Reference

Matthew 6:7-15

Sermon Notes

I. How  ____________ to pray (v. 7-8)

A. ___________ (v. 7)

3 Ways to avoid babbling:

    1. Remember the   ___________ to whom we speak!
    2. Slow down and  ___________
    3. Pray  ___________

B.  ___________ (v. 8)

3 Reasons to pray:

    1. God ___________ us to pray
    2. Prayer ___________ us
    3. God ___________ through prayer 

II.  ___________ to pray (v. 9-17)

A. God’s ___________ first (v. 9-10)

B. My ___________ second (v. 11-13)

Three needs:

    1. Daily ___________ (v. 11)
    2. ___________ (v. 12)
    3. Deliverance from the ___________ one (v. 13)

Going Deeper

  1. Read Matt. 6:7. Why is this thoughtless prayer? ESV Study Bible Notes: “Jesus is prohibiting mindless, mechanical repetition, not the earnest repetition that flows from the imploring heart.” How have
    you done this in your prayer life? What will you to change this practice?
  2. Douglas Sean O’Donnell: “Having grown up Roman Catholic I remember ‘praying’ my rosary with devotion and sincerity but with a quickness of repetition that eclipsed my brain waves…Lip-labor that is not in service to the soul and not connected to the mind is reproved
    and condemned.” 3 Ways to avoid babbling: 1. Remember the One to whom we speak! 2. Slow down and think 3. Pray Scripture (Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 46:1; Isaiah
    26:3)
  3. Read Matt. 6:8. How is this faithless prayer? Douglas O’Donnell says: “Pagan prayer requires much because it has a wrong view of God, a view that he is a grudging giver, reluctant to act unless prayers are long and usually hard-fought.” R. T. France says: “So instead of trusting a Father to fulfill their needs
    they think they must badger a reluctant Deity into taking notice of them.” How should God as our Father change the way we pray?
  4. Read James 1:5-8. Instead of doubting, how should we pray?
  5. Read Matt. 6:9-10. What is the priority in prayer? Dan Doriani says: “Disciples address God personally as “our Father.” On rare occasions, the OT calls God “father” (Deut. 32:6; Ps. 103:13). But to address God directly as “our Father” is new. Jewish writings stressed God’s transcendence as Lord and Sovereign. “Father” suggests immanence. He is personal, approachable. Jesus calls God “Abba” in Mark 14:36, and Paul extends this to all believers in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6. “Abba” deepens the sense that God is intimate and approachable."
  6. Read Matt. 6:11-13. What are our needs?
    • Daily bread (v. 11) – what are your daily needs, not wants? How does God provide your needs?
    • Forgiveness and forgiving our debtors (v. 12)
    • It is hard to forgive – it might even feel impossible!
    • John Stott says: “Once our eyes have been opened to see the enormity of our offense against God, the injuries which others have done to us appear by comparison extremely trifling. If, on the other hand, we have an exaggerated view of the offenses of others, it proves that we have minimized our own.”
    • Read Matt. 6:14-15. How does Jesus emphasize the importance of forgiveness? Dan Doriani says: “After disciples experience grace, they manifest grace. But those who show no grace demonstrate that they have never tasted it.”
    • Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (v. 13) Believers face tests and even rejoice in them, but they flee temptation See 1 Cor. 6:18; 10:14; 1 Tim. 6:11; James 1:2. How will you flee temptation this week? Memorize Ps. 141:3-4 this week!
  7. Read Luke 18:9-14. Which are you – the Pharisee or the tax collector? What will you do in response?