Lesson on Prayer, September 2, 2007

Today Hybels turns to the Lord’s Prayer … and those of you who have been in the class for a while know that this topic brings a broad smile to the teacher’s heart. Indeed, not too long ago we studied the Lord’s Prayer for 10 weeks. [To see a summary of the ten lessons go to www.sundayschoolblog.typepad.com ]

We will follow Hybels, [Opening Your Heart to God: Prayer, Zonderman, 1997] and will focus on three points.

Point 1: Hybels reminds us that Jesus provided us with the Lord’s Prayer at a time when Jesus was delivering a number of teachings about prayer. So the Lord’s Prayer is in fact a teaching prayer. In Matthew 6 where the Lord’s Prayer is found, we find three teachings about prayer.
Evidently in Jesus time there were men who felt that to show they were religious they should locate themselves in public places and pray loud public prayers. Jesus taught, “Go into your closet to pray.”
Evidently in Jesus time these same men prayed by stringing together series of high sounding phrases as they prayed noisily. Jesus said, “Keep it simple and authentic.”
Then Jesus taught his followers the Lord’s prayer.

Point 2, Chasing a rabbit: In a moment I want to return to the Lord’s Prayer as a teaching prayer, but I want to chase a rabbit with Hybels for just a minute: Hybels keys on the fact that Jesus talks about misuse of prayer in his teaching and wants to discuss this issue for moment: He reminds us of an episode that is recorded in Luke 9. Jesus was traveling with his disciples toward Jerusalem, and they came to a point in their journey from which the quickest way to complete the journey was to cross the district known as Samaria. However, Samaria was a district where Jews were not always welcome. Jesus petitioned for right of passage but he was denied. The disciples were incensed and prepared to pray for fires to come down and consume those who barred the way. Jesus cooled them off and moved in another direction. Hybels understands the disciples’ proposed prayer as being an abuse of prayer. It is an attempt to capture the power of God for our convenience.

Hybels then asks us, “Have you seen prayer abused?” So, that is the first question I lay before you today. Can you think of a time in your experience in which you have seen prayer abused or have abused prayer?


Discussion
Example from Hybels: Stan had an unbridled desire to acquire neat gadgets and shiny things. To this end he maxed out his credit cards and pushed to the limit his other lines of credit. When the creditors closed in, Stan retreats to his bedroom and prays:
God I need a job that pays better
God I need some lottery numbers
God I need cash, and quick.
Hybels regards Stan’s prayer as an abuse of prayer. Hybels wants Stan to pray: “God, help me to face the truth about myself. I am broken and I need your healing. I am dishonoring your and my life is out of control Help me acquire the basic tools of budgeting and self-control. Give me the courage to take the steps I need to take to face my brokenness and have victory.”


Ed’s response to Hybels example. I differ a bit with Hybels when he labels Stan’s prayer as abuse of prayer. I think that God receives with equal compassion Stan’s prayer in his bedroom after his profligacy and a soldier’s prayer in a foxhole after a month of debauchery. However, I believe that God’s answer may not be a new job or lottery numbers. God’s answer may be to lead Stan to the kind of self-examination and confession that Hybel recommends for Stan in his version of the prayer. I find it hard to label any personal or private prayer as “abuse of prayer.” I do believe, however, that one of the primary outcomes of prayer is that we are lead to see ourselves and to see the world with God’s eyes.


Point 3: Now, back to the Lord’s Prayer as a teaching prayer:

In reading the Lord’s Prayer we are sometimes overcome with the blindness of familiarity. We have said/read it so often we miss the things it has to teach. Please read again keeping these questions in mind:
If you were reading this prayer for the first time, what phrase or aspect of the prayer would surprise you most?
Compare this prayer to your prayers (or the prayers you have heard others pray).
What is in this prayer that often does not make it into your prayers?
What is not in this prayer that often is included in your prayers?

Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.

Discussion
In reference to A.C.T.S., Thanksgiving seems to be somewhat left out of this prayer. Yes, ‘Give us today our daily bread’ is really not a thanks, but a request for our own needs. Another point brought up in class was in reference to what is not in this prayer that we often include in our prayers dealing with Supplication. There is really nothing specifically mentioned about lifting up to God the concerns for others. On the other hand, words such as our, us and we were used suggesting the inclusion of all people.