Session 2. The power of prayer

1. Upper room

A. Acts 1:12-14 1. It was the place of Last supper and then Pentecost 2. Luke names the 11: two by two= symbol of the church See Lk. 10:1; Mk. 6:7 3. Women have a prominent place amongst apostolic leaders ( as well as the Gospel of Like). See Acts 2:17 B. Mary’s role 1. See Catechism #726; 494; 2. Mary is new eve - she is with the 12 at dawn of a new time 3. The Holy Spirit upon her at Jesus’ birth and now at the church’s birth at Pentecost. II. The replacement Acts 1:15-26 A. Peter is clearly the leader of the 120 1. The need for 12 th to fulfill Israel being restored to 12 tribes. 2. The criteria is: a. Witness to the resurrection B. With Jesus all along. B. Persistent prayer and the early church 1. Fervent prayer characterized the church 2. Mary symbolizes the praying church 3. Do we trust in His power or do we trust more in our ability as our greatest assets? Questions:

1. Why did the church get “ born” in prayer? Why did God choose this way for the church to have life?
2. Describe Mary’s role in the birth of the church?
3. How would you describe the effectiveness of your prayer life?

What can be done to improve it?