Prayer
Matthew 6:9-15
Does anyone remember the first time they were ever called on to pray?
Have you ever noticed the same prayers being prayed by different people? (Same words spoken, they prayed someone else's prayer.)
Matthew 6:5-15 contains some of Jesus' key teachings about prayer. He knew that He could equip His disciples to be ready for any situation if He could teach them to pray. In this passage, Jesus taught them how not to pray and how to pray. He taught them not to pray like hypocrites who spoke to an audience instead of to God. (vs. 5) They were to build their prayer life on personal communion with God in secret. (vs. 6) He also warned then not to pray like pagans who thought they must get the attention of their gods by repeating many words in prayer. (vs. 7) Jesus said that His followers knew that the purpose of their prayers was neither to inform God nor to persuade Him. He is or Father who knows and cares before we pray. (vs. 8)
Because God knows and cares, some people conclude that prayer really is not needed; however, Jesus disagreed. He used the truth in vs. 8 as a foundation for teaching His followers how to pray.
Matthew 6:9
1) Why do you think Jesus used “Our Father”? Why did not He just use My Father? (God's family includes many children.)
2) “Our Father in Heaven”, What comfort do you have in knowing that you have a Heavenly Father?
Matthew 6:9-15
Does anyone remember the first time they were ever called on to pray?
Have you ever noticed the same prayers being prayed by different people? (Same words spoken, they prayed someone else's prayer.)
Matthew 6:5-15 contains some of Jesus' key teachings about prayer. He knew that He could equip His disciples to be ready for any situation if He could teach them to pray. In this passage, Jesus taught them how not to pray and how to pray. He taught them not to pray like hypocrites who spoke to an audience instead of to God. (vs. 5) They were to build their prayer life on personal communion with God in secret. (vs. 6) He also warned then not to pray like pagans who thought they must get the attention of their gods by repeating many words in prayer. (vs. 7) Jesus said that His followers knew that the purpose of their prayers was neither to inform God nor to persuade Him. He is or Father who knows and cares before we pray. (vs. 8)
Because God knows and cares, some people conclude that prayer really is not needed; however, Jesus disagreed. He used the truth in vs. 8 as a foundation for teaching His followers how to pray.
Matthew 6:9
1) Why do you think Jesus used “Our Father”? Why did not He just use My Father? (God's family includes many children.)
2) “Our Father in Heaven”, What comfort do you have in knowing that you have a Heavenly Father?
Matthew 6:10
“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
What is the difference in praying, “if it is your will,” and Your will be done”?
Matthew 26:39 (Jesus' request for God's will to be done)
Psalm 40:8
Psalm 143:10
Matthew6:11-13
Three points:
1. The sharing of bread (our)
2. The provision of our needs on a daily basis (daily)
3. The provision of basic life needs, not luxuries (bread)
Why do you think Jesus taught His disciples to ask for their needs to be met daily?
What similarity do you see between the request for daily bread in the Model prayer and God's provision of manna for the Israelites in the wilderness? (See Ex. 16:4) (The manna supplied was sufficient for the day)
Define debt.
Jesus used the word to describe sins. Debts also refer to obligations one has to another.
How can sins also be considered to another?
To whom are our obligations or sins owed?
Confession and forgiveness of sins are necessary to remove sins as barriers to fellowship with God. Jesus was not teaching in vs. 12 that we earn God's forgiveness by forgiving others. Forgiving and being forgiven go together.
“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
What is the difference in praying, “if it is your will,” and Your will be done”?
Matthew 26:39 (Jesus' request for God's will to be done)
Psalm 40:8
Psalm 143:10
Matthew6:11-13
Three points:
1. The sharing of bread (our)
2. The provision of our needs on a daily basis (daily)
3. The provision of basic life needs, not luxuries (bread)
Why do you think Jesus taught His disciples to ask for their needs to be met daily?
What similarity do you see between the request for daily bread in the Model prayer and God's provision of manna for the Israelites in the wilderness? (See Ex. 16:4) (The manna supplied was sufficient for the day)
Define debt.
Jesus used the word to describe sins. Debts also refer to obligations one has to another.
How can sins also be considered to another?
To whom are our obligations or sins owed?
Confession and forgiveness of sins are necessary to remove sins as barriers to fellowship with God. Jesus was not teaching in vs. 12 that we earn God's forgiveness by forgiving others. Forgiving and being forgiven go together.
Matthew 6:14-15
These verses provide a commentary on the last part of vs. 12.
Matthew 18:21-35
Persons who are forgiven will naturally want to extend forgiveness to others. Forgiving is not a good work that earns salvation. It is the evidence that the grace of God is at work in the forgiving person. Failing to forgive is evidence that the person has not experienced God's forgiveness.
Ask yourself this question. Is my life an example of forgiveness? Why or why not?
Summing up the lesson
1. After teaching His disciples how not to pray, Jesus used a Model Prayer to teach them how to pray. The prayers of disciples are not to be like those of hypocrites or pagans.
The model prayer is addressed to “our Father in heaven”. That God knows our needs and cares about us is a reason to pray, not reason not to pray.
2. The first three petitions focus on God and His glory. We are to pray that God will glorify His name, bring in His kingdom, and accomplish His will. Although at times God chooses to use His disciples to help achieve His purposes, the Model Prayer reminds us that this is His work and that our first action is to ask God to do it.
3. The last three petitions focus on human needs. We are to pray for daily bread, forgiveness of sins, and deliverance from Satan's temptations.
4. Being forgiven by God is inseparable from forgiving others. Forgiving others is not a condition for God's forgiveness, but a result of it.
These verses provide a commentary on the last part of vs. 12.
Matthew 18:21-35
Persons who are forgiven will naturally want to extend forgiveness to others. Forgiving is not a good work that earns salvation. It is the evidence that the grace of God is at work in the forgiving person. Failing to forgive is evidence that the person has not experienced God's forgiveness.
Ask yourself this question. Is my life an example of forgiveness? Why or why not?
Summing up the lesson
1. After teaching His disciples how not to pray, Jesus used a Model Prayer to teach them how to pray. The prayers of disciples are not to be like those of hypocrites or pagans.
The model prayer is addressed to “our Father in heaven”. That God knows our needs and cares about us is a reason to pray, not reason not to pray.
2. The first three petitions focus on God and His glory. We are to pray that God will glorify His name, bring in His kingdom, and accomplish His will. Although at times God chooses to use His disciples to help achieve His purposes, the Model Prayer reminds us that this is His work and that our first action is to ask God to do it.
3. The last three petitions focus on human needs. We are to pray for daily bread, forgiveness of sins, and deliverance from Satan's temptations.
4. Being forgiven by God is inseparable from forgiving others. Forgiving others is not a condition for God's forgiveness, but a result of it.
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