Way of the King - The Lord's Prayer

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning - Release the Kids

Sermon on the Mount - Chapter 6

Thank You - Justin

Today’s Passage - searches our heart for the answer to this question: “On the stage of life, for whom do we perform?”

Who’s in your head, the critic, the cheerleader, etc...

I think of a young child at the pool or at the beach - as they play, what do parents often hear:

Watch this, look at me, watch, watch, watch… as parents we watch with a mixture of both joy and sometimes annoyance.

As kids grow they often begin to care less and less about their parents watching. In fact, sometimes they hope their parents aren’t watching as they try to impress their friends or fulfill their own desires.

As sons a daughters of God, we aren’t much different than children who want someone to watch us do good things but God is inviting us to live for him and the not the praise of others.

Will we live for:

The Applause of Man (or)

The Arms of Our Dad

I pray that you choose the embrace of your loving father.

Let’s pray and then jump into Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount

REVIEW

Setting: Jesus was calling to “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Crowds began gathering so Jesus went on the side of a mountain, sat down, and began teaching.

Teaching

Beatitudes… Salt & Light

Bookends | x6 examples |

Though Imperfect - God is transforming us into his likeness

We begin to pick up his mannerisms, his character traits, his speech - we are slowly being changed.

He is so different than us, yet he patiently draws us to his side to be with him and learn from him.

BEW

PERFORMING

PRAYING

BEWARE

FASTING

Caution, Look Out, Attention, Mind the Gap, Watch Your Step, Careful, etc...

Lights on the side of the highway

“of practicing your righteousness before other people....”

This isn’t discouraging public displays of your walk with God

“in order to be seen by others...’

The problem is when act spiritual in order to impress the people around you.

PERFORMANCE

Options:

Before the Church and Public

Before your Father

Jesus is like a big brother pointing us in the right direction

Reward:

Applause of Man - Temporary & Conditional,

Arms of God - Eternal & Unconditional

Justin talked about last week - the reward is God himself for all eternity, “the treasures of heaven”

GIVING

THUS...

Sound no trumphet before as

PRAYING

Praying As An Actor or as a Son

“You must not be like the hypocrites...” (Actor)

You must not… the force of this statement as a brother

The Greek word for hypocrite literally means, “actor, or stage player.”

It took on an extended meaning to refer to any person who was wearing a physical or figurative mask and pretending to be someone they were not.”

Attention seeking, self-serving, seeking the applause of man

They are standing on the stage of life - pretending to be spiritual as they performed for the applause of man.

Private Conversation between a child and his Dad

“Go into your room and shut the door...”

Personal Conversation between a child and his Dad

“Do not heap up empty phrases...”

REWARD

Applause of Man - “truly you have received your reward...”

Arms of Dad - “your father will reward you...”, “your father knows what you need...”

THEN PRAY LIKE THIS

WHY?

(1) Private Prayer, (2) Personal Prayer

Don’t just pray to impress people, and don’t repeat the same this over and over again trying to get God’s attention.

Empty Phrases - Repetition to get God’s attention

Magic Words - College basketball team, from the locker room to the hallway

UNDERSTANDING THE LORD’S PRAYER

I want to encourage you to prayerful listen as we talk through the elements in the Lord’s Prayer.

“OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN”

“Our Father...” Abba, Dad, Daddy, Pops, Papa, Papi

Hard Responses:

Dad wasn’t that loving, present, inviting, etc...

Bring what you have to God in prayer

Loving Invitation:

Praying a son or a daughter of the King

Imagine a king sitting on his throne as world leaders report back to him. You come running into the throne, hair matted with sweat from playing outside - he opens his arms for you to jump up in his lap so you have ask him for a popsicle.

“In Heaven...” His love and open arms do not diminish his authority as King, they demonstrate his character toward his children.

“HALLOWED BY YOUR NAME”

Mean holy, set-apart

Where are you looking…?

Walk up to someone while looking in the mirror? So how are you...”

“YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN”

“Whatcha doing… Can I help...”

Experiencing God by Henry Blackby said to, “Watch to see where God is working and join him” based on , .

“GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD”

Physical Needs - sometimes people try to over spiritualize this to mean communion or such but I think it is both simpler and yet more challenging at the same time.

Daily Dependence

Depending - Lord give me a storehouse so I don’t have to keep coming back. Give me a big fat bank account, etc.

Daily - Each and every day we come back to God for the basic essentials in our life.

This undercuts our self-sufficiency. Our sense of meeting our own needs and providing for ourselves.

“FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS”

Actor - Pretends and performs

Son - Confesses and draws near

Forgiven

Therefore, we can forgive

“LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL”

Actor - Pretends they are strong enough

Son - Asks for help

APPLICATION

PRAYING

Transformed Affections

How we approach God, as sons and daughters, or (actors) or (unwanted nuisances).

Transformed Thinking

Do you feel bad...

Don’t pray enough?

Can’t pray very long?

Get distracted?

What if you prayed shorter prayers more frequently?

Dad, Beautiful sunrise - thank you

Dad, these flowers are amazing. Your creativity is captivating.

Dad, Thank you for this job

Dad, this driver in front me is driving me bananas, can you help me have some patience.

Dad, thank you for these kids - can you make them go to sleep.

I believe we would be better served as followers of Jesus if we had a greater awareness of God throughout the day than if you Got up and prayed for an hour and then went the rest of your day without giving him a thought.

What if you prayer 1,000 5-second prayers as you went about your day - in conversation with God.

DEEPER CONVERSATION

MEMORY VERSE

September: Beatitudes

October: Lord’s Prayer

November: Treasures in Heaven ()

DEEPER CONVERSATION

Presentation of Information

Deeper conversation in the pursuit of transformation.

Think of these words from Jesus

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

How do we respond as an individual Christians in a culture that will treat you different based on you ethnicity, or socio-economic background? How should we respond as a Church to injustices? These are not easy questions and there will be no easy answers. Join the conversation: To listen, to learn, and to participate.