Untitled Sermon

Prayer: Conversations with God

Thesis: Prayer is conversation with a God who loves us.

Text:

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27  So God created man in his own image,

27  So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

27  So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

Gen. 1:26–27.

Thesis: Prayer is conversation with a God who loves us.

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

Illustration:

Point 1

.

male and female he created them.

Point 2

Point 3

.

Thesis: Prayer is conversation with a God who loves us.

Illustration:

Thesis: Prayer is conversation with a God who loves us.

intro

Point 1

How many of you have someone you would consider your best friend? What makes them your best friend? (Allow students time to answer. Possible answers may include “We’ve spent time together,” “We’ve known each other a long time,” “We do everything together.”)

Imagine what your friendship would be like if you only talked to them once a day and you said the exact same thing every single day. How long do you think that friendship would last? (Wait for responses.) Not very long at all!

Friendships and relationships require conversation or communication. If we don’t talk to each other, we will never get to know one another!

prayer works with God; just talk to Him.

...To really understand prayer I think we should first understand what we have been designed for…

Text: Luke 11

2 Jesus said, “This is how you should pray:*

“Father, may your name be kept holy.

11 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.”

May your Kingdom come soon.

3 Give us each day the food we need,*

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

4 and forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those who sin against us.

And don’t let us yield to temptation.*”

“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

* 11:2 Some manuscripts add additional phrases from the Lord’s Prayer as it reads in .

* 11:3 Or Give us each day our food for the day; or Give us each day our food for tomorrow.

* 11:4 Or And keep us from being tested.

Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2013), .

Point 2

Background: Created for relationship. Created for conversations with God.

To really understand prayer i think we should first understand what we have been designed for.

describes God creating all of the earth.

Then in 1:26-27 we see God create his masterpiece… Man and Woman.

Genesis 1:26–27 ESV

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Then, after he created everything, he crafted a beautiful place for them. the Garden of Eden and he placed the man and woman in the Garden the bible says to “Work it and Keep it” ()

God’s practice was to walk in the Garden and talk with Adam and Eve.

The creator in perfect relationship with his masterpiece, walking, talking, enjoying relationship.

but then tragedy. Adam and Eve choose to trust their own way over the God who loves them, they chose to sin.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool3 of the day, and the man and his wife bhid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

The consequences though ment that God could no longer walk in close harmony.

Sin’s consequences were separation. But this didn't change Gods heart, nor his design. He still desires close relationship with us, and we are still made for close relationship with Him.

This is what we have gained through Jesus! the restoration of broken relationship.

We can once again converse with God because Jesus has paid the price for our sins. the broken connection has been made new.

By reading the Bible and praying we both hear from God and speak to Him.

… Enter now into following Jesus… As Christians Following Jesus is about trusting in Jesus and doing what he did.

… Enter now into following Jesus… As Christians Following Jesus is about trusting in Jesus and doing what he did.

1. Why pray?

Point 3

English Standard Version Chapter 5

17 wpray without ceasing

… Enter now into following Jesus… As Christians Following Jesus is about trusting in Jesus and doing what he did.

Jesus was a man of prayer!

The bible records Jesus praying 25 times.

If Jesus who, God in flesh saw a need to continually be praying. How much more should we?

If Jesus needed to be connected to his father in Conversation how much more should we?

2. What do I pray for?

English Standard Version Chapter 5

7 ycasting all your anxieties on him, because zhe cares for you.

If Jesus did all things by prayer. how can we think we can do anything without prayer.

Talking to go works, we just have to get started.

2. How do I pray?

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. aAnd 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. 9 fPray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.1

10  jYour kingdom come,

your will be done,2

lon earth as it is in heaven.

11  Give us this day our daily bread,3

12  and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

13  And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.4

n [ver. 34]

y ver. 2, 16

z ;

a ver. 4, 18

b ver. 32; ch. 5:47

c

d ;

e ver. 32

f For ver. 9–13, []

“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

g ver. 1

h ; [; ]

i

1 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence

.

j [ch. 3:2; 4:17]

k ch. 26:42; ; ; [ch. 12:50; ]

2 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done

l , ;

m

n [ver. 34]

3 Or our bread for tomorrow

o ch. 26:41; ; , ; []

p ; ; []

q See ch. 13:19

4 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

we start with praise.

we ask God for help surrendering our will to his.

“Father, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

3  Give us each day our daily bread,

4  and forgive us our sins,

for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And plead us not into temptation.”

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence3 he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and sit will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for4 a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

.

g See ch. 5:33

h For ver. 2–4, []

i ;

j ; [ch. 1:49; ]

k

l [; ]

m

n []

2 Or our bread for tomorrow

o See ch. 7:48

p ch. 22:40, 46; ; ; []

q [ch. 18:1–6]

3 Or persistence

r For ver. 9–13, see

s ; ; ; ; , ; , ; , , ; ; ,

t ; ; ; ; []

u []

4 Some manuscripts insert bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for

We

w ; ;

x [; ]

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

How would you feel if a close mate didn’t respond to your texts?

i“Father, jhallowed be kyour name.

Confidently - be bold - Honor God with your requests.

lYour kingdom come.

3  mGive us neach day our daily bread,2

• Example of king of Persia

4  and oforgive us our sins,

for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And plead us not into temptation.”

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything qbecause he is his friend, yet because of his impudence3 he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, rask, and sit will be given to you; tseek, and you will find; uknock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for4 a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, wwho are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father xgive the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

1 Greek he

Consistently - be persistent - don’t quite. ( the Lord’s Prayer.

g See ch. 5:33

h For ver. 2–4, [Matt. 6:9–13]

• The disciples saw Jesus example and wanted to learn how to pray.

i John 20:17; 1 Pet. 1:17

j Isa. 29:23; [ch. 1:49; 1 Pet. 3:15]

k John 17:6

• - Don’t give God rest with your prayers for him to move.

l [Matt. 3:2; 4:17]

m Prov. 30:8

n [Matt. 6:34]

2 Or our bread for tomorrow

Committed- believing - , - 3,

p ch. 22:40, 46; Matt. 26:41; Mark 14:38; [1 Cor. 10:13]

q [ch. 18:1–6]

•

3 Or persistence

r For ver. 9–13, see Matt. 7:7–11

• “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without

s Matt. 18:19; 21:22; Mark 11:24; John 14:13; 15:7, 16; 16:23, 24; James 1:5, 6, 17; 1 John 3:22; 5:14, 15

t 1 Chr. 28:9; 2 Chr. 15:2; Prov. 8:17; Jer. 29:13; [Isa. 55:6]

u [Rev. 3:20]

reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

4 Some manuscripts insert bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for

w Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Matt. 12:34

Summery: Pray Confidently, Consistently, and Committed.

x [John 4:10; Acts 2:38]

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 11:1–13.

How would you feel if a close mate didn’t respond to your texts?

Do you view God as a loving God who want to hear from you? or an angry father who’s always disappointed?

Do you view God as a loving God who want to hear from you? or an angry father who’s always disappointed?

Do you view prayer as a valuable use of your time?

How can you begin to pray more intentionally this week? Are there any specific situations you should start praying for?