JBF Special Bible Study                                                                          SWS 09/27/2009

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Matthew 6:5-13

Key Verse 6:9-10 “⁹This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

What is a prayer? Why should we pray? What’s the reward of prayer? 

Read verses 5-8 (Bad example).  What is a hypocrite? How do hypocrites pray? Why is it important that some of our prayer be “done in secret”? Why might a person babble (say many unnecessary words) in prayer? Yet why should we not?

Read verses 9-13 (Good example). Why do you think Jesus gives such a model of prayer? What is the common theme of the first three prayer topics in the Lord's Prayer? Of the last three prayer topics?  

Refer to verses 9-13. What does it mean to address God as "Our Father in heaven"? Why should we pray that God's name be hallowed? For his kingdom to come and his will be done on earth?  Why should we pray for "our daily bread"? For his forgiveness? For his leading us not into temptation?

What is the difference between the Lord’s Prayer and the hypocrite’s prayer?

To whom? (relationship with God)

Where?     (place)

What?       (topics, priority, clearness)

How?        (babbling or simplicity)