Classic Christian Teaching
A Call to Prayer
R.C. Sproul
One of the most beloved teachers of our generation opens the Scriptures on the subject every believer struggles with most — and shows us what it truly means to draw near to God.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:6
About This Teaching
R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was one of the most influential Reformed theologians and Bible teachers of the twentieth century. Founder of Ligonier Ministries, Sproul devoted his life to making the holiness of God accessible to ordinary believers through clear, rigorous, and deeply pastoral teaching.
'A Call to Prayer' reflects Sproul's conviction that prayer is not a religious formality but the living heartbeat of the Christian life. Drawing on Scripture, the Lord's Prayer, and the great tradition of Christian devotion, Sproul challenges believers to move beyond routine recitation into genuine, God-centered communion.
This teaching is available as a digital study guide through Ligonier Ministries — the ministry Sproul founded to equip believers with sound doctrine and a deeper knowledge of God.
A Call to Prayer — Digital Study Guide
Ligonier Ministries
Available through Ligonier Ministries — R.C. Sproul's ministry for biblical teaching and Christian education.
Get the Digital Study GuideAvailable at Ligonier Ministries — store.ligonier.org
Why Prayer Is the Christian's Lifeline
Prayer Is Commanded, Not Optional
Scripture does not suggest prayer — it commands it. 'Pray without ceasing' (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Sproul takes this seriously: prayer is not a spiritual extra for the especially devout; it is the ordinary duty and privilege of every child of God.
Prayer Acknowledges Our Dependence on God
At its core, prayer is an act of humility. When we pray, we confess that we are not self-sufficient — that every breath, every blessing, every moment of grace comes from the hand of a sovereign and loving Father.
Prayer Is the Means God Uses to Accomplish His Will
Sproul addresses the great mystery: if God is sovereign, why pray? His answer is that God ordains not only the ends but the means — and prayer is one of the primary means through which He works in the world and in our lives.
Prayer Shapes the Soul
Regular, honest prayer transforms the one who prays. It cultivates humility, gratitude, trust, and a deepening awareness of God's presence. Sproul shows how a consistent prayer life is inseparable from spiritual growth and maturity.
Key Themes from Sproul's Teaching
Six essential truths about prayer that every believer needs to understand.
The Holiness of God and the Posture of Prayer
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory."
Isaiah 6:3
Sproul's signature theme — the holiness of God — shapes everything he teaches about prayer. We do not approach God casually. We come before the King of the universe, and that reality should fill our prayers with reverence, awe, and wonder.
The Lord's Prayer as a Model
"Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name."
Matthew 6:9
Jesus did not give us the Lord's Prayer as a recitation to repeat but as a pattern to follow. Sproul unpacks each petition — from hallowing God's name to asking for daily bread — showing how this prayer covers every dimension of the Christian's relationship with God.
Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace."
Hebrews 4:16
Sproul teaches the classic ACTS structure of prayer — not as a rigid formula but as a biblical ordering of the heart. Beginning with who God is (adoration) before moving to what we need (supplication) reorients the soul and guards against self-centered prayer.
Unanswered Prayer and the Sovereignty of God
"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us."
1 John 5:14
Why does God sometimes seem silent? Sproul addresses this honestly — not with easy answers but with a robust theology of God's sovereignty and goodness. He shows how trust in God's character sustains prayer even when answers are delayed or different from what we expected.
Intercessory Prayer — Praying for Others
"I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people."
1 Timothy 2:1
The New Testament is filled with intercessory prayer. Sproul shows how praying for others is not merely a kind gesture but a profound act of love and faith — one that participates in God's work in the lives of those we care about.
Cultivating a Life of Prayer
"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret."
Matthew 6:6
Sproul is practical as well as theological. He offers guidance on building a consistent prayer life — setting aside time, finding a place, using Scripture to fuel prayer, and persevering through seasons of dryness and distraction.
Memorable Words from R.C. Sproul
"Prayer is not a device for getting our will done in heaven; it is a device for getting God's will done on earth."
On the purpose of prayer
"The most important thing you can do for another person is pray for them. It is the most loving act you can perform."
On intercessory prayer
"We are to approach God with reverence and awe, not with a casual familiarity that ignores who He is."
On the holiness of God in prayer
"If you are too busy to pray, you are busier than God ever intended you to be."
On making time for prayer
How to Use This as a Study
Get the Digital Study Guide
Ligonier Ministries offers a full digital study guide to accompany this teaching. It includes discussion questions, Scripture references, and application exercises for personal or group study.
Study the Lord's Prayer
Read Matthew 6:5–15 slowly before each session. Let Jesus' own model prayer frame your thinking as you work through Sproul's teaching on each dimension of prayer.
Keep a Prayer Journal
Write down your prayers, your requests, and the answers you observe over time. A prayer journal builds faith and helps you see God's faithfulness across weeks, months, and years.
Study with Your Church or Small Group
This teaching works beautifully in a small group setting. Discussing the theology and practice of prayer with other believers deepens understanding and builds accountability in your prayer life.
Get the Full Study Guide
Available through Ligonier Ministries — R.C. Sproul's ministry for biblical teaching and Christian education.
Get the Digital Study Guide