We completed a six-session study of The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:7-15 and Luke 11:1-4) in early Fall 2016. We used these resources along with the Bible in our study:
"Our Father in heaven"
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
"Give us this day our daily bread."
"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."
"In these words, we bring to the Father the whole mountainous burden of sin that weighs upon the whole world and like a nightmare haunts this present historical hour." -- Helmut Thielicke
We all need forgiveness, we all stand before the judgment seat of God in need of God's redeeming grace. "God is not the problem. We are. Here is something most of us do not like to admit. We are debtors to the goodness and grace of God. Our debt is not just one solitary failure. We have debts, many of them. We feel the weight of our debts only when we put them on the scale of God's grace and goodness toward us." -- Oswald Hoffmann
What are some examples where forgiveness and reconciliation have had major long-term benefits? What might affect our ability to forgive?
Think of ways you have hurt others and need to tell them you are sorry, in order to cleanse your soul. What is it going to take for you to be able to apologize?
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
We read James 1:2-4, 12-16 and Hebrews 2:18 and discussed our responses to these questions:
"It's easier to stay out of trouble than it is to get out of trouble... Whatever will separate us from God..lead us away from that." -- William Carl
"We pray this prayer honestly and sincerely, because we know that God has made us free spirits with free will and, because of that, sometimes we slip and fall. Sometimes we make wrong choices and go the wrong way in our lives. Deliver us from the evil we participate in daily. Deliver us from the evil we promote and propagate ourselves." -- William Carl
"For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. "
"Power is often love-less but love is rarely power-less." -- Praying for Revolution video
The early church added this phrase of praise to the end of Jesus' prayer. By doing so, they were affirming that Jesus is risen and is bringing his kingdom on earth, right in our midst, that God is truly sovereign over all nature and history, and that we will live our lives differently as a result of this.
- Praying for Revolution: The Lord's Prayer in Ancient Context and Modern Voice video-based study from Darkwood Brew
- The Lord's Prayer for Today, by William J. Carl III (Westminster John Knox, 2006)
- Book of Catechisms (Geneva Press, 2002)
- Pilgrim: A Course for the Christian Journey The Lord's Prayer (Church Publishing, 2016)
"Our Father in heaven"
- Our Father emphasizes both the closeness (immanence) of God and that we are part of a community (hence, the use of "Our") that has God as parent.
- In heaven describes God's transcendence
- Here is what our PC(USA) Study Catechism says about this phrase in answer to Question 126 "What is meant by addressing God as 'Our Father in heaven'?: "By addressing God as "our Father," we draw near with childlike reverence, and place ourselves securely in God's hands. Although God is certainly everywhere, God is said to exist and dwell "in heaven." For while God is free to enter into the closest relationship with the creature, God does not belong to the order of created beings. "Heaven" is the seat of divine authority, the place from which God reigns in glory and brings salvation to earth. Our opening address expresses our confidence that we rest securely in God's intimate care and that nothing on earth lies beyond the reach of God's grace."
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
- What do the words "God's kingdom" mean for you? What do you envision when you hear them?
- If you could put just one thing right in the world, what would it be?
"Give us this day our daily bread."
- It is fitting that we study this phrase from the prayer on this particular Sunday, October 2nd, as it is World Communion Sunday! As we receive the bread of life and the cup of salvation at the table in worship, we focus on celebrating that meal alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.
This phrase of the prayer also ties in with Hunger Awareness events taking place in October. Emmanuel is raising funds to fight hunger in the CROP Walk on October 9th and sponsoring a Hunger Awareness Sidewalk Chalk Art event with Emmanuel and BCAMP families on October 20th. Take a moment to read this short column on the Ten Commandments of Food. What challenges and opportunities do these "Ten Commandments" present to you and your household?
"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."
"In these words, we bring to the Father the whole mountainous burden of sin that weighs upon the whole world and like a nightmare haunts this present historical hour." -- Helmut Thielicke
We all need forgiveness, we all stand before the judgment seat of God in need of God's redeeming grace. "God is not the problem. We are. Here is something most of us do not like to admit. We are debtors to the goodness and grace of God. Our debt is not just one solitary failure. We have debts, many of them. We feel the weight of our debts only when we put them on the scale of God's grace and goodness toward us." -- Oswald Hoffmann
What are some examples where forgiveness and reconciliation have had major long-term benefits? What might affect our ability to forgive?
Think of ways you have hurt others and need to tell them you are sorry, in order to cleanse your soul. What is it going to take for you to be able to apologize?
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
We read James 1:2-4, 12-16 and Hebrews 2:18 and discussed our responses to these questions:
- How do you handle the temptations that come your way? What are temptations for you personally?
- What temptations are prevalent in US society?
- Think of key moments when life has tested you. How did you handle the tests that came your way? Did they break your spirit or make you a better person?
"It's easier to stay out of trouble than it is to get out of trouble... Whatever will separate us from God..lead us away from that." -- William Carl
"We pray this prayer honestly and sincerely, because we know that God has made us free spirits with free will and, because of that, sometimes we slip and fall. Sometimes we make wrong choices and go the wrong way in our lives. Deliver us from the evil we participate in daily. Deliver us from the evil we promote and propagate ourselves." -- William Carl
"For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. "
"Power is often love-less but love is rarely power-less." -- Praying for Revolution video
The early church added this phrase of praise to the end of Jesus' prayer. By doing so, they were affirming that Jesus is risen and is bringing his kingdom on earth, right in our midst, that God is truly sovereign over all nature and history, and that we will live our lives differently as a result of this.
- How is this last phrase of the prayer revolutionary?
- In what ways does this closing petition help you rethink how you look at the ideas of kingdom, power, and glory in our world today?