Book Review: Praying with Power by John Ortberg
Ortberg’s intent throughout Praying with Power, is to help the church see that “at the feet of Jesus we can learn to pray with a new depth, passion, and fruitfulness.” As a people who live by very busy and demanding schedules, we follow Jesus who “when his schedule got demanding…made space for prayer.” This workbook is about learning to quiet our hearts and speak to Jesus, simply so that we can say “Teach me to pray” and then alongside others, learn what that prayer looks like in our world of abundance and distraction. This book is written very simply and for a wide range of readers, utilizing many everyday examples.
Laid out like a workbook that is meant for group conversation and personal reflection, each session has a half-dozen questions to work through. Session 1 looks at the who, where, and what of prayer. This first session was my favorite to consider in this workbook. Next, the book looks at the meaning of Your Kingdom Come in session 2. In session 3, Ortberg looks at Matthew 6:11, and the prayer for Daily Bread, especially in contrast to our world of abundance. Looking at Forgive Us Our Debts in Session 4, we look at what it means to be part of God’s debtor-forgiveness plan. Session 5 looks at Deliver Us from the Evil One, which could have covered more what Jesus meant by not giving into temptation, but sufficiently works us through this point. Lastly, Session 6 covers the doxology of the Lord’s Prayer, the line that returns our focus on God, with a look at Yours Is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory.
John Ortberg graduated from Illinois' own Wheaton College before completing an M.Div. and Ph.D. at Fuller Theology Seminary. Over the years he has served quite a few congregations such as Simi Valley Community Church, Horizons Community Church, Willow Creek Community Church, and then Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. Ortberg has written many books, in addition to helping write this New Community Bible Study Series from Zondervan.
Given my commitment to lifelong learning, I am enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry program at Kairos University, studying the Lord’s Prayer. For my research, I am looking at many published books on the Lord’s Prayer from the theological to the practical, which is why I read this workbook from John Ortberg. I appreciated hearing Ortberg’s thoughts and questions for reflection throughout this book.
This book certainly is meant for small group study and is not deeply theological, philosophical, or discipleship-based, but it is a helpful resource. I think it is a good resource and a starting place for many church groups and gives a framework that will help many develop a taste of the richness in the Lord’s Prayer. For any group I was leading, I would have enjoyed seeing a deeper exploration into some of the socio-political and theological themes at play in the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is a pattern and framework to build on, especially, as Ortberg points out, for those of us who wrestle with a wondering mind or what “Psychologists…call "mindlessness."” We have a prioritized, step-by-step map, to keep our minds anchored in our experience of prayer.
I would recommend Praying with Power by John Ortberg to small group leaders and members who are looking for a practical, accessible approach to understanding the Lord’s Prayer in a communal setting. This workbook is ideal for those who prefer a straightforward guide with reflective questions and journaling opportunities, rather than an in-depth theological exploration. While it may not satisfy those seeking a more profound analysis, it serves as an excellent introduction for groups aiming to deepen their prayer life together.
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