The Pattern of Prayer
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About This Sermon
Jarrett Stephens teaches from Matthew 6:5-15, where Jesus gives His disciples the Lord's Prayer as a pattern for how to pray. He begins by addressing the frustration many believers feel about prayer and emphasizes that Jesus taught prayer as a relationship to share, not a box to check. The first three petitions, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, and Your will be done, are all God-centered and flow from knowing God as Father.
Jarrett stresses that calling God "Abba" requires being adopted into God's family through faith in Christ's death and resurrection. He illustrates this with personal stories of fatherly tenderness and challenges listeners to see themselves held by God. The message includes a practical "seven-minute challenge" to help people begin praying through these first three petitions this week.
Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7; Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-4
Study Guide
A few ideas to carry with you, discuss with your group, or revisit during the week.
Practical Takeaways (5)
- Prayer is not a box to check; it is a life to share with the Father.
- You can only call God 'Abba, Father' through faith in Jesus' death and resurrection.
- The first three petitions of the Lord's Prayer are God-centered: His name, His kingdom, His will.
- Hallowed be Your name is a petition for God to act so people revere Him.
- God's kingdom is already here through His Spirit and not yet fully consummated at Christ's return.
Discussion Questions (5)
- What does Jesus' teaching about secret prayer in Matthew 6:5-6 change about how you think of your own prayer life?
- When you sit down to pray, do you tend to rush to your needs or start with relationship with God?
- What would it look like for you to spend time this week simply resting in God as your Abba Father?
- How can you pray 'Your kingdom come' in the ordinary places you go each day?
- What makes it hard to pray 'Your will be done,' and what would help you trust God's will more?
From the Series
Pray Like Jesus
Prayer was never an afterthought in the life of Jesus. It was the foundation of everything He did. Before the crowds, before the miracles, before the cross, Jesus continually met… Read morePrayer was never an afterthought in the life of Jesus. It was the foundation of everything He did. Before the crowds, before the miracles, before the cross, Jesus continually met with His Father. In Pray Like Jesus, we’ll journey through the Gospels to discover how Jesus prayed in every season of life. We’ll see His pattern of daily dependence, His prayers for others, His surrender in suffering, and His unwavering trust in the Father. More than learning about prayer, we’ll be invited to experience the same relationship with God that shaped every moment of Jesus’ life. Whether your prayer life feels vibrant or you’ve struggled to know where to begin, this series will help you grow in confidence, intimacy, and dependence on God as you learn to pray like Jesus. Show less
