Prayer's Purpose - Spiritual Alignment (Matt 6,5-9)

Title:        Prayer’s Purpose – Spiritual Alignment

Date:        October 15, 2006 (Note: Part 2 “Community Building Prayer” Oct 22)

Text:        Matt 6:5-8 (Note: Part 2 = Matt 6:9-15, emphasis on 12 & 14)

Idea:        Prayer aligns you with God’s will

Series:     Christian Character & Virtue

Idea:        Morality = Virtue + Purpose + Social Ethics

                                         Virtue = Who we are

                                         Purpose = Be holy, for I am holy (cf Love God & neighbor)

                                         Social Ethics = Kingdom Life

Prayer includes:

       Petition

       Intercession

       Adoration

       Thanksgiving

Personal prayer would become egocentric if not held in balance with intercession, adoration & Thanksgiving (ties in to next week’s “Community Building Prayer”)

Summary: Prayer aligns us with God’s will. The goal of prayer is not absorption in the God … it is the transformation of the world for God’s glory.