The Pattern for Prayer (Part 1)

3-27-22Sermon Notes “The Pattern for Prayer” (Part 1)

Over and over again in Jesus’ last conversation with his disciples in John chapters 14-16, Jesus told them, “Ask…and I will do.” Wow! I’m thinking of the lines from an old Janis Joplin song:

O Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?
My friends all drive Porches, I must make amends
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends
So Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

But I’m pretty sure that’s not what Jesus meant! He said, “Ask in my name,” and ask “according to his will.” How can we be sure we are asking in Jesus’ name? Just by saying that at the end of our prayers? “In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.” How can we be sure we are asking according to Jesus’ will? The good news is that we don’t have to just guess at it. Jesus gave us a pattern for praying, one that addresses all our needs…one that is so deep and so rich that we could never plumb its depths. It is called the Lord’s Prayer. Here’s what it looks like in Matthew’s Gospel:

5 “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever 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.
7 “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “Pray then in this way:
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 this day our daily bread. (Matt. 6: 5-11 NRSV)

This Sunday, we will talk about how NOT to pray, and then get part one of Jesus’ remarkable pattern for how TO pray.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Sam