More Questions for Prayer Partners
by Denise KlompOnce you're on your way to getting to know each other as prayer partners, you'll start moving forward in the depth and intentionality of your relationship. The questions which follow are designed to help you get beyond the "hi how are you? I'm okay but kind of tired" mode of conversation. And they'll move you past the "pray for my math test and my aunt Edna who has chronic nose bleeds" syndrome.
Prayer partnerships are designed to help you grow along with your partner. So when you answer each other's questions be sure to keep your conversation focused on how you are responding to situations and people, rather than how others are doing it. This will help your prayer partner pray for you, get to know you, and guard you from gossiping.
The wording of these questions assumes that you are in the same small group. If that's not the case, feel free to modify them. You can use just one set of questions every week, or work through more than one during several times together. Have fun supporting each other and growing!
Set 1. What did you learn from our Bible study this week? Do you have any unanswered questions or observations about the study you would like to discuss? How have you integrated what you've been learning in your small-group Bible study into your thinking or activity this week? How can I pray for you regarding this? (You can also adapt these questions to relate to your personal time in Scripture.)
Set 2. What are you enjoying or appreciating about our small group? How do you think we've grown? How would you like to see us grow? How can you and I contribute to this? Let's pray for our group members and leaders. (You may also use these questions in reference to the chapter or your prayer partnership.)
Set 3. What are you concerned about this week? (For example, in what areas do you feel like you need extra support and prayer? In what situations are you feeling challenged, discouraged, defeated or just tired?) How do you think your relationship with God can help you with this? In what ways can I support you and pray for you?
Set 4. What friendships do you have with non-believers in your classes, your job or your living situation? What kind of opportunities have you had to talk about spiritual things or God with them? What are some fears you have about sharing your faith with non-believers you know? Which of your friends do you think are most open to God? Let's pray about your fears and for your friends.
Set 5. How are you feeling about your relationship with God this week? Have you made time to be with him? How have you spent that time? How do you feel about that? What has been a highlight for you in your relationship with God recently? What is a struggle in your relationship with God you would like to grow through? What can you do this week to contribute to this? How can I pray for and encourage you?
Also read Prayer Partners: "As Iron Sharpens Iron" by Denise Klomp
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this article for educational purposes provided this permission notice, and the copyright notice below are preserved on all copies. Not to be reprinted in any other publication without permission. © 1995 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of the USA. All rights reserved. This article first appeared in the Fall 1995 issue of Student Leadership Journal®.
Unless otherwise noted, all materials on the urbana.org web site are Copyright InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA. All rights reserved.
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