Sermon Series on Prayer
“Lord’s Prayer” -- A Seven-Week Series

Background
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at the 2003 Churchwide Assembly approved the Evangelism Strategy “Sharing Faith in a New Century” including this call to prayer:

Objective One: Call the Church to Prayer
. . . Pray for the renewal of this church so that every member congregation, synod, churchwide unit, and institution might bear witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Goal:
Activate and mobilize this church to pray for renewal that is grounded in the Word.

Sermon Series
Look at the Lord’s Prayer through the lens of evangelism. How does the Lord’s Prayer help the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, its members, congregations, synods, churchwide ministries, and related institutions and agencies, in its call to prayer and renewal? How does the Lord’s Prayer assist us to hear the call to bear witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ?

Week 1. "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name"

Jesus begins this prayer with a plural word “our”. This is not a “me and Jesus” prayer. Instead we are united with others throughout the globe, people who pray in a variety of languages and hold customs far different than ourselves. We seek ways to keep God’s name holy, by using God’s name for prayer, praise and thanksgiving. But, we may need a push here. We also keep God’s name holy as we proclaim God’s wonderful deeds. God’s holy name is not intended to be kept silent.

Let us give thanks for the passion of missionaries and evangelists who took seriously the call by Jesus to become his witnesses to the ends of the earth. How might telling others about God’s mighty deeds be a way of keeping God’s name ‘hallowed’ or holy? How do you and I witness in our homes, schools, neighborhood and workplaces? Are we willing to walk to the next cubicle to tell of Jesus?

Week 2. "Thy Kingdom come"

Martin Luther writes in the Small Catechism, “God’s kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask in this prayer that it may come also to us.” This does not mean we can become complacent, passive or apathetic. Instead, let us pray to be open to ways God might use us to bring God’s reign to this earth. How might we proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to those who do not know of the love of God? How might we be part of God’s team?

Week 3. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"

Much hinders God’s will, but we pray that we might not be ones who prevent God’s will from happening. We pray that we are not stumbling blocks for others to hear of God’s love made known in Christ. Unfortunately, we sometimes build walls and blockades to stop changes in our church. Our behavior can prevent people from hearing of Christ. Other times our good, but misdirected, intentions actually block the mission of Christ and God’s will. Let us confess those times when we have hindered God’s will. Let us pray for wisdom and open spirits to allow God’s will to be done in and through us.

Week 4. "Give us this day our daily bread"

God certainly has blessed this creation with bounty upon bounty. Yet, so often we forget this petition includes the plural “our bread”. We cannot just eat a full meal and forget about others who are hungry in this world. Nor can we ignore the homeless or those in need.

Evangelism is proclaiming good news in word and deed. How can someone hear the Good News of Jesus when her children are starving? How can someone hear the Good News of Jesus when he is exhausted from thirst?

Week 5. "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"

Each of us has experienced hurts, wounds, and injustices. Quickly, our lives can spin out of control filled with anger, bitterness and hatred. Somewhere the cycle of hatred needs to end. Jesus teaches us to forgive. By the grace of God, we let go and embrace the day. Slowly our hardened hearts yield to a life with joy and hope. By God’s grace, we witness to the freeing power of forgiveness in Christ.

Week 6. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"

We do get tempted. Evil pulls at us. We ask God might watch over us and guide us through life. We pray we might not be deceived by all that draws us from God. It is so easy to confuse our busy schedules with lives which truly serve Jesus Christ. For our sake, Jesus kept it very simple: Love one another; Tell everyone about my love. Yet, we succumb to the daily temptation to not be a witness to Jesus. O God, help us!

Week 7. "For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen"

We give God glory by offering our lives to follow Jesus Christ. Let us seek ways to give God glory by bearing witness in all that we do to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Amen

-- Written by Robin McCullough-Bade