Page 6 - The Importance of Prayer Student Textbook

1.4 Let’s Practice!

1. Milton Erickson talks about a tension in the scriptures regarding prayer. What is the
tension?
2. Can prayer be fully explained how it functions in the economy of God?

3. How does the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology define prayer that focuses primarily upon
our needs?

4. What is planted in the heart of all human beings which causes prayer to be universal?
5. Most Christian writers on prayer approach it from two aspects. What are they?

6. To form a Biblical theology of prayer you must draw from what?
7. Prayer is in large part a matter of creating in ourselves a right attitude with respect to what?

8. Is there ever a time to argue and complain to God?
9. A search every major religion in the world will discover what?

1.5 Let’s Personalize This Lesson…

I am thankful for a commentary series entitled The NIV Application Commentary and their
emphasis on life application of the ancient text to today’s world. They emphasize it is not
enough to know and expound on the original meaning of the ancient text. They believe that
there must be a bridge built between the world of the Bible and the world of today. They ask
you to take what you learn about Jerusalem, Ephesus, or Corinth and apply these truths to New York,
Harare, and Lusaka. In order to achieve these goals, you must do the following.

Identify contemporary situations, problems or question that are truly comparable to those faced by the
original audience. Because contemporary situations are rarely identical to those faced in the original
text you must look for analogies (a thing which is comparable to something else in significant respects)
that you can make life applications to the ancient text. Look for personal applications but think beyond
private concerns and look to society and culture at large.

Always remember that there may be several legitimate ways to make application of a passage to
contemporary life. But you will need to avoid making application in a general way which fails to bring
about change to life and the culture.

Use review question number 3 from above to practice the above guidelines for making life applications.

Use review question 8 and look as some Psalms of complaint. Psalm 142:1-2 would be a good one to
look at. Read carefully the section that pertains to this question and remember that there are more
psalms of laments and complaints than of any other psalm-type. From the above work on developing a
scriptural theology of complaining to God in Prayer with applications. Please note this is a controversial
issue so do not take this application assignment as another thing you can check off you check list of
things completed.

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