Text: Matthew 6:7-8, 9-13
By Pastor Steve Thomas
Going Deeper
This section is provided for those who may wish to spend time this week going deeper with the material from the sermon, or for study in small groups. This is an optional opportunity to take the message and internalize and deepen your understanding. Small groups are welcome to do pieces of this as time allows
For the next few weeks we are focusing on this request, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Learning something like prayer requires knowledge and practice, understanding and application. So, the going deeper section will be combining study and practice of the Lord’s Prayer. We will pick one line per week to look at in depth.
“This, then, is how you should pray… Our Father, the one in the heavens…”
Consider verses 7-8. What is the point of verses 7-8? How do they bring clarity to the issue of prayer? What exactly is Jesus challenging in “pagan” prayer? How does verse 8 answer the question left open in verse 7?
With this in mind, what is significant about the word “Father” in verse 8? Skim through Matthew 6, how many times do you find the word “father”? Why do you think this is significant for this section of Matthew?
How does one have God as “Father”? (c.f. John 1:11-13)
How does having God as “Father” change your prayers? (verse 8 is one indication of the radical alteration to prayer the relationship of Father provides).
According to verse 9, what kind of “Father” is God? What does the word “heaven” signify in this verse? (c.f. Matt. 3:16; 5;16; 5:33-37; 5:45)
How does God being in heaven relating to you as “Father” motivate prayer? What does it mean about God as the one to hear your prayer?
Practicing Prayer: Each morning this week use the phrase “Our Father, who is in heaven…” as the focus of your prayers for the day. As you study and consider the ramifications of God as your Father in heaven, let those insights guide your prayer.
