your honest experience, if any, with this prayer.
Is it old, new, stale, or fresh?
2) Consider reading it aloud in three or four different versions of Scripture (I have listed three versions below that you may not have).
Matthew 6:9-13—New International Version
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
