Study Guide: 08.10.08 The Lord’s Prayer: Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Every healthy relationship requires honesty. Our relationship with God is no different: if it’s real, if it’s to be healthy, it’ll require transparency and hard conversations. This is why confession is a vital part of getting to know God as real person – restoring our relationship with Him. In this section of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus invites us to learn to confess with honesty, showing us how to seek and receive God’s forgiveness.

Study Guide: 08.03.08 The Lord’s Prayer: Forgive Us Our Debts

The second half of the Lord’s Prayer concerns “petitions” or requests, that is, the bringing of our needs to God. The fact that Jesus invites us to bring our needs before God teaches us much about who we understand God to be, but also who we understand ourselves to be. It
also raises questions: Should a really spiritual person be above regular needs? Does God see our needs as weakness? What confidence do we have that God will meet them? All of this is entailed in this short petition: give us our daily bread.

Study Guide: 07.27.08 The Lord’s Prayer: Give Us Our Daily Bread

All of us have a vision of the world. So, does the Bible: it’s called the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom for which Jesus instructed his followers to pray. But, understanding how to pray for this, means we must know something of what it looked liked in Jesus life and ministry.
Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances there is no recording of this sermon. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Study Guide: 07.20.08 The Lord’s Prayer: Your Kingdom Come

As Jesus teaches his followers how to pray to God he tells them to “hallow” God’s name. This may be the least understood part of the Lord’s Prayer, yet the most natural to us. Meaning, we all “hallow” things all the time; that is, lift things up as all-important and great. The question is, in our heart of hearts, do we know God this way?

Study Guide: 07.13.08 The Lord’s Prayer: Hallowed Be Your Name

The more we are confronted with real life, the more apt we are to pray, yet, at this very point we feel at a loss. Either not knowing how to pray, or sensing the weakness of our prayers. Jesus meets His disciples at this very point. When the admit they don’t know how to pray, rather than scold them, He invites them to learn. And, He begins by directing them to a Father in Heaven. This is the starting point for us and them and serves as the foundation for all good prayer. (Image: Rembrandt’s drawing of St. Jerome, praying)

Study Guide: 07.06.08 The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father in Heaven