Teaching
In Matthew 6.5-15, Jesus gives instructions on prayer. According to Jesus, there is a certain kind and quality of praying which is truly Christian praying. Which means, of course, that not all praying is Christian praying. Just because you’re talking or writing or thinking about God doesn’t mean you’re praying, at least not according to Jesus.
Jesus says, “Pray then like this:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day 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 evil.”
56 simple words. 4 simple sentences. No magic formulas or incantations. This is Christian praying.
Here is the beauty of Christian praying: a small child can do it with ease, and yet the wisest and most seasoned saint never plumbs its depths. In these few words Jesus has given not only a beautiful and simply prayer but also a 4-sentence summary of the whole of the Christian life. As J.I. Packer has said, “This prayer is a pattern for all Christian praying; Jesus is teaching that prayer will be acceptable when, and only when, the attitudes, thoughts, and desires expressed fit the pattern. That is to say: every prayer of ours should be a praying of the Lord’s Prayer in some shape or form.”
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Current Message Series
Pray like Jesus: Deliver us from evil 01/29/12
Matthew 6:13
Series: Praying Like Jesus
Pastor: Dave Musser
We have spent an an entire month looking at the Lord's prayer. During this time we have wrestled with many different questions in regards to prayer such as "what to pray?" and "how to pray?" Jesus first invites us to approach God as if he is a loving father. He rebukes the religious elite who use prayer a practice to accrue spiritual authority from others. He also tell us not heap up empty phrases and vain repetitions in an attempt to manipulate God into rewarding us. Our life ambitions have been challenged and confronted during this prayer. Jesus implies that we should surrender our kingdom and replace it with the Kingdom of God. We have also seen how pracitcal needs and spiritual needs should be asked for during prayer. It is clear that this series will completely rewire the way you pray. Now this week we conclude the series. As we finish our prayer how should we conclude it? Jesus says to close it by asking for guidance from temptation. This is a plea for deliverance. Listen in as we finish looking at Jesus advice on how to pray.
Pray like Jesus: Forgiven Debts and Daily Bread 01/22/12
Matthew 6:11-12
Series: Praying Like Jesus
Pastor: Scott Cooley
We are in the midst of the Lord ’s Prayer. We have already taken a look at God as Father and how this changes our prayer life- if we are blessed, then we can thank the good Father and if something is withheld, then we can trust that the Father knows what is best for his children. After realized that we address a good Father in prayer there is an invitation. We are invited out of selfishness & our own kingdom and becoming aligned with the kingdom of God. Now, this week we come to the phrase, “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” This phrase is packed full of content. God will provide our basic caloric intake, but this is just the beginning- He is looking to do so much more! Listen in and hear Pastor Scott explain the text.
Pray like Jesus: Your Kingdom Come 01/15/12
Matthew 6:10
Series: Praying Like Jesus
Pastor: David Von
As we move into the second week of this series, Praying like Jesus, our hearts are stirred with a deep yearning. The yearning is the kingdom of God. We are told in the scriptures that as the kingdom of God comes all things will be restored. The kingdom of God will bring unity and harmony. There will no longer be racism, exploitation, or class warfare. We will no longer be plagued with pain, sin, and self-centeredness; instead, people will be generous and selfless. As the kingdom of God breaks into the earth a celebration will ensue. In short, the kingdom of God is when things are put in their right order. This prayer invites us to think out the implications of the kingdom. As our heart meditates and dwells on this kingdom, we begin to become aligned with the will of God. As we reflect on the goodness of the kingdom our hearts are energized. Our new deepest desire is to seek the kingdom of God on this earth. We will literally pray with Jesus, "I want your kingdom to come here on earth, just like it is in heaven.” As our hearts are changed and the kingdom becomes our motivation, we will be transformed into agents of restoration and redemption.
Pray like Jesus: Our Father In Heaven 01/08/12
Matthew 6:1-9
Series: Praying Like Jesus
Pastor: Dirk Unkle
As we begin to look at the Lord's Prayer, we'll see that Jesus begins by telling us how not to pray. Jesus confronts our praying, calling into question our understanding of the practice of prayer and our understanding of the God we address in prayer. One one hand, we're often tempted to pray as a show for those around us, thinking that prayer is about sounding good and being recognized as spiritual. On the other hand, though we may pray with fervency and zeal, our passion often reveals that we don't think God is listening or that he cares. In both cases, Jesus says there is a simple solution. Listen in to hear his solution and how this solution should transform us and our praying.