Two Trials were going on that Thursday evening:

Jesus was before the Sanhedrin.

Meanwhile, Peter had a trial of his own before a servant girl.

The symbols or images in the garden of Gethsemane tell the story.

Warren Wiersbe suggests we find in this text: a lonely garden, a costly cup, a hypocritical kiss, and a useless sword.

This message looks at each of these images and asks,  Which will we choose in our own Garden of Gethsemanes?"  Betrayal, Our Own Strength, or Trust in God?

Jesus had a definite plan.  Jesus and God were in control of that last Passover meal with the disciples.  Even the location was kept secret.

Judas was the betrayer.

However, all the disciples understood that they had the potential to betray Jesus.  Thus they asked, "Is It I, Lord?"

We all must ask that difficult question.  It could be and probably has been all of us.

But the good news is that the story doesn't end here.  Jesus was in control, thus it means Jesus willing gave his live for us.  His body was broken; his blood was shed for us.

This message following along with the Prayer Course is about contemplation and listening.

Not only should we speak to God in prayer but we should also listen to God.

It is hard for us to listen because we are distracted by busyness.  If we're going to listen, we must "ruthlessly eliminate hurry" (Dallas Willard).

Meditating on God's word and practicing "Sacred Reading" or "Lectio Divina" is one way to listen to God; and this message presents one way to do so (A method suggested through the Prayer Course).

Unanswered Prayer is difficult for us all.

Sometimes there are reasons why they are not answered like: We're not right with God or we ask with the wrong motives or what we ask is not in accord with God's will.  Sometimes we even give up too soon.

But what about when we feel like we're asking with the right motives and in accord with God's will and God's Word?

It helps to know that Jesus had to abide by the same rules.  He prayed, "Yet not my will but Thy will be done."

It helps to know God is storing up our prayers (Rev. 8:3-5).

And then we've got to trust and keep asking, seeking, and knocking.

Confession is acknowledging our sins.  Agreeing with God that we have sinned.

It includes being sorrowful for our sins.

1 John 1:9 is beautiful - if we confess sin, God is faithful to forgive us!

Practical way to confess is the Examen or "Ignatius Examen."

God calls us to articulate our needs and to exchange our wills for His will.

The story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52 reminds us that though God knows our needs we are called to call out to God.

We are called according to Philippians 4:6-7 to pray and exchange anxiety for peace.

The message concludes with some practical steps: keep a prayer calendar or a prayer box or prayer basket.  Use the image of the hand to teach intercessory prayer to children.

Jesus models the adoration of God.

"Our Father" makes God intimate.

"Hallowed be Thy Name" reminds us God is also holy and majestic.

To praise God is to vocally adore God, to render honor, to esteem, to love and worship God.

This message provides some practical ways to do so:

Praying the Psalms.

Pausing and Rejoicing

Praising with Music

Posture of Praise

Of all the things the disciples could have requested, they asked, "Lord, Teach Us to Pray."

They didn't ask, Teach us to evangelize, or teach us to preach, or teach us a leadership axiom.  No they asked, "Teach Us to Pray."

So in this series paralleling the "Prayer Course" we will learn to pray using the Lord's Prayer as our model.

Give thanks to God with your whole heart and recount again and again his wonderful deeds!

Declare what God has done and trust God for the future!

Charles Spurgeon once said, "Half heart is no heart!"