December: Advent Teaching Series: Check Weekly Schedule Here

Praying Boldly: The Great Prayers of the Old Testament

Advent Teaching Series on Sundays
&
Advent Meditation Hour on Mondays

November 29 – December 21, 2009

 “Prayer is a daring act,” says Walter Brueggeman.  As we read the great prayers of the Old Testament—those of Moses, Hannah, David, and Jeremiah—we will look at these prayers as daring dialogues (not monologues) with God that declare a people’s:

• Petitions and supplications
• Thanksgivings
• Laments
• Demands: Calling God’s attention toward Israel’s people.

The great prayers of the Old Testament are bold prayers, and, as Walter Brueggmann says, make our modern-day Christian prayers seem “anemic” in comparison.  On Sundays in Advent, we will read a specific Old Testament prayer, discuss its context and characteristics, make observations, ask questions. On Mondays in Advent, we will read the prayer, move into silent meditation on that prayer, consider some questions about our own prayer life, and practice praying boldly.
Although it would be wonderful if you could, you do not have to attend Sunday’s session in order to go to Monday’s meditation hour.

Date/Bible Passage	Prayer
Advent 1: Sun, Nov. 29; Mon, Nov. 30 Exodus 32: 11-13, 31-32	Intercession: Moses pleads on behalf of his people, and asks God to change his mind about their punishment.
Advent 2: Sun, Dec 6; Mon, Dec 7 1 Samuel 2.1-10	Thanksgiving: Hannah’s Prayer of thanksgiving for the birth of her child is a prayer for all of Israel and its future.
Advent 3: Sun, Dec, 13; Mon, Dec. 14 2 Samuel 7:18-29 and selected Psalms	Dialogue with God: The prayers of David follow a distinct pattern: exuberant thanks, deference and humility, and insistence that God fulfill his covenant with his people.
Advent 4: Sunday, Dec. 20, Mon, Dec 21 Jeremiah 32: 16-25	From despair to hope: Jeremiah’s bold prayer: praying for the “impossible.”