The Method of Prayer

When it comes to the Christian experience, we often find ourselves on the extreme ends of a spectrum.

We either believe there is no need for use to submit ourselves under a standard practice.

OR

We believe that we need a standardized playbook for each situation in life.

These polar extremes are demonstrated best in the discipline of prayer.

Those of you who have been Baptist your whole life probably have never considered how to pray.

If you have a background with a more liturgical denomination such as: Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, Presbyterian, you probably have a more repetitious prayer life.

So, the question we will ask of the text this morning is, “Does the Bible offer us a method for our prayer life.”

And the Bible responds with Matt. 6:5-13, in which the Lord Jesus, Himself, gives us a pattern, a method for us to consider and apply in prayer.

Prayer is a Private Pursuit (vs. 5-6)

Jesus puts forward the religious standard practices of His day as hypocrites.

Their prayers are for the public.

Their prayers are for personal profit.

In counter, Jesus commands His disciples to pray to God.

Their prayers were to be in private.

Their prayers would bring out a public gift.

Prayer is a Personal Bond (vs. 7-8)

In the second group of contrasting verses, Jesus tells his disciples to not pray like the nations or heathen do.

Their prayer was repetitious.

Their prayer’s intent was an invoking.

In contrast, Jesus commands His followers to be different.

Their prayer was to be focused upon their relation to the Father.

Their prayer was to be reliant upon the Father’s knowledge.

Prayer has a Proper Form (vs. 9-13)

Recognition of Holiness

Request of the Divine Will.

Reliance for Personal Need.

Repentance and Relinquish of sin.

Request for Protection

Return to Holiness