The Prayer Experiment: Prayer Principles from the Sermon on the Mount

In this review of The Prayer Experiment, Margaret Therkelsen presents a practical, scripture-centered guide for Christians who feel stalled in prayer and want to remove barriers to answered prayer. The book examines the Sermon on the Mount to show how both God's role and our role shape spiritual transformation, and the single biggest reason to consider it is its focused, experience-based treatment of five specific hindrances that commonly block prayer. This review highlights how the author's personal stories and spiritual insights turn biblical teaching into clear, actionable principles for prayer life renewal.

Key Features

• Sermon on the Mount focus: Draws directly from Matthew 5-7 to explain prayer principles rooted in Jesus' teaching, making scripture the primary guide for practice.
• Five barriers identified: Names and explains five specific obstacles-judgment, lovelessness, unforgiveness, anger, and desire for control-so readers can recognize and address them.
• Personal testimony: Uses Margaret Therkelsen's memories of her mother's prayer experiments and her own prayer life to give relatable, lived examples of how the principles work.
• Practical partnership approach: Emphasizes cooperation with the Holy Spirit and a balanced view of God's role and human responsibility in prayer to encourage actionable change.
• Accessible teaching style: Written in an approachable voice that makes theological concepts applicable for daily prayer practice without heavy academic language.

Who It's For

The Prayer Experiment is best for Christians who are earnest about prayer but feel discouraged by unmet requests or spiritual stagnation and want a practical, biblical framework to identify and remove common hindrances. It is particularly helpful for those who appreciate personal testimony paired with scripture and who prefer short, principle-driven reading they can apply immediately.

Readers who want an academic, footnoted theological treatise or exhaustive pastoral counseling workbook may need to look elsewhere; this book prioritizes applied insight and personal example over extended scholarly apparatus or clinical therapy models.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear identification of five specific barriers gives readers concrete targets to work on in their prayer life.
• Strong scriptural grounding in the Sermon on the Mount helps integrate prayer practice with Jesus' teachings.
• Personal stories from the author and her mother make principles memorable and relatable.
• Emphasis on partnership with the Holy Spirit encourages a balanced, practical spirituality.

Cons

• Not a substitute for in-depth pastoral counseling for readers facing complex emotional or relational issues.

Specifications

Title	The Prayer Experiment: Prayer Principles from the Sermon on the Mount
Author	Margaret Therkelsen
Primary focus	Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
Core themes	Judgment, lovelessness, unforgiveness, anger, desire for control
Approach	Personal testimony and Holy Spirit partnership
Category	Christian living / Prayer

Our Verdict

The Prayer Experiment is a concise, practical resource for Christians seeking to renew their prayer life by identifying spiritual barriers and applying scripture-based remedies. Its value lies in marrying the Sermon on the Mount teachings with lived experience, making it worth reading for those ready to work on relational and spiritual habits that shape prayer outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book teach from specific Bible passages?
Yes. The content is built around the Sermon on the Mount, specifically Matthew chapters 5 through 7.

Will this replace pastoral counseling?
No. It offers spiritual insight and practical principles but is not intended as a clinical or exhaustive counseling resource.

Is the book personal or academic in tone?
It is personal and applied, using the author's memories and prayer experience to illustrate scripture-based principles.