The Lord's Prayer

Introduction

Ask someone to pray during a church gathering and I often get this response, “O please, find someone else to pray. My prayers don’t flow nicely. And I’m not always sure what I am supposed to be praying about”.

Jesus's own disciples may have felt the same way. So they approached The Teacher and said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray'

Jesus then taught them what we now call, The Lord's Prayer, also known as the “Our Father” prayer.

At the outset of this message I want you to know that this is a prayer for all times and seasons, for all situations, and for all people. The Lord’s Prayer takes a mere 15-20 seconds to say. Recently, I figured that praying the Lord’s Prayer, silently, takes (me at least) 20 seconds. So, hand washing time can also be prayer time! But you need to hear this; though it is a short prayer, it is filled with incredible content. If ever there is a prayer that summarizes the Christian faith and what is expressed in the Gospels, this prayer does it. Reflecting on The Lord’s prayer, St. Cyprian of Carthage, a third century bishop wrote, “My dear friends, the Lord’s Prayer contains many great mysteries of our faith. In these few words there is great spiritual strength…for this summary of divine teaching contains all of our prayers and petitions.”

Instructions

1. Watch/Listen to the Lord's Prayer (audio recording of Matthew 6) (5 min)
2. Read the Lord's Prayer Sermon
3. Complete the Lord's Prayer Worksheet
4. Submit the worksheet by the end of the module.