A resource to jump-start your prayer life

We want to put a practical tool in your hands to help you lead your family, because we know it can be hard to know

where to start! Over the next few weeks, you will learn how to pray for your family, and you will be challenged to:

1. Pray with and for your family before and after each day

2. Have some good family conversations

3. Tell your story

But don’t worry - we’ll guide you through the process! We know that many don’t have kids - you can modify this to pray with and for your friends or other relatives!

Don’t forget to bring this guide to church each week - we’ve left room for you to take some notes!

introduction

Who is “Gen Z”? Generally speaking, it is someone who was born between the mid 90s and mid 2010s. So Gen Z covers nearly all of our kids and students Kindergarten through College.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 GENERATION TO GENERATION

11GOD WITH NO RIVALS16CENTRALITY OF THE HOME 24GOSPEL CENTERED DISCIPLESHIP

PRAYER CARDS

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Generation toGeneration

WEEK 1

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SERMON NOTES

MONDAYGetting started|week 1“In his book, “The Praying Life,” Paul Miller lays out a prayer format that has been incredibly influential in the way that I’ve prayed for my kids. I wanted to walk you through it, and pray that it enhances and grows your prayer life as it has mine!” - Pastor Todd

This week we want to guide you through how to pray thinking through spiritual giftings, areas of growth, long term petitions, and short term requests. At the end of this week, your prayer might look something like this:

“God, you have fearfully and wonderfully made Madi. She is strong and bold - I am so grateful for these strengths that you have so evidently placed in my girl. I know that this is of you, because your word says that we are not to have a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self control. I pray that you would give her opportunities to thrive in these giftings! But knowing her strength, I pray that she would remember the second part of that verse - that she would remember love and self control. I know that these are areas of weakness in her life. That because of her strength, she can sometimes downplay others and hurt feelings. I pray that you would give her self control, and a Holy-Spirit awareness of those around her. Lord, I also pray that you would be forming her day by day into the woman of God you have for her to be. That you would even today be preparing her heart for adulthood. That she would be a world changer for the name of Jesus! But today, I know that Madi has a test that is causing her stress. I pray that you would give her a peace that would allow her to recall the things that she has worked so hard studying. Help her to come home encouraged! Thank you for Madi, and the blessing that she is in my life.”

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3

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For each person, name a couple spiritual giftings that you see. Take time to pray specifically that God would grow those areas, and use them for His glory. Identify a passage of scripture that you can pray to affirm the God-given gifting that you have identified.

“Gen Z does not want to make a big deal about family time, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need it or desire it.” - Parentmap

MONDAYIdentify giftings

WEDNESDAYIdentify areas of growthTUESDAY

Like yesterday, for each person, name a couple of areas of growth that you see. Take time to pray that God would reveal His sufficiency in that area, and that God would grow them in that area. Similarly, identify scripture that can be prayed over that area of growth.

"Gen Z wants what they want right now. Gen Z was born in the world of Amazon, which means they get what they want at a click of a button and within a few days at most.” - TTI Success Insights

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. Proverbs 22:15

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WEDNESDAYIdentify areas of growth Identify Long Term Prayers

Take the time to consider the long term prayer needs for each person. Pray that God would orchestrate the here and now in light of the long term. Ask that God would provide patience in the waiting, and that He would be the source of hope and joy.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from

childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in

Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15

FRIDAY Identify short Term Prayers

THURSDAY

Take time to pray for the immediate needs of each person. Ask that God would be present and tangible in these situations, and that He would move in power.

Anxiety and Depression are viewed as two of the most major problems that Gen Z faces, followed by drug addiction and bullying. - Pew Research

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13

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FRIDAYPutting it all together Identify short Term Prayers

Now that you have thought through all of these areas, fill out one page per person to refer back to as we continue to pray intentionally for those in our lives.

Name:

Strengths:

Bible Verse:

Weakness:

Bible Verse:

Long Term Prayers:

Short Term Prayers:

fill in the prayer card

Name:

Strengths:

Bible Verse:

Weakness:

Bible Verse:

Long Term Prayers:

Short Term Prayers:

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fill in the prayer card

Name:

Strengths:

Bible Verse:

Weakness:

Bible Verse:

Long Term Prayers:

Short Term Prayers:

fill in the prayer card

Name:

Strengths:

Bible Verse:

Weakness:

Bible Verse:

Long Term Prayers:

Short Term Prayers:

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fill in the prayer card

Name:

Strengths:

Bible Verse:

Weakness:

Bible Verse:

Long Term Prayers:

Short Term Prayers:

God with no

R ivalsWEEK 2

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SERMON NOTES

MONDAYGetting started|week 2

Each day, take time to pray through your prayer cards from the previous week - use the space provided to journal, write out your prayers, or respond to what you feel like the Lord is laying on your heart.

CHALLENGE In addition to praying for your family this week, set aside a few days (aim for 3) to gather and pray before leaving for the day. This helps to set the tone for the day! Then, throughout the course of the week, take time to pray with each person individually. One of the best times for this is as they are going to bed. This may be an opportunity for you to show them the ways that you are praying for them, as well as provide the opportunity for deeper conversation. Sometimes we have in our mind that spiritual conversations and leadership have to have a detailed plan or process, but often the best conversations happen when we’re available for one another. Praying together can be the moment that fosters real-life heart conversations.

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. Galatians 3:26

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MONDAY

Gen Z has the largest group that identifies as an atheist - Double the number of previous generations. - Barna

TUESDAY

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. Ephesians 5:1

Gen Z is highly motivated by making money and having a successful career. - Morning Consult

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WEDNESDAY

Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your

days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time. Deuteronomy 4:40

FRIDAYTHURSDAY

And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be

glorified with him. Romans 8:17

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FRIDAY

REFLECT ON YOUR WEEKLY CHALLENGE What did God teach you this week as you prayed for and with your family?

CentralityOF THE HOME

WEEK 3

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SERMON NOTES

MONDAYgetting started|week 3For our third week, we will continue to grow in this process! Building on the previous two weeks, take the opportunity to continue to intentionally pray for and with your family each day.

CHALLENGE At some point this week, take some time, phone and device free, to ask your family what their highs and lows were for today or the week. What was the best part of the day, and what was the toughest part of the day? These simple questions can open the door to authentic conversation. Don’t get discouraged if it feels like a bust the first time you bring it up! Things feel uncomfortable when they’re new. It is important to provide the opportunity and a safe space for your kids to process what’s going on in their lives. Additionally, this will allow you to encourage and challenge your kids with a biblical response.

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MONDAY

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

WEDNESDAYTUESDAY

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head

and pendants for your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9

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WEDNESDAY

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you

lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:7

Reasons Gen Z doesn’t believe church attendance is important:

1. Church is not relevant to me

2. I find God elsewhere

3. I can teach myself what I need to know (Google, YouTube, etc.).

THURSDAY

Gen Z is stereotyped as the loner generation. Parents need to know that this is not entirely true because of the amount of digital interaction Gen Z has. Parents do need to give their child opportunities to open their eyes to the world outside of the digital. - ParentMap

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Proverbs 13:24

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FRIDAY

REFLECT ON YOUR WEEKLY CHALLENGE How did the highs and lows challenge foster conversation? Did you learn anything about your family as a result?

gospel centereddiscipleship

WEEK 4

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SERMON NOTES

MONDAYgetting started|week 4This week, continue to pray with and for your family, and have a highs and lows conversation through the week. Use the spaces provided to reflect on how God is using these challenges to grow you and your relationships.

CHALLENGEWe want to continue the things that we have done in the previous weeks! But this week, take the opportunity to share your story with your family. Sharing your story can be an incredible example to your kids of how to openly and honestly celebrate what God has rescued you from, and rescued you to (life in Him). In your own time, pray that God would give you the words to use, and also, that He would prepare your heart and your kid’s hearts!

HOW TO TELL YOUR STORY1. Who Were you before Jesus?

2. What was the moment where Jesus intersected with your life, and what made you realize that you needed him?

3. What was your response to Him in that moment?

4. How has your life been different after following Jesus?

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MONDAY

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,

you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to

sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. For in

Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. Matthew 18:2-6

Gen Z is much less trusting of religious leaders, military, and the police than any previous generation. - Morning Consult

TUESDAY

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

An average Gen Z person spends over 20 hours a week in front of a digital screen. A typical teen spends 2767 hours a year taking in non-spiritual media. An average church going teen will only spend about 291 hours taking in spiritual content in contrast. - Barna

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WEDNESDAY

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

FRIDAYTHURSDAY

Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

Psalm 8:2

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FRIDAY

REFLECT ON YOUR WEEKLY CHALLENGE What did you learn sharing your story? Did doing so give you boldness to share it with others?

Gen Z reports to be more stressed than previous generations. - American Psychological Association

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