“Keep it simple, and keep it sincere.” Pastor Jeremy unpacks one of the most well-known passages in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount– the Lord’s Prayer. It’s not as complicated as you might think!
Notes 📓✏️:
Matthew 6:5-13 (NIV):
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”
People were wanting attention more than connection with God.
Jesus is juxtaposing pride vs. humility.
Private Pursuit Always Eclipses Public Performance
It’s not about perfection, it’s about pursuit.
The word for “room” (Greek: “Tameion”) refers to a private inner chamber, often where valuables are kept.
Prioritize private prayer over public validation.
“…for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”
Here’s a rule of thumb: “Keep It Simple, Keep It Sincere”
“Empty repetition”
You don’t have to talk God into helping you.
Prayer is not informing God; It’s inviting Him.
God isn’t interested in wasting your time!
Prayer works every time, in me.
Prayer is not getting God to do what we want but rather getting us to do what God wants.
Worship and Surrender
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Before we ask, we worship.
Pray to want what God wants.
“God what do you want for my life, my actions, my choices, and my outlook?”
“Give us today our daily bread.”
Do you need healing, wholeness, resource, or rescue?
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
“Ask for Forgiveness and Give Forgiveness”
Remember our own shortcomings in the light of God’s perfection, as we think about other people’s shortcomings in the light of our expectations.
“God, I forgive them, because you are forgiving me.”
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Greek word for “temptation” (Peirasmos) can mean both testing and tempting.
“God, don’t let me be overwhelmed by tests or seduced by temptation.”
Don’t fight for victory—pray from it.
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- What does it mean to pray in private, and why is it important to approach God without seeking public recognition?
- Pastor Jeremy refers to the Lord’s prayer as a model for our prayers. Have you ever used this as a guide for your prayers? What did you learn from it?
- What are some common distractions or misconceptions people have about prayer, especially regarding how we think we need to pray?
- What do you think it means that “Prayer works every time, in me?”