Study Guide Member booklet

Transcription

1 The Lord s Prayer Study Guide Member booklet

2 Member Booklet 2

3 The Lord s Prayer The Lord s Prayer The Lord s Prayer is probably the most well-known prayer in the Western world, even as mainstream Christian religion gets accustomed to a position more on the margins than in the centre of society and culture. And it is a startling prayer that is rich in theology and encouragement. In addition to deepening our understanding and warming our hearts, we want to let this most famous of prayers upgrade, recondition and rehabilitate our own prayer lives. Each week in Term 1 we will investigate a single line from the Lord s Prayer; on Sundays and in mid-week small groups. Part of the small-group task every week will be to rework our own prayers based on the line from the Lord s Prayer that is the subject of the week, using the 7 Days of Prayer device at the end of each study. So we trust that the Lord s Prayer will become your prayer, in a deeper, truer, more vital and more vigorous way than before. St Matthews Staff Team 3

4 Member Booklet Study timetable We ve prepared these small group studies to follow the Sunday message, but you re free to use them as you wish. Here s a suggested timetable for their use 1. Sunday Sermon Date Sun 31 January Sun 7 February Topic Launch day Our Father in heaven Mid-week (small group) 8-11 February What? Small group leader session (Thurs 28 Jan or Tues 2 Feb) Prayer and Praise night (Wednesday 3 February) Study #1: Our Father in heaven Sun 14 February Hallowed be your name February Study #2: Hallowed be your name Sun 21 February Your kingdom come February Study #3: Your kingdom come Sun 28 February Your will be done 29 to 3 February Study #4: Your will be done Sun 6 March Daily bread 7-10 March Study #5: Daily bread Sun 13 March Forgive us our debts Sun 20 March Deliver us March Study #6: Forgive us our debts March Study #7: Deliver us Sun 27 March Easter Sunday March Study #8: Amen! Sun 3 April Holiday series begins 4-7 April Social/other 1 Studies are loosely based on materials obtained with permission. 4

5 The Lord s Prayer Study #1: Our Father in heaven The Big Idea Start JI Packer said, you sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one s Holy Father. If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much they make of the thought of being God s child and having God as their father. Do you agree, disagree or want to qualify this statement? Read The Lord s Prayer in Matthew 6:5-15 and share any first thoughts, comments or observations Think & talk 1. Why was starting the Lord s Prayer with our Father in heaven so startling in Jesus day? 2. Why can Jesus call God Father? John 1:10-14: 2 Samuel 7:12-16: 5

6 Member Booklet 3. On what basis can Christians call God Father? How do these verses contribute to our understanding? John 1:10-13: Galatians 4:4-7: Romans 8:14-17: 4. What are some of the benefits that we enjoy as the adopted children of God? 5. If we are adopted children of God, what does that mean the Christian life is really about? 6

7 The Lord s Prayer 6. What do the addition of our and in heaven in our Father in heaven add to our understanding of being adopted as a child of God? our in heaven 7. How does our understanding of our Father in heaven change the way we pray? Pray Each week we re going to shape the lessons from the week into a daily prayer pattern, using the grid below. The aim is to build a personal prayer list that will help keep your prayers focused on the kingdom priorities outlined in Jesus pattern for prayer. See a complete table at the end of the booklet. As you pray each time: 1. First pray through the priority you are focusing on that day. 2. Then prayerfully consider the resulting heart passions and purposes as these increase in your life. 3. Now pray for others to experience more of this priority in their lives. 4. There s space to pray for a key person on each day of the cycle and also to include pressing requests each day. 5. End by praising God for answers. 7

8 Member Booklet Some entries are already added, but you might like to add more of your own. Pattern Priority of the day Day 1 Our Father in heaven Adoption as God s children Prayer for the passions of our heart Thank God for being Father; pray for a child s joy Prayers for other people Pray for believers to rediscover sonship and for seekers to discover it Key person Pressing requests Praise for answered prayers 8

9 The Lord s Prayer Study #2: Hallowed be your name The Big Idea Start When you hear the name of God being used as a curse how do you respond: I m deeply hurt that God s name is used so crudely I m mildly offended, there s plenty of other swear words on offer I really wish they wouldn t but I don t take it personally I m not offended, they don t know what they re saying I m a bit sad that it s the only time that God gets a mention Other: Read, think, talk 1. What does the placement of this line hallowed be your name suggest is key to our prayer life? 2. Hallowed means to make holy or to consider holy. What might it mean to hallow God s name? 3. Read Isaiah 6:1-8. How do the various elements of Isaiah s vision contribute to our understanding of the 2 nd line of the Lord s Prayer? What Isaiah saw of God: 9

10 Member Booklet What the seraphim did: What the seraphim said: Isaiah s response to all he saw and heard: 4. How does the unapproachable holiness of God reconcile with our personal knowledge of God as tender Father that we thought about last week? 5. The song of the seraphim in Isaiah is the song of heaven (Revelation 4:8), which we will join in. But how might we hallow God s name in this life? With our words: With our worship: With our behaviour: Pray It s time to pray. Remember the aim of studying the Lord s Prayer is to reshape our prayers so that they re focused on the kingdom priorities 10

11 The Lord s Prayer outlined in Jesus pattern for prayer. See a complete table at the end of the booklet. The basic flow is: 1. Pray through the priority you are focusing on that day. 2. Then consider the heart passions connected to this priority. 3. Now pray for others to experience more of this priority in their lives. 4. Pray for a key person on each day of the cycle and include pressing requests each day. 5. End by praising God for answers. Like last time some entries are already added, but you might like to add some more of your own. Pattern Priority of the day Day 2 Hallowed be your name Worship of holy God Prayer for the passions of our heart Praise God s holiness Prayers for other people Pray for our worship to be energetic and a willingness to defend and honour God s holy name Key person Pressing requests Praise for answered prayers 11

12 Member Booklet Study #3: Your kingdom come The Big Idea Start When you think of the idea of kingdoms does it sound enchanting (like Camelot or a Disney kingdom) or like a return to medieval tyranny or an authoritarian regime? Read, think & talk 1. The essence of kingdom is God s rule over his people. How is this expressed in the Old Testament: The Garden of Eden: In the Promised Land of Israel: In the time of the prophets: 2. Jesus fulfils all the Old Testament expectations of the coming king. How do we see Jesus kingship demonstrated in his life (if you like read Mark 1:14-34)? 12

13 The Lord s Prayer 3. Are there areas of life which you haven t surrendered to the lordship or kingship of Jesus? What is holding you back from giving every aspect of your life over to him? Though Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament expectations of a coming king when he came into the world, once again we await the coming of Jesus, this time to usher in God s perfect kingdom forever more. This is what we are asking for when we pray Your kingdom come. 4. How often do you think about the return of Jesus? Is it something that causes you fear, embarrassment or excitement? Why? 5. When we pray Your kingdom come we are also reminding ourselves to live life now in the light of his triumphant return. How does the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) guide us in living today in light of tomorrow? 6. In what ways does the return of our king to bring in God s kingdom shape: How we treat others? (see the next parable for a hint) How we conduct ourselves? (see 2 Peter 3:9-13) How we speak to others? (see 1 Peter 3:15-16) 13

14 Member Booklet Pray You know the drill by now. Use the table below to help shape your prayers around Jesus priority in the Lord s Prayer, in this way: 1. Pray through the priority you are focusing on that day. 2. Then consider the heart passions connected to this priority. 3. Now pray for others to experience more of this priority in their lives. 4. Pray for a key person on each day of the cycle and include pressing requests each day. 5. End by praising God for answers. Some entries are already added, but you can add some more of your own. Pattern Day 3 Your kingdom come Priority of the day Mission & service Prayer for the passions of our heart Pray for Jesus return, pray that we d serve and proclaim him Prayers for other people Pray for friends and family to meet the King before his return Key person Pressing requests Praise for answered prayers 14

15 The Lord s Prayer Study #4: Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven The Big Idea Start Brainstorm all the different ways that we use the word will (both noun and verb) in common language. A primer on God s will The concept of God s will is not a simple one. It includes God s sovereign will (sometimes called his secret will), in which nothing happens outside of what he allows, not even those things which are expressly against his commands. It also includes God s ethical will, in which he tells us how he wants us to live (this is sometimes called his revealed will). This includes all his commandments and instructions, both positive and negative, and more generally what we can freely learn from him in Scripture. How do these two parts of God s will intersect? To simplify, we can say that everything that happens, including sad and bad things, fall within his sovereign will. In other words, there is nothing that surprises him or is outside his control, even though we might struggle to understand why bad things happen. Nevertheless, because we know (or are growing in our knowledge of) his ethical will, we should always try to learn it and put it into practice. A crude summary could be thus: what happens, he knows about; what he says, we should do. Look up Deuteronomy 29:29 to see how the Old Testament puts it. 15

16 Member Booklet Read, think & talk 1. How do we see God s sovereign will (everything is within his control) intersect with his ethical will (his commandments and instructions, etc) when it comes to the crucifixion of Jesus (see Acts 2:22-24; 4:27-28)? 2. What do the following verses tell us about God s power and freedom compared to the freedom and power of the people of the world and their/our idols? Psalm 115:1-8 Daniel 4: Do you find yourself: resisting God s revealed will & instructions, resenting his commands, reluctantly resigning yourself over to his ways, or embracing his instruction to us because we know it is in our best interests? How does the 4 th line of the Lord s Prayer shape our response to God s will? 16

17 The Lord s Prayer 4. Read Matthew 26: How does the example of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane shape our response to God s will? 5. Praying for God s will to be done requires us to know and learn what God wants from us. How does Romans 12:1-2 encourage us to do that? 6. We have seen that we are praying for God s will to be done in our own lives, as we give them over to him and his guidance in Scripture. What does it mean in relation to the rest of the world, particularly in the area of justice and mercy? But to pray your will be done, on earth as in heaven is also to open ourselves up to be part of the process of bringing justice, or the relief from suffering that we see around us. Our actions in this area will be part of the way God answers our prayers. 17

18 Member Booklet 7. What opportunities are there before you to be part of the answer to this prayer, to be a friend to the marginalised, the victim, the long-sufferer, or the impoverished? Pray Your turn! Pattern Priority of the day Prayer for the passions of our heart Day 4 Your will be done, on earth as in heaven Personal obedience; social justice Pray to pursue heart obedience in our life, and justice in the world Prayers for other people Pray for believers to surrender to Jesus rule; pray for the needs of the poor Key person Pressing requests Praise for answered prayers 18

19 The Lord s Prayer Study #5: Give us this day our daily bread The Big Idea Start What is your favourite bakery product? What do you think are your top 3 personal needs? Read, think & talk 1. Read through the Lord s Prayer again from Matthew 6:5-15. The second half of the Lord s Prayer turns to our requests. What does Jesus think are our top personal needs? Do these surprise you at all? 2. When Jesus talks about bread, what else do you think is caught up in that metaphor? Read Deuteronomy 8:3 and John 6:48-51 and discuss. 19

20 Member Booklet 3. Jesus prays give us today our daily bread? What does his emphasis on the needs of the single day teach us about God s provision? You might like to read the story of Israel s experience with manna in the desert (Exodus 16:1-30), Jesus words about worry in Matthew 6:25-34, or Paul s words in Philippians 4:6-7, Does this attitude of praying for daily provision seem like an excuse for laziness on our part (see 1 Thess 4:11-12; 2 Thess 3:11-13)? 5. Bread is wonderful yet bread is the simplest of foods. In this petition we ask to live with increasing simplicity. Do you agree with this statement? Is your life characterised by simplicity? Would you like it to be? 20

21 The Lord s Prayer 6. How do you think your perspective and habits change when you pray give us this day our daily bread? What input do these verses provide: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Ephesians 4:28 Proverbs 30:7-9 Pray Remember, let Jesus prayer priorities shape your prayer priorities Pattern Priority of the day Prayer for the passions of our heart Day 5 Give us today our daily bread Provision, thankfulness Ask for trust, contentment, generosity, simplicity Prayers for other people Pray for your neighbours daily needs, stable government and society Key person Pressing requests Praise for answered prayers 21

22 Member Booklet Study #6: Forgive us our debts The Big Idea Start Forgiveness is central to the Christian faith. Do you think it takes more grace and humility to ask for forgiveness, or to grant forgiveness? Do you think there needs to be repentance in order for there to be forgiveness? Read, think & talk 1. Forgive us our debts is a prayer that acknowledges and confesses our sin. What does 1 John 1:5-2:2 tell us about sin and confession? 2. Forgive us our debts is also a prayer that expresses faith in Christ. How does 1 John 1:5-2:2 give us confidence about Jesus work on our behalf? 22

23 The Lord s Prayer 3. Do you practice confession, and do you know the confidence of being fully restored and forgiven by the work of Jesus? 4. as we also have forgiven our debtors is a commitment to forgive others. How do Matthew 6:14-15 or the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35) help illustrate this point? 5. Why do we find forgiveness so hard when we have been forgiven so much by God? 6. What would you say to someone who says, I cannot and will not forgive that person until they repent and acknowledge their wrong? 23

24 Member Booklet Pray Time to make Jesus prayer, our prayer, as follows: 1. Pray through the priority you are focusing on that day. 2. Then consider the heart passions connected to this priority. 3. Now pray for others to experience more of this priority in their lives. 4. Pray for a key person on each day of the cycle and include pressing requests each day. 5. End by praising God for answers. Pattern Priority of the day Prayer for the passions of our heart Day 6 Forgive us as we forgive others Forgiveness & mercy Ask for freedom from guilt and release of bitterness Prayers for other people Pray for relationships that require healing, and unity within church Key person Pressing requests Praise for answered prayers 24

25 The Lord s Prayer Study #7: Lead us not into temptation The Big Idea Start What would you say are the greatest evils in our world? (circle one or two) Institutional racism Sex trafficking White collar crime ISIS Personal greed & envy Random violence Rich/poor divide Alcohol/drug dependence Donald Trump Other: Where does the Bible tell us that evil and temptation come from (match the verse to the source)? James 1:13-14: from false teachers 1 John 2:15-16: from the devil himself Matthew 15:19: not from God Matthew 4:1-4: the lust & pride of worldly humans Matthew 24:4-5: out of the human heart Read, think & talk 1. When we pray this prayer we are asking for God s leadership. How does he lead us and how receptive are you to that leadership? 2. Scripture clearly says that our struggle is not merely against flesh and blood but against malignant spiritual forces, and that Jesus has conquered them by his death (see Colossians 2:15). Do you feel confident in resisting Satan s attacks (see James 4:6-8)? 25

26 Member Booklet 3. In a similar passage in 1 Peter 5:8-11 Peter gives further reasons for resisting the devil. What are they? 4. What ways do you think Satan attacks people or works in the world? 5. Ephesians 6:10-18 is the classic passage about spiritual warfare. Bearing in mind that the war has already been won by Christ s defeat of sin, death and the devil on the cross, what does this important passage teach us about deliverance from evil? 26

27 The Lord s Prayer 6. What effect does praying this line of the Lord s Prayer have upon your prayer life and Christian life more generally? Pray Last chance to have a crack at this. Feel free to add your own prayer points Pattern Priority of the day Day 7 Lead us not in temptation but deliver us from evil Protection and perseverance Prayer for the passions of our heart Pray for strength to overcome temptation Prayers for other people Pray for spiritual protection for people of church Key person Pressing requests Praise for answered prayers 27

28 Member Booklet Study #8: Amen! The Big Idea This is a chance to put all that we have been looking at into practice. Pray The 7 Days of Prayer with Jesus device is just a tool for arranging your prayer life according to priorities outlined in Scripture, particularly the Lord s Prayer. Start your time in prayer by focusing on the Priority of the day. When you move to the Passions section, remember that these flow from the priorities. It s tempting to rush this part of the list, but this part is key to keeping this tool free from legalism. So confess any weaknesses, distractions or misplaced affections and ask for transformation and alignment of your heart to God s heart and to his priorities. Prayers for Other People is the place to pray for friends, individuals, missionaries, churches, ministries, organizations, people groups, etc. related to the priorities (if possible). Include others wherever it is most appropriate. Obviously people don t fit in a box. The Key Person space is for the people in your life you want to spend concentrated prayer on (not just have them in your larger section of people to pray for). May typically include spouses, family members, and close friends. Pray for their heart affections and deeper spiritual needs. Pressing requests is the place for urgent needs for you, our church, and others in your life. In Praise for Answered Prayers you want to periodically and regularly go through what you ve been praying for through your list; record answers and praise God for them. Recognizing answers to your prayers builds faith and momentum to continue in prayer for greater things. Your turn On the next page is the prayer grid that we ve built up all term; the page after that is your chance to create your own. All the best! 28

29 The Lord s Prayer! Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Pattern Our Father in Hallowed be Your kingdom heaven your name come Priority of the day Prayer for the passions of our heart Prayers for other people Key person Adoption as God s children Thank God for being Father; pray for a child s joy Pray for believers to rediscover sonship and for seekers to discover it Worship of holy God Praise God s holiness Pray for our worship to be energetic and a willingness to defend and honour God s holy name Mission & service Pray for Jesus return, pray that we d serve and proclaim him Pray for friends and family to meet the King before his return Your will be done, on earth as in heaven Personal obedience; social justice Pray to pursue heart obedience in our life, and justice in the world Pray for believers to surrender to Jesus rule; pray for the needs of the poor Give us today our daily bread Provision, thankfulness Ask for trust, contentment, generosity, simplicity Pray for your neighbours daily needs, stable government and society Forgive us as we forgive others Forgiveness & mercy Ask for freedom from guilt and release of bitterness Pray for relationships that require healing, and unity within church Lead us not in temptation but deliver us from evil Protection and perseverance Pray for strength to overcome temptation Pray for spiritual protection for people of church Pressing requests Praise for answered prayers 29

30 Member Booklet! Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Pattern Our Father in Hallowed be Your kingdom heaven your name come Priority of the day Prayer for the passions of our heart Adoption as God s children Worship of holy God Mission & service Your will be done, on earth as in heaven Personal obedience; social justice Give us today our daily bread Provision, thankfulness Forgive us as we forgive others Forgiveness & mercy Lead us not in temptation but deliver us from evil Protection and perseverance Prayers for other people Key person Pressing requests Praise for answered prayers! 30