Lord's Prayer Teaching Sermon

The Lord’s Prayer – What does this mean?

Introduction:

God doesn’t need our prayers in order to act. We do not pray because God needs to know what is going on. Nor do we pray because God needs to be coerced to our ways of thinking, to do what we ask. God doesn’t need to be changed. That’s not why we pray. We pray so that WE might be changed. When Martin Luther wrote explanations to the Lord’s Prayer, this was the major theme. God doesn’t need our prayers for God’s name to be made holy, or for God’s kingdom to come, or to give us daily bread. We worship the God of the Entire Universe who is all-seeing and all-knowing and yes, all-loving. God knows better than we do how to give good gifts to his children. Therefore, we talk to God not to change God, but to change ourselves. Jesus’ example of a persistent neighbor, knocking until he is given bread to serve his guests, could make us think that prayer is about persisting until we get what we want. But God is all about us giving us what we need, and does it even without our asking. Persisting in prayers like the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, talking with God - seeking, asking, knocking - changes us from selfish people who are focused on our own desires, to ones who turn to God to give us changed lives. We pray to be in communication, in relationship with God – because this relationship transforms your life! That is why we pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven

God encourages us to believe that he is truly our Father and we are his children.

Hallowed be thy name.

God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we ask that we may keep it holy – by teaching God’s word in truth and living in harmony with it! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to the Word of God dishonors God’s name among us.

Thy kingdom come

God’s kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask that it may come also to us – when the Father gives us the Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and live a godly life now and forever.

Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

God’s will is surely done without our prayer, but we ask that it may be done among us. What does that look like? God’s will is done when God hinders and defeats every evil scheme of the devil, the world, and our sinful self which would prevent us from keeping his name holy or oppose the coming of his kingdom. God’s will is done when he strengthens our faith and keeps us firm in his Word as long as we live.

Give us this day our daily bread.

God gives daily bread, even without our prayer to all people, though sinful, but we ask that he will help us to realize this and receive our daily bread with thanks. Daily bread includes everything needed for this life: food, clothing, home and property, work and income, a devoted family, an orderly community, good government, favorable weather, peace and health, a good name, and true friends and neighbors.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

We ask that our Father would not hold our sins against us and because of them refuse to hear our prayer. We pray that he would give us everything by grace – a free gift of love – for we sin every day and deserve nothing but punishment. We on our part forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us. We pray that we might be the kind of people who do these things! Only God can change our hearts!

And lead us not into temptation

God tempts no one to sin, but we ask that God would watch over us and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our sinful self may not deceive us and draw us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins. We pray that even though we are so tempted we may still win the final victory.

But deliver us from evil.

We ask that our Father would save us from every evil to body and soul, and at our last hour mercifully take us from the troubles of this world to himself.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Amen means “Yes, it shall be so.” We say “Amen” because we are certain that these prayers are pleasing to God, and are heard by him. For Jesus himself commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is it like for you to call God “Father” or “Mother”? Or some other close family member? How does this change your relationship with God for better or worse?

2. What are some ways you participate in making God’s name “holy” or helping God’s kingdom come on earth?

3. What is the “daily bread” you need to survive, and when have you been especially thankful for it?

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