Pray Like Jesus: Week 1
June 7, 2020
Matthew 6:5-9
Pastor Ricky Smith
Sermon Notes
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Why Study The Lord’s Prayer?
1. We are walking in relationship
2. We are awakened to new life
3. We are listening to the Holy Spirit
I. Pretending To Pray
Matthew 6:5
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
II. Dependency of Prayer
Matthew 6:6
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
The act of prayer is a reminder of our dependence on God
III. Simplicity of Prayer
Matthew 6:7-8
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Prayer Is About God Molding Me, Not Me Moving God
IV. Learning To Pray
Matthew 6:9
9 Pray then like this:
Matthew 22:37-40
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
The Lord’s Prayer Is A Model, Not A Mantra
“Our Father who is 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.’
For Yours is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.”
Next Steps
- I choose to put my trust in Jesus for the first time.
- I confess to an unhealthy attitude and practice of prayer.
- I commit to pray daily with my church family over the next 36 days.
Deep Dive
- Read Matthew 11:28-30. Are you carrying a burden in life alone and how can God help you?
- Does it really make a difference if our prayers are ritualistic and recited? What role does prayer play in developing a personal relationship with God?
- Read Matthew 6:5-8 and discuss why we hesitate to pray out loud in front of other people? How can we overcome this fear with a healthy understanding of prayer?
Springboard
- How do you typically start each prayer? Why does it make a difference?
- Why is it important that we slow down and think about the words we say in prayer?
- Why does it matter how we use God’s name?
