This week’s bulletin YouVersion Bible App Listen to the podcast of this week’s message on Spotify
Small Group Guide:
Open with prayer.
Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?
If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.
The Lord’s Prayer
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.[a]
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,[b]
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.[d]
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Today, we’re continuing on in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus is in the midst of teaching what it looks like for people to be a part of the Kingdom of God. Today, we’re looking at what He has to say about prayer.
The Lord’s prayer is not just for rote repetition, but rather to guide us how to pray.
Matt. 6:9a, 1 Chron. 16:11, Col. 4:2, 1 Thess. 5:17, Rom. 12:12, Eph. 6:18 James 5:13
1. Pray simply and sincerely
Matt. 6:7-8, 21:22, James 1:6, Acts 2:42, 1 Pet. 4:7, 1 Tim.2:1-4, Rom. 8:26
2. Address God personally, yet reverently
Matt. 6:9, Rev. 3:20, John 3:17, Ps. 23:1-6, Ezra 8:23
3. Ask for God’s will, over our own
Matt. 6:10, 26:42, 1 Pet. 2:15, John 4:34, 1 Thess. 5:18
4. Be honest with God about our needs
Matt. 6:11, Mark 11:24, John 14:13, 15:7, 1 John 5:14-15, James 4:2-3, Phil. 4:6-7
5. Ask for forgiveness, only while forgiving others
Matt. 6:12, 14-15, 1 Pet. 3:12, James 5:14-15, Mark 11:25
6. Ask for future help in our faith
Matt. 6:13, 26:41, 5:44, 1 John 3:22, 1 Pet. 3:7, John 9:31, James 5:16
7. Remember to give God all the glory
Matt. 6:13, 7:11, 18:19-20, Heb. 13:21
Reflecting on God’s Word
Getting Started
- Take some time to read over Matthew 6:7-15 and pray.
- Have you ever read or heard about this before? What stood out to you as we were talking about it?
- Before hearing this message, what thoughts did you have about the Lord’s Prayer? Did this message change any thoughts you have previously had about the Lord’s Prayer?
- Take some time to think and pray about your prayer life. Ask God to help you have a prayer life that would be more honoring to Him.
Diving In
- Read over Matthew 6:7-9 again, intentionally looking for how Jesus introduces the idea of prayer while He is preaching the Sermon on the Mount. How does understanding the context of this passage of Scripture help us to better apply to our lives what Jesus is teaching?
- Did you know what the context of the Lord’s Prayer was before this message?
- How does understanding the context of what Jesus is teaching make it more impactful to you?
- How can you help others understand the context of what Jesus is teaching in this passage of Scripture?
- Read over Matthew 6:7-8 again. What bad examples of prayer have you seen? Have you ever fallen into the temptation of wanting to look a certain way in front of others by the way that you pray?
- How can you be sure to keep a healthy attitude in your prayer life?
- Does it bring you any comfort knowing that you don’t have to have the perfect words in order to be heard by God?
- How would praying simply, yet reverently, improve your relationship with the Lord?
- Read over Matthew 6:11. Here, Jesus makes it clear that God wants us to bring our needs before Him. Why do you think that God wants us to do that?
- When you have a need, how likely are you to pray about it? Why is that the case?
- How would it improve your relationship with the Lord if you brought all of your needs before Him?
- How can you encourage those around you to bring their needs before the Lord more?
- Read over Matthew 6:12, 14-15 again. Here, Jesus ties the concept of being forgiven by God, with our choice to forgive (or not forgive) others. Why do you think God ties those 2 things together?
- Spend some time in prayer, and ask God to illuminate anyone in your life who you need to forgive.
Applying the Scripture
What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word?
- What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God has taught you in this passage of Scripture?
- How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord?
- Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?
Prayer Time:
Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.
Staying Missional:
Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:
Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
What’s next?
Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?