The Prayer Triad

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

Why a Triad?

The Triad is designed to provide on going close relationships in which we support one another through prayer. Though this happens to some degree in LIFE groups it is still possible to come and go with out any one knowing what is going on with your soul. Also, because LIFE groups are kept open to new members it is hard to have the level of trust needed to expose your inner life. We have found that a deeper ongoing relationship with two or three other peers is vital for a healthy walk with Christ.

We see the Triad type group modeled by Jesus in his relationship with Peter, James, and John; or in the relationship of David and Jonathan; or Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy. Of course even more basically, there is God himself: eternally existent as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

What do they do?

At Uptown we ask the triads to focus on two things: prayer for one another and prayer for our friends who do not yet have faith in Christ. To accomplish this we suggest several practices or disciplines for the groups from which they should feel free to customize their agendas.

Suggested Disciplines:

1. To be aware of our needs and pray for one another.

Romans 15:30 30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. (NIV)

2. To pray for our ministry to our friends who do not yet know Christ. (usually focusing on 2-3 each)

Philemon 6 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. (NIV)

3. To encourage each other from the scripture.

2 Timothy 3:16 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (NIV)

4. To memorize scripture together.

Psalm 119:11 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (NIV)

5. To honestly confess our sins, and hold each other accountable.

James 5:16 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (NIV)

Sample Agenda:

Someone shares from the Bible something learned from a devotional study of a passage, each person then quotes the memory verse which was part of the devotional passage, each person talks about what is happening in their lives, their ministry with their unbelieving friends and their greatest known struggle with sin recently. After each person shares someone else prays for them and their friends.

Of course it takes time to develop trust and the group should expect to grow in their honesty and depth as relationships grow.

When do they meet?

Many different times of day. Usually every week or every other week, for about one and a half hours. Some meet before work, others during lunch, a few are meeting during the evening. It really depends on your schedule, but try to meet more than once a month, in order to stay current.

How do I find one?

Because of the personal nature of the Prayer Triads it is difficult to centralize their formation. Usually an individual will approach one other person asking about the possibility. If that is mutually agreeable the two then decide together on a third. Sometimes one person will approach the two others at once.

If you need help please feel free to call on any of the church staff or leaders, we will try to suggest people or approaches to make these relationships work for you.

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Ephesians 6:18 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (NIV)

Philippians 4:6 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (NIV)

Colossians 4:3 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. (NIV)


Uptown

Prayer Triads

Bear one another’s burdens,

and thus fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 6.2.

· 

Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

A Prayer TRIAD should challenge you to be…

True:

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:14-16

Real:

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:23-25

Intimate:

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

John 15:15

Accountable:

If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

Ecclesiastes 4:10

Dependable:

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

Sample Questions to Facilitate Prayer Triad Time

Here are an abundance of possible questions to talk about. They are simply a guide for you to help facilitate depth in your time with your triad. If you tried to answer even half of them each time you met it would be overwhelming. Please pray about and experiment with what works best for you and your triad.

Questions to start

·  How has God blessed you this week? (What went right?)

·  What problem has consumed you this week (what went wrong?)

Spiritual Life – How is your time with the Lord?

·  God’s word – have you read it consistently? How many days? How long? Why not? Will you next week? What has God been teaching you? What are you studying/learning?How is what you are studying impacting you?

·  Prayer – Describe your prayers – for yourself, others, praise, confession, gratitude. How is your relationship with Christ evolving

·  Temptation – How have you been tempted this week? How did you respond? .In what area can we pray for you to see victory over sin?

·  Confession – Do you have unconfessed sin in your life?

·  Worship – Did you worship in church this week? (Was your faith in Jesus strengthened? Was He honored?) How is your affection for the Lord in general?

·  Witness – Have you shared your faith? In what ways? How can you improve?


Ministry

·  In what ways do you most enjoy ministering to the Body of Christ?

·  What do you see God equipping you to do?

·  Are you ministering in this area? If not, what is hindering you?

·  How can we encourage you in your ministry?

·  In what ways do you believe God has gifted the other two people in your prayer triad to minister in the Body of Christ?

·  Do you see them ministering in this area?

·  What ways would you encourage them to grow in this ministry?

Home Life

·  Husband – how is it going with him? (time, meaningful conversations, attitude, irritations, intimacy, disappointments, his relation. With Christ)

·  Children – How are your children? (giving encouragement, quantity and quality time, values, education, spiritual welfare)

·  Finances – How are your finances? (debts, sharing, saving, spending, stewardship)

·  Time – How have you invested your time around the house?

Critical Concerns

·  God’s Will – Do you feel you are in the center of God’s will? Do you sense His peace? How are you doing at accepting God’s will for you each day? Are you generally peacefully or anxious? Are you joyful/thankful or critical/unthankful? Are you coveting anyone else’s life?

·  Thought life – What are you wrestling with in secret?

·  Service – What have you done for someone else this week which can’t be repaid? (the poor, encouragement, mercy, service)

·  Priorities – Are your priorities in the right order?

·  Integrity – Is your moral and ethical behavior as it should be?

·  High-Risk – How are you doing in your personal high-risk area?

·  Transparency – Is the “visible” you and the “real” you consistent in our relationship? (if not, in what ways?)

·  What is one other area in your life that you need prayer for ---health? children? family? work? attitude? husband? discipline? etc.

·  What is the one question we should ask you next week that you are secretly hoping we will not ask you?

·  Is there anyone you are trying to share the gospel with that we can pray for?