Podcasts about teach us to pray

Unto Him be all the glory.Thank you for joining us!Want to learn more about us?Check out our website here: gtwychurch.comWe would love to get to know you!Connect with us here: https://gtwychurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/598658Interesting in giving?Follow this link: https://www.gtwychurch.com/givingWhat do you do when you don't know what to pray?There are moments when the situation is too complicated, the burden is too heavy, and our own words simply aren't enough. But God didn't leave us standing at the throne speechless.He gave us His Spirit.In this message, we explore what Scripture teaches about praying in the Spirit—why it matters, how it works, and what happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us beyond what our own understanding can express.We look at:• How Jesus opened the way to the throne through His blood• Why prayer was always meant to be Spirit-empowered• The different kinds of tongues described in Scripture• What Romans 8 teaches about the Spirit interceding for us• How praying in the Spirit builds and strengthens us• Why the Spirit helps us pray according to the will of God• What it means to receive the gift by faith• The hindrances that keep us from yielding to the Spirit• And how praying in the Spirit can become part of our everyday lifeWhen your language runs out, the Spirit doesn't.The Son is interceding above you.The Spirit is interceding within you.And you have been invited to come boldly.Prayer isn't limited to what you understand.There is a language for the throne.

Eric Johnson, Matthew 6:10 | At the heart of the Lord's Prayer is a longing “on earth as it is in heaven.” In this message, we explore what it means to pray for God's Kingdom to come and His will to be done in our lives and our world.

Emma continues our series on the Lord’s Prayer, looking at what it looks like to pray “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

Jesus' disciples noticed that he spent a lot of time in prayer. Famously they asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” His response noted in Luke and taught in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, is a specific formula that Christians know as The Lord's Prayer. In fact, you may know it by heart. But, do you really know what it means? Why does Jesus teach us to pray this way? Join us for a journey into The Lord's Prayer.Part 3

In this sermon on Ephesians 2:18 titled “Lord, Teach Us to Pray,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses some of the reasons prayers can be so ineffective. Ephesians 2:18 states that “through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” This verse shows the complexity of prayer. According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, a detrimental fallacy in the church is that prayer is simple. Some people focus on the reality that Christians have access to God through Christ and yet neglect the Spirit. They can pray with flawless doctrine but their prayers are “useless.” “You can be absolutely orthodox but at the same time be spiritually dead,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones shares. The other side neglects doctrine and says that all one needs is the Spirit. They elevate experience and throw out doctrine. However, Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that both right doctrine and life in the Spirit are absolutely essential. There is no other way to have access to God apart from these two and nothing should be added to these doctrines. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

Brian Holland - "Teach Us To Pray"

Even the disciples needed help with prayer. Today’s verses: Luke 11:1-4 For more short reflections and daily encouragement, follow my Facebook page: facebook.com/revgeorgepenk If you’d like to get in touch, you can email me at george@lifefm.co.nzSupport Bible Boost: https://donate.rhemamedia.co.nz/?utm_source=omnystudio&utm_medium=linkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you actually believe about God when you pray?Not what you know how to say. Not what you would answer in a Bible study. What do you believe about Him in the moment you bow your head?Hebrews 11:6 gives us a picture of prayer built on faith: we come to God because we believe He is who He says He is—and we keep coming because we believe He rewards those who diligently seek Him.In this message, we discover:• Prayer is an invitation to come boldly into God's presence• Our access to God was purchased by the blood of Jesus• What we believe about God's character shapes the way we pray• Faith gives us the confidence to keep coming when we can't see the answer• God is approachable, merciful, faithful, a healer, and still able to set people free• Diligent prayer isn't about earning an answer—it's the natural response of faith• And sometimes the greatest thing that keeps us praying isn't knowing what God will do, but knowing who He isThe door is open.The blood has been applied.The High Priest is interceding.And the invitation is still the same:Come boldly.Faith brings you to God, faith reminds you who He is when you get there, and faith keeps you there until the answer comes.

Eric Johnson, Matthew 6:9 | Over the next 8 weeks, we will be slowing down and working line by line through the Lord's Prayer.

In this sermon, Pastor Chan continues our series on the spiritual discipline of prayer by preaching on the following aspect of prayer: listening to God.Today's Message Text: John 10:1-4 Thanks for listening in to The Ridge's Sunday Audio podcast! Although we hope you are greatly blessed by listening to this message, we also believe it's important to belong to a local body of believers. If you live in our area, we would love to worship with you on Sunday mornings at 8:00a, 9:30a, or 11:15a!

Ever feel like you don't know what to say when you pray? You're not alone — even Jesus' own disciples had to ask him, "Lord, teach us to pray." This week, we're digging into Luke 11:1-13 and discovering that prayer was never about finding the right words — it's about honest, persistent asking to a God who gives good gifts. We'll talk about what actually gets in the way of a real prayer life, what John Wesley believed about prayer as one of the ordinary channels of God's grace, and what to do with the prayers that still feel unanswered. Plus — you'll never hear a chocolate chip cookie the same way again.

Starting our 3-part talk series on prayer, Cath looks at how we can abide in the love of God, who created the whole universe, and yet wants us to know him personally.

Jesus' disciples noticed that he spent a lot of time in prayer. Famously they asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” His response noted in Luke and taught in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, is a specific formula that Christians know as The Lord's Prayer. In fact, you may know it by heart. But, do you really know what it means? Why does Jesus teach us to pray this way? Join us for a journey into The Lord's Prayer.Part 2

As Christ's disciples, we should come confidently and persistently to our good Father with kingdom-shaped prayers in our hearts.

Join as Pastor John challenges us from The Lords Prayer, Luke 11:1-4

Every prayer starts the same way — by addressing God. This six-week series is built on that plain, personal act: prayer as a letter that begins “Dear God,” and keeps going, whatever shape it takes from there. It's anchored in Luke 11:1, the moment the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. Paired with 5 different teachers, Tyler Staton, Marjorie Suchoki, Howard Thurman, Henri Nouwen and Karl Barth, we will explore together different approaches to prayer that will draw us ever closer to God. [Luke 11:1–13]

In this sermon, Pastor David continues our sermon series on prayer.Today's Message Text: Luke 11:5-13 Thanks for listening in to The Ridge's Sunday Audio podcast! Although we hope you are greatly blessed by listening to this message, we also believe it's important to belong to a local body of believers. If you live in our area, we would love to worship with you on Sunday mornings at 8:00a, 9:30a, or 11:15a!

Thank you for listening! Connect with us online!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiversidePeoriaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/riversidepeoriaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@riverside_peoriaVisit our website: https://www.riversidepeoria.com

Jesus' disciples noticed that he spent a lot of time in prayer. Famously they asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” His response noted in Luke and taught in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, is a specific formula that Christians know as The Lord's Prayer. In fact, you may know it by heart. But, do you really know what it means? Why does Jesus teach us to pray this way? Join us for a journey into The Lord's Prayer.Part 1

Rev. Dr. Kevin Womack | Luke 11:1-13   Sermon Questions

Luke 11:1-4Speaker: Dr. Kevin Huddleston Lord, Teach Us to Pray Dr. Kevin Huddleston Download

Lord Teach Us to PrayLuke 11:1“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”King James Version (KJV)Message From Emmanuel is a weekly audio ministry of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Irvine, KY. We sincerely hope God blesses you as you listen!Follow us on Facebook: ebcky15Follow us on Twitter: ebckyCheckout our website! http://ebcky.com  Send us Fan MailFollow us on Facebook: ebcky15Follow us on Twitter: ebckyCheckout our website! http://ebcky.com

We are starting a new series called Teach Us to Pray, and Maria and Phil kicked it off with a beautiful overview of the life and journey of prayer.Maria's key Scripture was Luke 11, where the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.”Embedded within the Lord's Prayer, we discover many dimensions of prayer and devotion that are available to those who are willing to engage with them.Prayer is worship and adoration.
It is connection with the Father.
It is talking with Him.
It is asking and bringing our needs before Him.
It is caring for and interceding for others.
It is knowing the Father and growing in relationship with Him.
It is learning to hear His voice and understand His ways.
It is emptying our hearts of judgement, offence, and unforgiveness.
And prayer is also silence—being still in His presence.Phil shared about the power of silence and the importance of learning to be still so that we can encounter the Father's love.Sometimes prayer is not about finding more words; it is simply about becoming still enough to receive.Maria finished by sharing about the power of praying in the heavenly prayer language, known as tongues, as referenced in 1 Corinthians 12. There is something powerful about the rhythm of breathing in and breathing out grace.Prayer brings us back into alignment with the Father. It helps us surrender our own agendas, listen for His voice, and respond to what He is asking of us.Teach us to pray, Lord.

This week, Phil Mason introduced the concept of Upper Room culture, and Toby and Sophie Flipo, two of Tribe's worship leaders, shared their experiences hosting pop-up Houses of Prayer in their home.Upper Room Culture is unveiled in the gathering of Jesus and His disciples in the Upper Room on the night He was betrayed. They gathered around the Last Supper, as Jesus led them in a covenantal meal together. This remarkable culture was born out of the unique language Jesus introduced. His intimate teaching birthed apostolic culture, inviting the disciples to inhabit this heavenly culture as they participated in the genesis of the church. As someone famously said, “words create worlds.' Jesus invited the disciples to embrace this entirely new Upper Room culture expressed through the House of Prayer. Jesus' own prayer in John 17 embodied the Spirit of the House of Prayer movement.Toby and Sophie shared their passion for running House of Prayer events in their own home, something they have practiced for several years.We hope this joint effort blesses and inspires you.

In this sermon, Pastor David kicks off our 4-week spiritual disciplines sermon series on prayer.Today's Message Text: Matthew 6:9-13 Thanks for listening in to The Ridge's Sunday Audio podcast! Although we hope you are greatly blessed by listening to this message, we also believe it's important to belong to a local body of believers. If you live in our area, we would love to worship with you on Sunday mornings at 8:00a, 9:30a, or 11:15a!

What if the Lord's Prayer was never meant to be just something we say?What if Jesus was teaching us how to live?In this message, we unpack the Lord's Prayer and discover that Jesus didn't simply give His disciples words to repeat—He gave them a pattern for living in continual relationship with God.From “Our Father” to “deliver us from evil,” every line teaches us something about who God is, who we are, and how we're meant to live.Using passages from Luke 11, Matthew 6, Romans 8, Hebrews 4, Ephesians 6, and more, we explore:• Why prayer begins with relationship, not technique• What it means to hallow God's name—and to carry His name well• How prayer reorders our desires around God's kingdom• Why surrendering to God's will is at the heart of prayer• What “daily bread” teaches us about dependence on God• Why confession and forgiveness keep our hearts clean• How prayer prepares us for temptation and spiritual battle• Why prayerlessness is more serious than simply missing a devotional• How Jesus Himself modeled a life of continual communion with the FatherThis message isn't just about learning how to say a prayer.It's about learning how to live.Prayer moves us:from self-sufficiency to dependence,from self-centeredness to God's kingdom,from anxiety to trust,from hiddenness to confession,from bitterness to forgiveness,and from vulnerability to the strength of God.Jesus didn't just teach prayer.Jesus lived prayer.And if the Son of God would not live disconnected from the Father, neither can we.So the prayer of the disciples becomes our prayer too:“Lord, teach us to pray.”The Lord's Prayer gives us the pattern.The life of Jesus gives us the priority.

James explores the story of the early church's prayer in the face of persecution from Acts 4 as an example of the invitation God gives each of us to pray for Him to “use me”. Use Me James Dieter

Rev. Dr. Kevin Womack | Luke 11:1-4   Sermon Questions

This week, we explore Luke 11:1-4 in our series, Teach Us to Pray.Stay ConnectedWebsite: https://www.christcommunity.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christcommunityclt/

Lord, Teach Us to PrayLuke 11:1“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”King James Version (KJV)Message From Emmanuel is a weekly audio ministry of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Irvine, KY. We sincerely hope God blesses you as you listen!Follow us on Facebook: ebcky15Follow us on Twitter: ebckyCheckout our website! http://ebcky.com Send us Fan MailFollow us on Facebook: ebcky15Follow us on Twitter: ebckyCheckout our website! http://ebcky.com

Rev. Dr. Kevin Womack | Luke 11:1-4   Sermon Questions

This week, we explore Luke 11:1-4 in our series, Teach Us to Pray.Stay ConnectedWebsite: https://www.christcommunity.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christcommunityclt/

In prayer, God meets us where we really are and invites us to join in his healing work. When we pray for others, we don't have to control the outcome or have all the answers—we simply offer ourselves as a loving presence and trust God to work through us. Church, today we are invited to pray honestly, listen humbly, and carry one another into the presence of God. 

Summary In this episode, Ross Chapman and Rev. Dr. Jeff Hoffmeyer discuss the God Loves Work campaign, exploring the theological and practical significance of work in the Christian life, and how the drama of creation, fall, redemption, and new creation frames our understanding of work. Wherever you're listening—Spotify, Apple, or YouTube—subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show helps others discover what we're doing here. It's a small way to support the mission—and it means a lot to us. Resources Explore more resources this Labor Day and download God Loves Work devotionals Vol 1 and Vol 2 on God Loves Work. Listen to Teach Us To Pray podcast episode series to accompany the God Loves Work devotional. Listen to the first episode: The Drama of Work Pt. 1: Creation.

Welcome Online Family!  Join us in worshipping the King of Kings Jesus. If you have a need that we can pray for, please feel free to comment below or DM us and we would love pray with you! To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://bit.ly/36vpxdD Subscribe to get notifications on all the latest sermons and worship covers, click on the bell icon to receive notifications every time we post! Share with your friends, colleagues, loved ones.  ------------------------------------------- Connect with us on all Commission Socials: https://linktr.ee/CommissionChurch

Welcome to Day 2934 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2934– “The Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness” – Luke 11:14-28 Putnam Church Message – 08/16/2026 The Good News According to Luke: “The Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness.”   Last week, our message was “Lord, Teach Us To Pray,” and we learned Prayer is where our hearts are trained to live with God. Today, we continue with our thirtieth-fourth message from Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today's message is: “The Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness.” Our core passage today is Luke 11:14-28, starting on page 1614 of your pew Bibles. Jesus and Beelzebul 14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. 23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.' 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” 27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” 28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Opening Prayer Most High God, Creator of heaven and earth, You alone are worthy of worship. You rule over everything seen and unseen. No spiritual power rivals You; no throne challenges Your sovereignty; no darkness can extinguish Your light. Lord Jesus, open our eyes today to the larger story of Your Kingdom. Help us understand the spiritual battle without becoming fascinated with darkness or fearful of the enemy. Holy Spirit, fill us with truth. Protect us from deception. Teach us to hear the Word of God and obey it. May Your Kingdom come more fully in us, through us, and around us. In the victorious name of Jesus Christ, amen. Introduction: There Is More Going On Than We Can See Most of what people in our culture know about Satan, demons, and angels probably comes from movies, novels, television programs, and video games. And popular culture usually makes one of two mistakes. / Either the supernatural becomes fantasy — something primitive people once believed before science enlightened us. / Or the supernatural becomes entertainment — angels, demons, ghosts, and evil spirits made frightening enough to sell movie tickets. The Bible gives us neither picture. / Scripture presents an unseen spiritual realm as every bit as real as the world we can see. / But we need to say something immediately. Satan is not God's opposite. There is no eternal yin and yang. / There are not two equally powerful kingdoms battling to see which one survives. / God has no equal. / Everything else — visible or invisible — is created. / That includes angels. / That includes the heavenly host. That includes Satan. / That includes every rebellious spiritual power. And this is where one of my Biblical mentors, the late Dr. Michael Heiser, called the Divine Council worldview helps us recover something the ancient biblical writers simply assumed their readers understood. The Old Testament describes God presiding over a heavenly assembly. / Psalm 82 pictures God standing in the divine council. / Psalm 89 speaks of the assembly of heavenly beings. Job opens with the “sons of God” presenting themselves before the Lord. / First Kings 22 gives us a glimpse of the heavenly host surrounding God's throne. / But these beings are never equal to God/Yahweh. Think of a king and his royal court. The existence of a court does not diminish the king. The biblical God is Creator. / Everything else was created. / He possesses authority inherently. / They possess only whatever authority He delegates. / He alone is worthy of worship. But some of those spiritual beings rebelled.  / And when we follow that thread through Scripture, suddenly Luke 11 becomes much larger than one demon being cast out of one mute man. We discover that Jesus has walked onto the battlefield of a war that stretches back to Eden. And the King has come to reclaim what was lost. The Larger Story: Three Rebellions and One Divine Rescue Mission Before we enter Luke 11, let me give you the broad biblical picture. / We do not need to become Bible scholars this morning. Just remember three moments. Eden: / Genesis 3 records humanity's rebellion. / The supernatural rebel (referred to as a serpent or “shining one”) deceives Eve and challenges God's goodness. Humanity joins the rebellion. / Death enters human experience. / Humankind becomes alienated from God. The Days Before the Flood: / Genesis 6 describes another supernatural transgression involving the “sons of God,” cohabiting with the “daughters of the earth,” which produced the Nephilim, followed by extraordinary corruption and violence. / Whatever questions remain about every detail; Scripture is showing us that human rebellion and supernatural rebellion become intertwined. Babel: / Then comes Genesis 11. Humanity gathers in defiance of God's command to spread throughout the earth. God scatters the nations. / Deuteronomy 32 looks back on that event and describes the Most High dividing humanity according to members of the heavenly court, while Israel becomes the Lord's own portion. In other words, the nations rebelled against God, and God gave them over. / But those spiritual rulers themselves became corrupt. / Psalm 82 pictures God judging them because they ruled unjustly. / And listen to the final prayer of Psalm 82: “Rise up, O God, and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you.” There is the hope. / God intends to reclaim the nations. / Immediately after Babel, Genesis 12 introduces Abraham. / God tells Abraham that through his family all the families of the earth will be blessed. God is launching a rescue mission. / Israel would become the nation through which the Messiah would come. / And through the Messiah, the nations would be reclaimed. Now remember what has happened recently in Luke. /...

In this episode of Teach Us to Pray, Brian and Cory sit down with Kansas City Underground Hub Leader Lori Roy to talk about her journey of learning to pray, and what she's seen God do through years of persistent prayer.Lori shares how she came to faith after moving to Kansas City, how praying Scripture became a lifeline as she prayed for her husband and family, and how her understanding of prayer grew into listening to and responding to the Holy Spirit. We explore the importance of giving people permission to be clumsy in prayer, modeling simple prayer for new disciples, and creating spaces where everyday people can learn to hear from God.

Join us as Pastor Rich closes our series, Teach Us To Pray.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Womack | Luke 11:1-13   Sermon Questions

This message titled, "Lord, Teach Us to Pray" outlines the essential principles of effective communication with God, emphasizing the need for persistence, humility, and relationship over religious rituals. Using the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 and Luke 18:1-14, this message identifies the “how to” along with spiritual hindrances like sin, pride and unforgiveness. We also examine practical strategies for maintaining a lifestyle of continual prayer. As believers we are encouraged to seek God's will, trusting that a heart of prayer leads to a deeper relationship with the Father.

This week, we explore Luke 11:1-4 in our series, Teach Us to Pray.Stay ConnectedWebsite: https://www.christcommunity.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christcommunityclt/

Welcome to Day 2929 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2929– “Lord, Teach Us to Pray” – Luke 11:1-13 Putnam Church Message – 08/09/2026 The Good News According to Luke: “Lord, Teach Us To Pray.”   Last week, our message was “Exchanging What's Good for What's Best,” and we learned that when good things begin to crowd out the best thing, have the courage to exchange what is good for what is best. Today, we continue with our thirty-third message from Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today's message is: “Lord, Teach Us To Pray.” Our core passage today is Luke 11:1-13, on page 1614 of your pew Bibles. Jesus' Teaching on Prayer 1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father,[a] hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.[b] 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c] And lead us not into temptation.[d]'” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.' 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Opening Prayer Father, we come before You today as children who need to learn. We confess that we often pray last instead of first. We try to assemble life by our own wisdom, strength, and effort, and only when we have made a mess do we turn to You. Lord Jesus, teach us to pray. Teach us not only the words of prayer, but the heart of prayer. Teach us to come to the Father with reverence, trust, humility, boldness, and surrender. Holy Spirit, open our hearts to receive Your Word, and make prayer not a last resort, but the daily breath of our souls. In Jesus' name, amen. Introduction: When All Else Fails, Read the Instructions There is an old saying many of us know well: “When all else fails, read the instructions.” Some of us live by that saying a little too confidently. We look at a box marked “Some Assembly Required,” and instead of beginning with the instruction sheet, we dump the parts on the floor, glance at the picture on the box, and say, “I can figure this out.” And sometimes we can. / But every now and then, we get humbled. Imagine Christmas Eve. The children are asleep. A hidden box is dragged from the closet. The parts are laid out with great confidence. Screws, bolts, panels, wheels, rods, brackets — all carefully arranged. The project begins smoothly. But somewhere around midnight, the finished product starts looking less like the picture on the box and more like an abstract sculpture. Finally, with dawn approaching, the builder digs the instructions out of the trash. At the top of the page, in small print, some sarcastic soul has written, “Now that you have made a mess of things, please start over and follow these instructions.” That is funny because it is true. And it is often how we approach prayer. We say, “When all else fails, pray.” But Jesus did not live that way. Jesus did not pray only when He was desperate. / He prayed before major decisions. / He prayed after ministry. / He prayed in solitude. / He prayed with others. / He prayed when crowds pressed in. / He prayed in joy. / He prayed in anguish. / He prayed before the cross. Luke has emphasized this repeatedly. / Jesus withdrew to lonely places to pray. / He prayed before choosing the Twelve. / He prayed on the mountain before the Transfiguration. / He prayed as His mission moved toward Jerusalem. / Prayer was not a spare tire in Jesus' life. / Prayer was the steering wheel. Last week, in “Exchanging What's Good for What's Best,” we saw Mary sitting at Jesus' feet while Martha was worried and upset about many things. Mary chose the one necessary thing — listening to Jesus. Now, in Luke 11, the disciples watch Jesus pray, and they realize they need instruction. They do not say, “Lord, teach us to preach.” They do not say, “Lord, teach us to heal.” They do not say, “Lord, teach us to cast out demons.” They say, “Lord, teach us to pray.” That request is still one of the most important requests any disciple can make. Let's explore four truths that will help us to understand why this one question is so important. These are found on your bulletin insert on the side that is titled: Lord, Teach us to Pray. Main Point 1: Prayer Begins With Relationship and Reverence Jesus begins the model prayer with one word: “Father.” / That is astonishing. Jesus does not begin with “Distant Creator,” though God is Creator. He does not begin with “Almighty King,” though God is King. He does not begin with “Sovereign Master,” though God is Lord. He teaches His disciples to begin with “Father.” In Greek, the word is pater. In Aramaic, Jesus used the intimate word Abba, which we see in Mark 14 when He prays in Gethsemane. Paul later says in Romans 8 and Galatians 4 that by the Spirit, believers cry, “Abba, Father.” This means prayer begins not with technique, but with relationship. We do not come to God as strangers trying to get the attention of a reluctant deity. We come as children to a Father who already knows us, loves us, and welcomes us. But Jesus also teaches reverence. “May your name be kept holy.” (Hallowed be your name.) God is Father, but He is not casual. / He is near, but not common. / He is loving, but

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian interviews Olivia Williamson, director of Claim Your Campus, about what it looks like when young people learn to pray for the places where God has already planted them. Olivia shares how prayer became part of the fabric of her own life, the story of students gathering to pray for change in their schools, and the vision of seeing student-led prayer in every middle and high school across the country. From simple prayer gatherings to students praying by name for friends who do not know Jesus, Olivia reflects on how prayer shapes young people to become more attentive to God and the people around them.

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New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Lord, Teach Us to Pray Luke 11:1-13 Introduction: We have talked quite a bit about the working relationship God has asked us to have with him. It is a challenging thought, and to many of us a concept we simply didn't know or understand. Remember in our previous lesson from Hebrews 2, Jesus calls us brothers. In other texts, we are called the family of God. In 2 Corinthians 6:1, Paul referred to us as “working together with God…” We often forget that the nature of God has always been to include angels and humans in his work. God could certainly do anything he desired independently of us, but that is not his choice. We are called to work together with him because he is growing us so we are prepared for the world to come. That brings us to the question of the his disciples. Pay careful attention to this request. The question is not “Teach us how to pray,” the question is “teach us to pray.” The difference between how to pray and learning to pray will become evident in Jesus' answer. Growing up as Jews, the disciples certainly would have known how to utter a prayer. We also are in a similar position. Most here would know how to pray. But just because we know how to pray, does not mean we actually pray as we should. Teaching us to practice prayer is what we need to most because of our consistent weakness of primarily praying when we experience a need. In other words, we fight against dependency on anyone other than ourselves. We think prayer is nothing more than making requests when we cannot figure out any other way of solving a problem. Three Parts to Jesus' Answer First, the model for prayer. We think we are acquainted with it, but this is revealed to us a different context than Matthew's account and a different purpose.  Then there is the parable of the friend at midnight that often confuses us. Is he telling us we are praying too much or praying too little? How does the parable answer the question? Finally, there are illustrations, primarily of a father with a son. The Model of Prayer You will notice it is a shortened version of the one in Matthew's account. It is very brief and to the point. But keep in mind, Jesus is answering the question, “Teach us to pray.”  There are two principles in the prayer that are subtle, but are foundational to the question of the disciples: Notice Jesus begins his answer with, when you pray say, “Father.” Addressing God as Father is not surprising to us; we have heard it all our lives. But that is the problem. We are so accustomed to it that it becomes an introductory title instead of a description of a description of our relationship with him. The word “Father” bookends the entire text. In verse 11, Jesus concludes with, “What father among you…”  With that said, how does “Father” teach us to pray? The answer right before us. We are not addressing a distant God. We are not trying to get the attention of monarch who is so busy running the world that it will take forever to get his attention. This is our Father. He is a Father far greater than any earthly father. Thus, verse 13, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give…” If any of my sons or grandchildren call me and ask me to do something for them, there is no question in their minds as to whether I will do it. Therefore, the Lord just taught us to pray!  The use of the plural in the prayer: “Give us…forgive us…” Our prayers are not to be self-centered. It is not “I,” “me,” and “my,” it is us. That will certainly teach us to pray. The Lord wants us to beware of selfishness in our prayers. If we are always thinking of others as we pray, we will have a lot to pray about, and we will be thinking more broadly about kingdom needs and not just personal needs.  Further the model prayer tells us a lot about prayer and how we approach it in our lives. While our prayers are typically filled with thanksgiving—and so they should be—this brief model highlights what should be on our hearts. The prayer is all about God. The first two requests shows us where our heart ought to be in regard to God's purposes for himself and for us. God's name being holy and God's kingdom/kingship in the world being the end goal of God's whole creation purpose should be the burning desire of our hearts. I would say that if we listen to our own prayers, what are we learning about where our treasure is? Consider for a moment the phrase, “Your kingdom come.” The meaning of that phrase has utterly been destroyed. For at least 100 years now we have been told we cannot prayer that prayer since the kingdom came in Acts 2. That is such a poor understanding of God's kingdom and a poor understanding of what Jesus is asking us to do. The kingdom refers to Jesus' reign, a reign that has a purpose not yet fully accomplished. “He will reign until all enemies are put under his feet.” That has not yet happened. Further, the “restoration of the kingdom” (Acts 1:6), is still happening since Jesus' reign has to do with capturing the hearts of all mankind as indicated in the Parable of the Sower.  Therefore, we must connect the “kingdom” to Jesus' work in bringing his reign to completion. In Luke 19:10-11, Jesus proclaims that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus follows that statement with an explanatory parable of the kingdom of God. Praying for the Kingdom to come is essentially a prayer for the success of the Kingdom in seeking and saving the lost. Please consider the word “lost” that Jesus used. How do you think of that word? When Jesus speaks of the lost, it is not just that a person has lost their way, it is that Jesus has lost a person. In the Parable of the Prodigal, who was suffering the most pain, the father or the one who had gone astray? It is without doubt the father! In every case, it is the parent that is enduring the most agony. Therefore, to pray your kingdom come is to share in the agony of our Father who has children he has lost.  Now remember Jesus is answering the question, “Teach us to pray.” Well, now how much do I have to pray for? I am at least praying for every person with whom I have a connection. “Teach us to pray!” Well, there you are, he just taught us. The second two requests are also about God, but in this case God's desire for us. What is God's primary concern for us? It is physical sustenance coupled with spiritual sustenance. Without physical sustenance/health we are unable to serve God with our strength. When Jesus healed people, what was their typical response? Their response was to serve the Lord and serve his kingship. That is our purpose, and we cannot do it without the physical, nor can we do it unless our sins are forgiven. Those are God's concerns and ought to be ours as well.  Therefore the question, “Teach us to pray,” is first answered by fixing the desires of our heart. We are good at quoting from Ecclesiastes that all is vanity. Yes, we know that everything outside of our pursuit of God and his kingdom is but a breath and there is no permanence to be found in it, but then we pray for the vanity!  The Parable of the Friend at Midnight The parable is an enigma to many people because it is typical to conclude that that Jesus is urging persistence in prayer. Not so! As G. Campbell Morgan states, “It teaches nothing of the kind. It teaches that there is no need when we are dealing with God, to hammer and hammer at the door. God is not asleep.” This parable is a contrast to how God would respond. God is not troubled by our knocking! God does not answer because our persistence is wearing him out and he wants it go away so he can go back to sleep! You will notice in the parable, that the friend does not get up and give his friend bread because he is a friend! It is on the basis of his “impudence,” or some versions, “shamelessness” (literally meaning of the word) that he answers the request. That is not God! In fact, Jesus explains the contrast when in verses 11-13 he refers to God as our Father, not friend, but Father. It is not necessary to beat on a father's door to get help. A father does not answer his son/daughter because there is no other way to get rid of him beating on the door in the middle of the night. And even if that were true of some fathers, it is certainly not true of our heavenly Father. Finally, we note the contrast between an earthly father and our heavenly Father. Earthly fathers, whom Jesus describes as “evil,” still know how to give good gifts to their children. Then he offers another contrast: “…how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”  To explain the above quote, consider the subsequent message in verses 14-23. Jesus is being accused of casting out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus explains that it is impossible that Satan would destroy his own kingdom. In fact, he is protective of his kingdom. Therefore, there is only one alternative. If Satan won't cast out Satan, then “the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Notice Jesus' words in verse 20: “but if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” What is the “finger of God?” Matthew 12:28 translates, “the Spirit of God” instead of finger of God.  Based on that context, Jesus is teaching that it is the power of the Spirit that is by which Satan's kingdom is being destroyed. Compare this with Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21. Vs. 16-17 “…according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…” Vs. 20 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…”  1 John 4:4 “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”  What then do we need most? We need power, power to overcome sin, power to comprehend and understand God's will as we study the words of the Spirit. Jesus says that power is a gift that comes from the Spirit of God. Ephesians 1:17, which is the beginning of Paul's prayer, states, “…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened…” That is our goal in Bible study, but that is also our goal in prayer! Does that not teach us to pray? Conclusion: We are back to the question, “Lord, teach us to pray.” What did the Lord teach that instructs us concerning our regular need to pray? We will be eager to pray because we have a perfect, heavenly Father.  Praying has to do with God's kingdom, which is our eternal home. Praying for our physical and spiritual welfare is necessary for us to serve God. God's answer to our prayers is always for our good so that we are prepared to work together with him both in this life and the life to come. Berry Kercheville The post Luke 11:1-13 Lord, Teach Us to Pray appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Subject: Bible ClassSpeaker or Performer: Sis Peggy McMillinScripture Passage(s): Matthew 6:9-13Date of Delivery: August 16, 2026