Sermon Tone Analysis
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(Opening Prayer)
(Welcome)
Welcome to Central.
Let me begin by saying, “Welcome Home” to you!
As an expository church, we prioritize preaching and teaching that focuses on a Christ-centered, holistic, and sequential approach to Scripture.
We enjoy preaching through books of the Bible and tackling each passage with a high view of Jesus Christ and an intent to be led into worship and transformation by what we find therein.
(Sermon Introduction)
Today we begin our “Teach Us To Pray” Series, focusing on the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in Matthew 6.
We want to take an expository look at the most famous prayer ever recorded.
To begin today I have entitled the sermon, “Pray.”
(Everyone Prays…Eventually)
I was struck with this thought when I started studying this text:
Everyone prays... eventually.
Every atheist prays at some point.
When you realize that the truck coming at you is going to hit you head on and you most likely are going to die…you will pray.
When life hits you between the eyes…you pray.
When the doctor gives you the news…you pray.
It is only a matter of time before we all pray.
So, why wait?
(When You Pray)
Jesus never said “if you pray,” but “when you pray.”
He accepted that you will pray.
The only question is…when?
(Jewish Context)
The Jewish idea of prayer agreed with Jesus and believed that prayer was inevitable, the only question was, “where would you pray?”
The pharisaical thought on prayer was synonomous with “places of prayer.”
The Jewish people were taught from Deuteronomy the importance of everyday, constant and honest prayer but those ways were overshadowed by the instructions and lifestyles of the pharisees.
The Psalms are filled with heartfelt honest prayers to God.
The Jewish people knew these Psalms and prayers but allowed them to be overshadowed or misunderstood through the lens of religious thought.
(Lord’s Prayer Context)
Matthew records what is commonly referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer,” here in Matthew 6.
Truthfully, this prayer should be called, “The Disciple’s Prayer” as it really flows from the disciples lips to the Lord.
We call it “The Lord’s Prayer” because the Lord Jesus gave it to them.
It is also important to note that this style of prayer was actually quite common in Jewish circles of the day.
What is unique however is the teaching that Jesus brings with it.
Matthew 6 is not the only place we see the Lord’s Prayer recorded.
It is also recorded in Luke 11.
We understand that this was most likely not the only time and place that Jesus taught these things to the people and to His disciples.
The Apostle John, who wrote down the gospel of John, actually said this:
John 21:25 (ESV)
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did.
Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
(Gospel of Matthew Context)
We know that the focus of Matthew’s gospel is the teachings of Jesus.
His focus was not on the chronological nature of Jesus’ ministry.
But having started with what we refer to as “The Beatitudes,” in Matthew 5, Jesus takes the people on a journey of discovering what a true disciple looks like.
At one point, Jesus’ Disciples asked Jesus, “Teach Us To Pray,” to which Jesus responds with:
Matthew 6:5–8 (ESV)
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites.
For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.
Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6 But when 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 “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.
Jesus dismantled the thought and teaching of the pharisees over and over again saying that it has nothing to do with the place or the way you pray but the state of your heart while praying.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Matthew 6:5–15; Luke 11:2–4)
Rather than making prayer a matter between an individual and God, the Pharisees had turned it into an act to be seen by men—again, to demonstrate their supposed righteousness.
Their prayers were directed not to God but to other men, and consisted of long, repetitive phrases (Matt.
6:7).
1. Prayer Reveals the Heart
Proverbs 16:2 (ESV)
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.
James 4:3 (ESV)
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Quite literally Jesus cares more about our motives than our words.
Because Jesus knows that the motives we have change the words we use.
The motives of our heart are paramount.
Like charitable giving, prayer should be done in secret.
This does not prohibit public prayer (as in corporate prayer); rather, it prohibits praying for the purpose of public recognition.
Why is it such a bad thing to be seen and heard?
A. Hypocrites want to be seen by others.
B. Hypocrites want to be heard by others.
This speaks to focus.
Their focus is not on their Father in heaven.
Jesus tells a story in Luke 18:9-14 that communicates the contrasts He is speaking about.
Luke 18:9–14 (ESV)
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus focused on the humility which is a motive of the heart.
The gospel writers record many times when Jesus Himself prayed while on earth.
Look at the how they speak of the prayer life of Jesus:
Mark 1:35–38 (ESV)
35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him,
37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”
Matthew 14:23 (ESV)
23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When evening came, he was there alone,
Luke 5:16 (ESV)
16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Now Jesus didn’t pray alone all the time.
We have many accounts of when Jesus prayed in public.
I don’t want to go over all of them this morning but I want to draw your attention to a time He prayed with His disciples before He was arrested.
In John 17 Jesus prayed:
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