When Jesus taught you how to pray, He was not intending to give you some sort of prayer that you could memorize and then just deliver. Jesus gave you a model to follow when addressing God so that you could learn how to pray like He Himself prayed.

KEY VERSES

Luke 11:1 (NASB)

1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”

Matthew 6:9 (NASB)

1 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.’”

UNDERSTANDING

• If you had to write a job description for being a father, what are some things that you would include in the description?

• Who is your favorite father from a TV show? Did/does that character exemplify your description of the ideal father?

• Why is it important for God’s people to view Him as their heavenly Father?

• How does the title of Father differ from Lord or Savior?

• Who taught you how to pray?

• How would you say your prayer life has changed since you first started praying?

• The disciples knew how to pray. They were Jews and had been praying their whole lives. Considering the context given in this verse, why do you think the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray?

• What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to “Pray then in this way”?

• Of all the descriptors of God that Jesus could have started the model prayer with (i.e. Our Creator, Our Provider, Our Rescuer, etc.), why do you think He chose “Father”?

• How does knowing God is your Father impact the way you approach Him in prayer?

• Are there any obstacles to your calling God “Father” in prayer? What are they?

• Read Romans 8:15. What does the Holy Spirit allow us to call God? How is this even a level of intimacy beyond fatherhood?

• Biological parents accept and receive the child God gave them. Adoptive parents have to choose to adopt. How does it make you feel to know that God chose you?

• Why should knowing God is your Father give you assurance in prayer?

• What might your prayers sound like if you didn’t see God as a loving Father, but only as someone to fear?

• Do you typically think of the Holy Spirit as having this function—to remind you that you’re a child of God? Why do we need to be reminded?

• Why might Jesus have wanted to remind us that our Father is in heaven?

• What does it mean for God’s Name to be “hallowed”?
  

APPLICATION

• What new understanding of God as Father has the Holy Spirit been impressing upon you today? How can you apply that truth to your prayer life?

• Pastor Jeff made the following two points of application in this week’s message: Before we come to God with our business, we must, in holiness and respect, address Him with Whom our business lies. And, as we come to God, we should remember that, not only is He willing to help us, He is able to help us. How do these two truths encourage or challenge you today?

• Pastor Jeff also said we should remember to pray together. This Thursday is the National Day of Prayer and you can join LCCC on Facebook at noon as Pastor Jeff leads us in a prayer for our nation. Why is it important that we pray, not just individually, but also together as a church body?

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