Before Amen by Max Lucado
Week 1: Introduction — The Pocket Prayer
Read the Introduction of Before Amen by Max Lucado. Key passages: Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4.
Free Week 1 sampleRead all of Week 1 free — no card.
When you’re ready, choose this complete guide once or get every guide for a year.
Max Lucado opens by confessing that even he, after decades of ministry, has struggled to pray with consistency and confidence — and that confession is the starting line for this whole journey.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Lucado begins by admitting that prayer can feel intimidating even for experienced Christians. Have you ever felt that way? What has made prayer feel difficult or complicated for you?
2.The book's central tool is a simple "pocket prayer": Father, you are good. I need help. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus' name, amen. What is your first reaction to this prayer?
a.Does it feel too simple, or refreshingly simple? Why?
b.Which phrase stands out to you most at this early stage?
3.Lucado draws on the disciples' request, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). Why do you think grown adults — people who had walked with Jesus — still felt they needed to be taught? What does that say about prayer as a learnable practice rather than an innate gift?
Get the complete 14-week guide
All 100 questions across 14 weeks, with closing prayers, a PDF and printable weekly handouts for your group.
Where your receipt and sign-in link go. No password to remember.
Full Library
Every guide in the library, all year
The first-year discount is already applied — there’s no code to type. $59 is the first-year price for new customers, then it renews at $79/year.
- Every week of Before Amen on the web, plus printable weekly handouts
- Every guide in the library (200+ and growing)
- 4 full-guide PDF downloads every 30 days, so you can print a whole study ahead
- If your group picks a book we don’t have yet, we write the guide — 3 included a year, $9 each after that
- A leader email each week of the study: that week’s questions and a short prep note
$59 today, then it renews at $79/year.
First-year price for eligible new customers. Everything unlocks right away. We email you 30 days before it renews — cancel or pause online anytime, no phone call.
This Guide Only
One study, no renewal
Nothing renews. 7-day money-back guarantee before downloading the PDF or handouts.
- Every week of Before Amen (14 weeks, 100 questions)
- PDF for you, printable handouts for the group
- A link you can send to everyone in your group
- One purchase covers your whole group — no per-person fee
- No account to set up — we email you a sign-in link
Upgrade within 60 days and your $29 comes off the regular $79 year — you never pay for this guide twice.
Full Library, monthly — $25/month, renews monthly until you cancel. The same library, with 2 PDF downloads and 1 requested book a month. Worth knowing: four months of it costs more than a full year.
More than one leader at your church? Church Plan — 5 leader seats for $199/year, then $29 a year per extra seat. Renews yearly at that price plus any extra seats, unless canceled. Pay by card, or ask for an invoice your treasurer can pay. See the Church Plan
- 30-day money-back guarantee on the year (with 2 or fewer guides downloaded)
- A receipt you can hand your treasurer for reimbursement
- Every guide you download stays yours — even if you cancel
- Secure checkout by Stripe — we never see your card number