The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
Week 6: Chapter 5 — Pray Hard
Read Chapter 5 of The Circle Maker. Primary Scripture: Luke 11:5–13 (the friend at midnight); James 5:16–18.
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Batterson turns to the discipline of intensity in prayer — this chapter challenges the notion that polite, low-effort prayer is the norm God expects from his people.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Jesus' parable of the friend at midnight (Luke 11) hinges on the word "shamelessness" or "boldness" (Greek: anaideia). Batterson emphasizes this word. What does it mean to approach God with holy shamelessness, and does that feel comfortable or uncomfortable to you?
2.Batterson writes that "the intensity of the prayer is often commensurate with the importance of the answer." Do you agree? What keeps most Christians from praying with that kind of intensity?
3.James 5:17 describes Elijah as a man "just like us" who prayed fervently and saw dramatic results. What is the significance of the Holy Spirit reminding us of Elijah's ordinariness — and what does that say about our own potential in prayer?
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