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Matthew 6:9-15

9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

MAIN IDEA

 Praying as Jesus taught puts God and us in our rightful place. 

GOING DEEPER
Questions from this weeks message.

1. What insight, principle or observation from this week’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye opening or troubling? Please explain.

2. Why do people pray? When is it that people pray most?

3. When it comes to prayer, would you say it is an area of strength or weakness for you and why?

4. Read Matthew 6:9-13. When was the Lord’s prayer first introduced to you? What in the prayer is most meaningful to you? What is most confusing?

5. The first line “Our Father in heaven” is a significant phrase showing God’s transcendence (he is beyond us) and immanence (he is personal to us). When you think of God does his transcendence (in heaven) or his immanence (Father) strike you most? Why are both important?

6. How might taking time to focus on who God is change the content of your prayers?

7. Read verses 9-10. God’s name, rule, and will are mentioned. Why is it significant to you that prayer starts with God and in these three areas? Is it difficult, or has there been a time when it was difficult to pray “your will be done”?

8. Read verses 11-13. Our human need is the second theme with the areas of Physical need, spiritual need and moral need mentioned. When you pray for what you need, which of these three areas dominates your prayer time? What would it look like to pray in each area for yourself and your loved ones?

9. How does the Lord's Prayer put both God and you in your rightful place? How will this begin to change how you pray as you consider doing life in the Kingdom?

10. In the format of the Lord’s Prayer, pray as a group for and with each other. Then pray the Lord's Prayer out loud together.

SUMMARY POINTS

Don’t pray to gain personal attention. 

 Praying as Jesus taught puts God and us in our rightful place. 

 Now and not yet reality. 

CALL TO ACTION

Consider the two questions listed

 1. Do you pray to a distant God or to a Heavenly Father? 

2. How might your prayer life need to change to capture how Jesus has taught us to pray as you do life in the Kingdom?