“Lord, teach us to pray”

“Lord, teach us to pray”

P L A N F O R T O N I G H T

• The background to Christ’s words (above)• Christ’s example of prayer• Christ’s teaching about prayer (in general)• An overview of “the Lord’s prayer”

SummaryAddendum

“Lord, teach us to pray”

Is taken from…Luke 11:1-2Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 ESV

Background to Christ’s words

• You might think, so what? • What was so remarkable about Christ praying?• Was it…– how he prayed that impressed his disciples?– how often he prayed?– The intensity of his prayer?

• Something clearly impressed the disciples about Christ praying…

Christ’s example of prayer• There is no doubt that Christ’s example of prayer was

quite astonishing!• Turn back (if you turned to Luke 11) to chapter 6:12 -13• Could Christ converse with his Father?• Here are some other examples of the power of Christ’s

prayers. Turn to… – John 6:14-19 (Christ was praying, cf. Mark 6:46)

• Prayer made him so strong, he could walk on water!

– Luke 9:27-31• His prayer (probably for the vision to occur) was instantly answered!

– John 12:23-30• His spontaneous prayer was audibly answered from heaven!

Christ’s teaching about prayer (in general)

• Matthew 6:5-9– Avoid ostentation and verbosity!– The Lord’s prayer the example

• Luke 18:1-14– Be persistent in prayer– Be humble (since we are sinners) before God

• Luke 22:39-44– Pray in sympathy with others– An angel may well respond to our prayer too!

An overview of the Lord’s prayer

• Commences with a recognition of God as our spiritual Father & an expression of reverence:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name”• Closes with a fervent doxology (ascription of praise):

“yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever & ever”

• The final “amen” is the opportunity for the hearer as well as the speaker to confirm agreement to the prayer

An overview of the Lord’s prayer

• In between are five requests:

– “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

– “Give us each day our daily bread”– “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those

that trespass against us”– “Lead us not into temptation”– “but deliver us from evil”

SUMMARY• In prayer be:-– Reverent – acknowledging God is in heaven, we

upon earth (Eccles. 5:2)– Persistent - don’t give up!

• Attitude to and content of prayer. – Humble – recognising our sinfulness

• Avoid:-– Ostentation – don’t be showy– Repetition

The Lord’s prayer is the model!

Addendum

What’s this about?

Finally: prayer for the baptised believer in the risen Christ

Turn up John 16:16,22-24

Christ is now our mediator in heavenTurn to Hebrews 4:14-16