Sermon - 2019-07-28
Within the past few weeks, we have been diving deeper into familiar scripture. Today, is no different. We continue with a series of sermons that allows us to dive deeper and hopefully grow closer to God in these familiar words and messages. Today we hear Jesus teaching his own disciples how to pray, the most famous prayers in the world.
Now this is a prayer that we say every single Sunday and hopefully you also speak it during the week as well. For it is a powerful prayer and one that we should examine more fully in Martin Luther’s explanation in the Small Catechism so that we appreciate the words more fully and know the depth of the meaning. For those of us who may not have looked at the Small Catechism since Confirmation, I am going to remind that in the hymnal on page 1163 in the ELW is the Small Catechism in regards to the Lord’s Prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer is something that draws us close to God and speaks volumes of how it is we may speak with our Heavenly Father. The very first line speaks to this, we are His children and because of His love, we are able to call Him Father. However in the very next line, we acknowledge that God is God and we are not. For we pray that God’s Kingdom and not this world be our focus. That God’s Will is more important than our own will. This last one is one that we truly struggle with and need a reminder about.
However, it is the next line that truly stood out to me. Give us this day, our daily bread. For God would surely give us what it is we need without our asking but truly in asking, we are being reminded of God’s goodness, generosity and His love for you and for all people. Jesus teaches us that God is active within our daily life. Now this is an accepted idea within our modern church but it has not always been the case. Now God is approachable and understands our needs.
Oh but we are good humans. Our next idea or thought maybe, “am I worthy to receive this?” Well Jesus has you covered. In the next line, Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. However note the language here. Jesus teaches us that we are asking God to forgive us as we forgive others. Yes, how we treat and think of others is also how God himself will treat us. Now this may cause us to reflect on how it is we treat others around us. How we treat our family, friends and strangers on the street.
And for those of us that feel convicted by this, well Jesus continues that we pray, “Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.” A reminder for us that God is with us and help us through the struggles of this world including ourself. That even when we worry, wonder where is God in all of our life, we know that God is right there with us. Sometimes carrying us when we do not realize it.
Now this is a prayer that we say every single Sunday and hopefully you also speak it during the week as well. For it is a powerful prayer and one that we should examine more fully in Martin Luther’s explanation in the Small Catechism so that we appreciate the words more fully and know the depth of the meaning. For those of us who may not have looked at the Small Catechism since Confirmation, I am going to remind that in the hymnal on page 1163 in the ELW is the Small Catechism in regards to the Lord’s Prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer is something that draws us close to God and speaks volumes of how it is we may speak with our Heavenly Father. The very first line speaks to this, we are His children and because of His love, we are able to call Him Father. However in the very next line, we acknowledge that God is God and we are not. For we pray that God’s Kingdom and not this world be our focus. That God’s Will is more important than our own will. This last one is one that we truly struggle with and need a reminder about.
However, it is the next line that truly stood out to me. Give us this day, our daily bread. For God would surely give us what it is we need without our asking but truly in asking, we are being reminded of God’s goodness, generosity and His love for you and for all people. Jesus teaches us that God is active within our daily life. Now this is an accepted idea within our modern church but it has not always been the case. Now God is approachable and understands our needs.
Oh but we are good humans. Our next idea or thought maybe, “am I worthy to receive this?” Well Jesus has you covered. In the next line, Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. However note the language here. Jesus teaches us that we are asking God to forgive us as we forgive others. Yes, how we treat and think of others is also how God himself will treat us. Now this may cause us to reflect on how it is we treat others around us. How we treat our family, friends and strangers on the street.
And for those of us that feel convicted by this, well Jesus continues that we pray, “Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.” A reminder for us that God is with us and help us through the struggles of this world including ourself. That even when we worry, wonder where is God in all of our life, we know that God is right there with us. Sometimes carrying us when we do not realize it.
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