Page 85 - First Steps 2023

The disciple shares with the discipler.

Devotion Check In

Let your discipler see how you responded to the three
devotions you completed as you prepared for this
session.
How you responded will tell your discipler a lot—and help direct the
next hour so it has as much benefit for you as possible.

Both can either share or take the lead. Try
alternating in reading a paragraph.

A Conversation About Prayer

Having a conversation about prayer is actually having a conversation

about having conversations. “Prayer” and “conversation” are synonyms.
Though that’s not how many believers experience prayer. They think
of prayer as a monologue, one in which they share requests, tell God how
great he is, and sign off with a solemn, “Amen.”
It’s all talking…and zero listening.
But God’s idea of prayer is both talking and listening. That’s because
God’s after a relationship, not a daily list of things you’d like him to do for

you. It’s not that he doesn’t want to hear your requests—he does. But if
that’s all he’s hearing, what sort of relationship is that?
As you go through the following outline, you might find yourself draw-
ing comparisons between your friendship with God and your other friend-
ships. That’s okay—in all your close, caring relationships there’s both
talking and listening.
And what’s true in your friendships is doubly true in marriages.
Read the Talking and Listening column on the next page. Talk about
the question you find there.

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