.
Week 1 | January 3rd

How We Pray

Prayer was central to the life of Jesus. He prayed at the most ordinary moments, and at the most critical ones. He prayed with Scripture, He prayed alone, He prayed with friends, He prayed for His enemies, and He surrendered Himself to the will of the Father in prayer.

In this series, we’re going to look at the prayer life of Jesus. We’ll listen as He teaches us how to pray, and we’ll follow His example in the way He prayed.

As we pray like Jesus, we’ll grow in our relationship with the Father, our dependence on the Spirit, and our alignment with His mission.

Notes Table Talk
Josh Blount
Joy

Oceans Music

Faithful to the End (Live)

Bethel Music, Paul McClure, Hannah McClure

Good Plans / Doxology - Live

Red Rocks Worship

Twenty-One Days of Prayer and Fasting

Blocks Conference

If you will commit to Jesus like never before, you can experience a year like never before.

There's a disconnect between what we believe and what we do in prayer.

8 in 10 Christians say prayer is important and essential. — Pew Research

70% wish they prayed more. — Lifeway

Only about 4 in 10 practicing Christians say they pray daily. — Barna Group

Half of practicing Christians say they feel unsure how to pray. — Barna Group

Over 60% of Christians say they feel too busy to pray regularly.

Life is too busy, and there is too much on the line for us to not be praying.

HOW WE PRAY

Matthew 6:5–13

"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father 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 forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 6:5

When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites.

Prayer Is Not About Show

Prayer is about relationship.

Prayer — to offer a devout petition to God, to enter into spiritual communion with God.

Matthew 6:6

When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;

Matthew 6:7

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Speak From The Heart

Matthew 6:9

In this manner, therefore, pray:

#1. See God As A Father

Matthew 6:9

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Jesus says, when you pray, Pray Our Father.

Abba was Jesus' personal name for the Father.

Mark 14:36

And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

When Jesus teaches us to pray "Abba," He's not just giving us a method, He's giving us permission.

When you pray, you don't approach God as a servant; you approach Him as a son or daughter on equal footing with Jesus Christ!

Galatians 3:26

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 4:6

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

#2. Value Who He Is

Matthew 6:9

…Hallowed be Your name.

Hallowed — to honor, to respect and consecrate (make sacred).

Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. Jehovah Rapha, our Healer. Jehovah Shalom, our Peace. Jehovah Nissi, our Victory.Jehovah Ra-ah, our Shepherd. Jehovah Shammah, the God who is with us.

When we hallow God's name, we're choosing to trust Him to be who His names say He is.

#3. Invite God's Rule & Guidance

Matthew 6:10

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Kingdom — basileia — authority, rule, direct governance.

We're asking for an invasion.

We're praying that what is already true in Heaven would become visible and active here on earth.

This is a prayer of surrender…

#4. Ask God To Meet Our Needs Today

Matthew 6:11

Give us this day our daily bread.

When we pray this we're saying, "God, I'm trusting You today."

Matthew 6:34

Don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

Manna wasn't about food. It was about learning to live aware of God every single day.

When we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," We're praying for whatever heaven needs to supply today so God's will can be done today.

#5. Ask For & Give Forgiveness

Matthew 6:12

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

God doesn't begin with our obligation to forgive others. He begins with our need to be forgiven.

You will always struggle to forgive others when you don't feel forgiven yourself.

According to the work of the cross, we are not victims demanding justice; we were debtors who received mercy.

We're inviting God to search us.

We ask God to forgive us, and from that re-centered, grace-filled place, we extend forgiveness to others.

#6. Expose Temptation & Protect Us

Matthew 6:13

And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

God doesn't tempt us with evil.

James 1:13

Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He himself tempts no one.

Who, or what, is the evil one?

1. Satan

Satan is real, and he is actively and intentionally working against you to mislead you.

2. Circumstances

Circumstances don't cause sin, but they can make it easier to say "yes" to sin.

3. Us

James 1:14–15

Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

In other words, temptation doesn't just come from the outside. Sometimes it comes from the inside.

God answers this prayer with clarity.

Deliverance is not just rescue from evil moments; it is freedom from unnoticed momentum that leads to evil moments.

Light does what willpower alone cannot. — Tim Keller

#7. Acknowledge God's Divine Rule

Matthew 6:13

…For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

In the fallen world we live in, there are three things the human heart is always chasing:

1. Our own kingdom, we want to build something that gives us control. 2. Our own power, we want power that makes us feel secure. 3. Our own glory. We want recognition that makes us feel significant.

"Yours is the kingdom..." You're the boss, God, you're in charge.

"Yours is the power…" Any power I walk in is borrowed.

"Yours is the glory…" "God, whatever You do through my life, you get the credit."

Sermon Series - Pray Like Jesus || How We Pray || Matthew 6:5–13 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father 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 forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

  1. Jesus teaches that prayer is not about being seen or sounding impressive, but about genuine connection with God as our Father.
    How does viewing prayer as a relationship rather than a performance change the way you approach prayer personally?

  2. The prayer begins with “Our Father” and “Hallowed be Your name,” reminding us that God is both near and holy.
    Which is harder for you to hold in tension, God’s closeness as Father or His greatness as God? How might this affect your prayer life?

  3. When we pray “Your kingdom come, Your will be done,” we are surrendering our agendas and inviting God’s leadership into our lives.
    What is one area of your life where you sense God inviting you to release control and trust His guidance more fully?

  4. Jesus invites us to ask for daily bread, forgiveness, and protection, showing that prayer is meant to be daily, honest, and dependent.
    What would it look like for you to practice daily reliance on God this week rather than trying to carry things on your own?

Discussion questions have not been posted yet.

Discussion questions have not been posted yet.

Discussion questions have not been posted yet.

Discussion questions have not been posted yet.