WORKBOOK FOR EXPLORING THE SEVEN ELEMENTS OF THE LORD S PRAYER A THOUGHT-PROVOKING JOURNEY INTO THE PRACTICAL

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1 WORKBOOK FOR EXPLORING THE SEVEN ELEMENTS OF THE LORD S PRAYER A THOUGHT-PROVOKING JOURNEY INTO THE PRACTICAL AND BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE PRAYER GIVEN TO US BY CHRIST JESUS For Group or Individual Study Erik Douglas Randolph Cover photo by John Elicker, Jr. CLiProS Photography LLC Copyright 2014 Erik Douglas Randolph. All rights reserved. The copyright owner gives his permission to reproduce this workbook in association with leading Bible study groups using the book Exploring the Seven Elements of the Lord s Prayer by Erik Douglas Randolph.. ISBN-13: ISBN-10: Printed versions of this workbook may be order at

2 Exploring the Seven Elements of the Lord s Prayer CONTENTS I: An Orientation on the Lord s Prayer... 3 II: Prepare for Prayer... 5 III: First Element Establish the Relationship... 8 IV: Second Element Acknowledge God s Nature V: Third Element Feel God s Presence and Guidance VI: Fourth Element Trust God s Will and Power VII: Fifth Element Receive God s Providence VIII: Sixth Element Accept and Give Forgiveness IX: Seventh Element Allow the Rescue X: A Powerful and Profound Summation XI: Put It All Together XII: Live the Prayer Additional Notes ABOUT THIS WORKBOOK This workbook accompanies the Bible Study Exploring the Seven Elements of the Lord s Prayer by Erik Douglas Randolph. Each chapter of the book includes questions for contemplation and discussion. Feel free to use this workbook to assist you in formulating your answers. Toward the back of this workbook you ll find blank pages for additional notes. SHARE YOUR ANSWERS You are invited to share your answers on the following website: ABBREVIATIONS AET Ancient Eastern Text of the Bible, as translated from the Aramaic by Dr. George M. Lamsa. KJV King James Version of the Bible NAB New American Bible NEB New English Bible NIV New International Version of the Bible 2

3 CHAPTER I AN ORIENTATION ON THE LORD S PRAYER Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. Psalm 5:2 (KJV) Contemplation and Discussion 1.1 So do you pray, and if yes, how do you pray? And how often do you pray? 1.2 If Jesus and the prophets all prayed, what does that tell us of its importance? 1.3 How is it possible to pray without ceasing? What does Paul mean exactly? 1.4 Jesus parable suggests God wants us to be persistent in prayer. Is this promising? What does this say about God s love for us? 3

4 An Orientation 1.5 The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. What does that tell you? 1.6 Do you ever feel as if you do not know how to pray? If yes, what do you think might be your stumbling block? 1.7 What do you consider to be important when you pray? 4

5 CHAPTER II PREPARE FOR PRAYER Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Psalm 25:5 (KJV) Contemplation and Discussion 2.1 How can being unteachable and unleadable interfere with our ability to pray? Are you truly ready to ask God to lead you and teach you? 2.2 What distractions are there when we attempt to pray? Are there not subtle distractions as well? 2.3 Are our motivations always pure when we pray? What can we do to make sure that they are? Is it still okay to pray in a public place, and, if yes, what steps can we take to avoid misdirected motivations? 5

6 Prepare for Prayer 2.4 If many words and repetitions are unnecessary and even vain, what does this tell us about how our prayers ought to be? 2.5 Is listening part of prayer? Why or why not? 2.6 If God already knows our needs, why is it still necessary to pray? Who benefits more from prayer, God or us? 6

7 Prepare for Prayer 2.7 What do you think about the fact that the Father sees things done in secret? Do you sometimes think that you can hide from God? Are you as willing as David to have God search you? 7

8 CHAPTER III FIRST ELEMENT: ESTABLISH THE RELATIONSHIP Contemplation and Discussion Our Father Which Art In Heaven Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Psalm 89:26 (from Thou) (KJV) 3.1 Why is it important to recognize God as our Father and Creator? 3.2 Does Jesus literally mean we shall call no man on earth father? How should we address our earthly fathers? Compare this to the fifth commandment: Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12 (NIV) 8

9 Establish the Relationship 3.3 Consider Jesus words: Whoever does God s will is my brother and sister and mother. Mark 3:35 (NIV) What does it mean to do God s will? Alternatively, if we fail to do God s will, are we still a brother and sister in Christ? Why or why not? 3.4 Can you think of personal examples of what loving parents do for their children? 3.5 Do you find it comforting to know that God loves you? How does God show you His love? 9

10 Establish the Relationship 3.6 It is usually distressing for parents who have more than one child when their children fight amongst themselves. Is it distressing to God our Father when we do not get along with our brethren? How can we love our brethren better? How can we love ourselves better? 3.7 What is your concept of heaven? Do you think of heaven as a place? Or do you think of it as something more? 10

11 CHAPTER IV SECOND ELEMENT: ACKNOWLEDGE GOD S NATURE Hallowed Be Thy Name Glory ye in his holy name:let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Psalm 105:3 (KJV) Contemplation and Discussion 4.1 Is there a connection between faith and the ability to pray in Jesus name? 4.2 If Jesus would give you a spiritual name for a quality you possess, what might it be? 4.3. How do you interpret God s statement to Moses: I am that I am.? 11

12 Acknowledge God s Nature 4.4 Why do you suppose Jesus chose not to call God Yahweh in the Lord s Prayer? 4.5 Why is it important for us to acknowledge God s holiness? 4.6 It is clear from Paul s letter to the Corinthians that we are to continue purifying ourselves. The fifth beatitude is Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Is it a necessary condition for us to be pure before we can see God? 12

13 Acknowledge God s Nature 4.7 What does it mean to see God? Considering that God is our Father, as we explored in the last chapter, and considering His holiness, how does that relate to our need to cleanse ourselves? 13

14 CHAPTER V THIRD ELEMENT: FEEL GOD S PRESENCE AND GUIDANCE Thy Kingdom Come For the kingdom is the LORD s:and he is the governor among the nations. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. Psalms 22:28 and 145:13 (KJV) Contemplation and Discussion 5.1 Why did Jesus teach us to say thy kingdom come in this manner, using the verb as if it is a command? By saying thy kingdom come, can we hasten God s kingdom coming? Can it be a way to open ourselves up in order to allow God s kingdom to come to us individually? 5.2 How should we go about seeking God s kingdom? What practical and specific things do we need to do to seek it? 14

15 Feel God s Presence and Guidance 5.3 Jesus came to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:39), which is both near (Luke 1:15) and within us (Luke17:21). To rephrase the last question, what must be done so it is revealed within us? What things might prevent us from finding it? How do we know when we have found it? 5.4 What do you think is Jesus main point when he told the rich man to sell all his goods and give the money to the poor? What is the lesson for us? Are we to sell our things and give the proceeds to the poor? 5.5 Do you find it comforting to know that God wants to give you the kingdom? 15

16 Feel God s Presence and Guidance 5.6 Why do we need to be born again, and why is a transformation necessary? Can we know the kingdom with our material senses? 5.7 What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God like a little child? What are the basic characteristics Jesus was referring to? 16

17 CHAPTER VI FOURTH ELEMENT: TRUST GOD S WILL AND POWER Contemplation and Discussion Thy Will Be Done In Earth, As It Is In Heaven Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Psalm 143:10 (KJV) 6.1 Why is doing God s will important? What do we have to gain? 6.2 How much do you rely on the power of God? Do you find it difficult to trust in God s power, and if so, why? 17

18 Trust God s Will and Power 6.3 Do you have examples in your life, or in the life of someone close to you, when you relied on God s power and it was demonstrated to you? 6.4 How can we ensure that we do not become servants to material riches? 6.5 According to Paul, we need to allow our minds to be remade in order to discern the will of God. How is this related to being born again in order to enter God s kingdom? 18

19 Trust God s Will and Power 6.6 Shouldn t following God s commands be easy for Christians? Are they? 6.7 What could be more important than to gain one s purpose and to receive everlasting life? Then why do we hesitate? 19

20 CHAPTER VII FIFTH ELEMENT: RECEIVE GOD S PROVIDENCE Contemplation and Discussion Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil;my cup runneth over. Psalm 23:5 (KJV) 7.1 Does it make sense to you that although God provides we still need to exert effort? 7.2 Do you desire more than you really need? 7.3 What is it like not to want? 20

21 Receive God s Providence 7.4 Not worrying requires faith in God. When we begin to worry or become fearful, what would be a good way to renew our faith? 7.5 The Bible not only tells us that God will provide; it also tells us to cast our burdens on Him. Not just some but all our anxieties. In practice, how do we as Christians cast our burdens and anxieties on God? 21

22 Receive God s Providence 7.6 The Spirit gives life, and Jesus words are spirit and life. This is the bread that came down from Heaven. What are those words? 7.7 Compare the story in the sixth chapter of John with Jesus explaining that he is the bread of life (quoted above) to that of the last supper. 22

23 CHAPTER VIII SIXTH ELEMENT: ACCEPT AND GIVE FORGIVENESS Contemplation and Discussion And Forgive Us Our Debts As We Forgive Our Debtors For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Psalm 86:5 (KJV) 8.1 It can be very difficult to admit we have wronged someone, erred, or sinned. What qualities are required for us to admit to our shortcomings? 8.2 Do you ever feel that you can hide wrongdoing from God? Is confessing necessary to set our hearts straight? What does it mean to receive God s forgiveness? 23

24 Accept and Give Forgiveness 8.3 God is abundant with love, and He loves His children. Why is it a necessary step to call on Him so that we may avail ourselves of His love? 8.4 What do we gain, if anything, by praying for others? 8.5 Suppose a fellow Christian comes to you and tells you that he cannot forgive another person. How might you help him to find forgiveness in his heart? 24

25 Accept and Give Forgiveness 8.6 Is it ever appropriate for a Christian to judge someone else? 8.7 If it is through Jesus blood that we are given eternal life, why is it still necessary for us to confess our sins? 25

26 Contemplation and Discussion CHAPTER IX SEVENTH ELEMENT: ALLOW THE RESCUE And Lead Us Not Into Temptation But Deliver Us From Evil Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Psalm 97:10 (KJV) 9.1 If we did not harbor evil desires, could we ever be tempted? 9.2 Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within us. How does this relate to our hearts? If we have the kingdom within us, how can we also store evil in our hearts? Is this why we need to purify ourselves, and how often? 26

27 Allow the Rescue 9.3 Probably most people can identify evil things they hate. The question, however, is this: is there anything evil within us that we are tolerating, accepting, or even enjoying? 9.4 As Scripture tells us, we are to clearly avoid evil. But when we face evil and cannot avoid it, what are we to do? 27

28 Allow the Rescue 9.5 Ponder the promise that we will not be tempted beyond what we can handle but will be provided with a way to escape. Can you think of times in your life that you can personally confirm this? Do you know of experiences from family or others that can confirm this? 9.6 Do you see a connection between trusting God s power and being rescued from evil? Do you have personal examples or know of examples of being rescued? 9.7 Is there any evil from which God cannot rescue us? 28

29 CHAPTER X A POWERFUL AND PROFOUND SUMMATION For Thine Is The Kingdom, And The Power, And The Glory, For Ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. From David s Prayer, I Chronicles 29:11 (KJV) Contemplation and Discussion 10.1 David s prayer says that everything in heaven and earth is God s. Does this make sense to you? Does this tell us anything about how we are to think about material things? About nonmaterial things? 10.2 Jesus called the Holy Spirit Counselor, whom we shall have forever. A counselor, obviously, is someone who gives counsel, someone who gives guidance. Do you listen for this Counselor? 29

30 A Powerful and Profound Summation 10.3 Are we better at knowing God s power than the disciples were when they were on the boat during that storm? Do we truly know the power of God? 10.4 What do you think is the most important lesson to be learned from how Jesus sent his disciples out to heal? 10.5 How can we strengthen our belief and faith in God s power? 30

31 A Powerful and Profound Summation 10.6 Do you agree that glory and power are linked together? Is it possible to glorify without demonstrating power? 10.7 List ways you glorify God, and list other ways you can glorify God. Ways You Glorify God Ways You Can Glorify God 31

32 CHAPTER XI PUT IT ALL TOGETHER O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Psalm 144:3 (NIV) Contemplation and Discussion 11.1 Are the first two parts (1) addressing and acknowledging God and His relationship to us and (2) submitting to His rule and will necessary steps that must be done before we can activate God s providence, forgiveness, and deliverance? 11.2 Are there any parts of the Lord s Prayer that have a new or different perspective from the passages of David on pages 113 and 114 of the book? What are they? 32

33 Put It All Together 11.3 Can you think of any circumstance not covered by the Lord s Prayer? 33

34 Contemplation and Discussion CHAPTER XII LIVE THE PRAYER Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. Psalm 63:4 (KJV) 12.1 What good is it to know the teachings of Jesus if we do not follow them? 12.2 If you follow the teachings of Jesus to the letter of the law but without Spirit, are you really following them? 34

35 Live the Prayer 12.3 For each element of the Lord s Prayer, visualize ways you can live and make it personal, internalize its meaning, and practice its principles. (1) Our Father which art in heaven : establish the relationship (2) Hallowed be thy name : acknowledge God s nature 35

36 Live the Prayer 12.3 (3) Thy kingdom come : feel God s presence and guidance (4) Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven : trust God s will and power 36

37 Live the Prayer 12.3 (5) Give us this day our daily bread : receive God s providence (6) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors : accept and give forgiveness 37

38 Live the Prayer 12.3 (7) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil : allow the rescue 38

39 Exploring the Seven Elements of the Lord s Prayer Additional Notes 39

40 Exploring the Seven Elements of the Lord s Prayer Additional Notes 40