The Lord’s Prayer

Show Notes

Scripture: Matthew 6:9 / Luke 11:1-2

SHOW NOTES:

Prayer is a vital part of our Christian life. We communicate with our Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom, guidance, and direction. Jesus’ disciples traveled with Him for three years. They listened to His teachings, witnessed His miracles, and heard Him pray. Many times, He would go off to pray in the evening or early morning hours.

In today’s lesson, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. He responds with the prayer we often call The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15) or The Disciples’ Prayer (Luke 11:2-4). This prayer is the example or model Jesus gave to His disciples.

One day, Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of his disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name.’”

– Luke 11:1-2

God’s “name” reflects His nature. Jesus called God His Father. We also call Him our Heavenly Father to give Him glory and praise.

But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.

– 1 Peter 1:15

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Show Notes

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-11 / Luke 11:2-3

SHOW NOTES:

Do you remember when you first memorized The Lord’s Prayer? How old were you?

This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

– Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV)

As children of God, we have a personal connection with our Heavenly Father. Each of us can approach Him to share our requests and burdens. He is holy and deserving of our praise.

See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us his children, and that is what we are!

– 1 John 3:1 (NLT)

The Kingdom of God is a fundamental concept in Christian theology, representing God’s rule and authority over His creation, especially among believers. It represents God’s presence and power, both now and in the future. During His earthly ministry, Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God. People’s lives are transformed and renewed as they turn away from their sin and follow God’s will.

Kingdom Come –

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Show Notes

Scripture: 3 John 1:3-4

SHOW NOTES:

Prayer is a crucial part of our spiritual journey with the Lord. As we learn more about Christian disciplines, we grow, develop, and mature. Many of us start by saying short prayers when we are young children, during mealtime, and at bedtime.

For this week’s lesson, we have a special guest joining us — our first grandchild and only granddaughter, Riley. We’re grateful that you want to share some of your spiritual journey with us today.

… telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

– 3 John 1:3-4

Head to Heart:

Ask yourself these questions: When did you decide to trust Jesus as your personal Savior? How do you live differently today because you are a follower of Jesus?

Reflect on your prayer life and ask the Lord for help in developing this spiritual discipline. What are other ways you can stay close to God each day?

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Show Notes

Scripture: John 17:1-5

SHOW NOTES:

Today, we start a study of Jesus’ prayer in John 17. This prayer is often called “Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.” It illustrates the high priestly ministry that Jesus officially began when He ascended into heaven.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

– 1 John 2:1

Many believe this was spoken before Jesus and His small group of disciples left the Upper Room or while they walked across the Southern Steps on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane.

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.

– John 17:1

Jesus looks toward His Father in heaven and prays. He acknowledges that the time of crisis has come – “The hour has come.” This is not a hopeless prayer; instead, Jesus looks ahead to the cross and recognizes that this is the work the Father has given Him. Jesus alone can complete this task.

I brought glory to You here on earth by completing the work You gave me to do. Now, Father, bring Me into the glory We shared before the world began.

– John 17:4-5

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Show Notes

Scripture: John 17:6-19

SHOW NOTES:

Jesus delivered this powerful prayer on the evening before He was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Some believe He was in the Upper Room, while others think He was on the Southern Steps of the temple as they walked toward the garden. Jesus’ purpose and focus was to bring glory to His Heavenly Father.

In the second part of this prayer, Jesus expresses His concern for the disciples. This is the longest section of His prayer. He knows they will face intense spiritual battles. The disciples spent three years with Jesus during His earthly ministry. The disciples watched Jesus perform many miracles, and they listened to His powerful teachings.

Now I am coming to You. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so that they would be filled with My joy. I have given them Your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do.

– John 17:13-16

Jesus came to earth with the message of God’s love and forgiveness. He faced trials, danger, and death on the cross. The disciples would encounter many of the same challenges. Jesus did not ask the Father to remove them from danger or trials, but instead asked the Father to protect them from the evil one. Their mission was to proclaim the Good News to the whole world.

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Show Notes

Scripture: John 17:20-26

SHOW NOTES:

In this high priestly prayer, Jesus first prays to the Father for His glorification and His soon return to heaven. The second part is His prayer for the Eleven Disciples, asking for their protection and sanctification. Finally, Jesus prays for future believers (John 17:20-26).

As Jesus considered future followers who would believe in Him through the testimony of the Eleven, He asked His Father for two things: unity and glorification.

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

– John 17:21

The purpose of this unity is so that the world might believe that the Father sent the Son, meaning that Jesus is God’s Son. The display of mutual love among Jesus’ disciples demonstrates that they are His followers. Their love for one another shows that they genuinely follow His teachings and have His life.

I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.

– John 17:26

Closing Thoughts …

• Jesus glorified the Father on earth.
• He completed the work that the Father had given Him to do.
• He revealed the Father’s name to His own.
• Jesus shared the Father’s words with the disciples.
• He cared for them just like the Good Shepherd cares for His sheep.
• He sent them out into the world.
• Holy Father, guard those You have given Me.

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