Our Father in heaven - Jan 7, 2024

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This morning I am beginning a sermon series on prayer called “Lord, teach us to
pray.” This title comes from Luke 11:1:
Luke 11:1 - 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."
Evidently there was something about how Jesus prayed that piqued their curiosity
and led them to ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. I’m not sure what prayer
means to you. Bow your head and close your eyes? Trying to stay awake? Loud
and noisy shouting? Crying out for help in times of need? Repeating familiar lines?
A waste of time? A mystery? Whatever your perspective, there are not many things
in this world more important or powerful than prayer, so let’s come to the Lord
afresh, asking Him to teach us to pray.
In Matthew 6, Jesus tells his listeners what prayer is and how to pray. I want to
study this passage over the coming weeks in order to help us learn to pray well:
Matthew 6:5-13 - “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love
to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I
tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go
into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your
Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do
not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think 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.