Sermon 08-14-11 "Our Father"

We have devoted ourselves to prayer this summer. From May through August. Praying the Psalms. Prayer meetings. Praying for our church’s mission. Seeking God on “his own terms,” not placing him under our conditions and restrictions. We now bring this season of prayer to a close. This of course does not mean a conclusion to our praying. Today we consider the ongoing rhythm of prayer. Varying from the routine, we structure our whole service today around Jesus’ prayer given to his disciples (Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4).

“That we may know what and how to pray, Jesus has taught us both the way and the words.”

- Martin Luther on the Lord’s

- Prayer, Large Catechism

“Let this be understood above all: the power of prayer is not in us, that we speak. It is in God, that he listens! It is his hearing that causes a true connection.”

- Walter Wangerin, Whole Prayer

“We humans, somewhere along the way, seem to have picked up the bad habit of trying to get life on our terms, without all the bother of God . . . Worse, the word has gotten around in recent years that ‘spirituality’ itself might be a way of getting a more intense life without having to deal with God . . . But true spirituality is a passion for life and a willingness to risk identity and security in following Jesus, no matter what.”

- Eugene Peterson

New sermon posted at reliantchurch.org