Topical · Week 2 of 6

The Prayer Jesus Taught

Matthew 6:9-13

The Lord's Prayer as a framework

Main Point

The Lord's Prayer isn't just words to recite — it's a framework for an entire life of prayer.

Application Ideas

Use each line of the Lord's Prayer as a prompt for your own prayers this week. Spend 2 minutes on each phrase.

Discussion Questions

Why does Jesus start with 'Our Father' and not 'My Father'? How does each petition shape the way we approach God?

Detailed Sermon Outline

Primary Text: Matthew 6:9-13

Supporting Texts: Luke 11:2-4; Exodus 20:3-7; Proverbs 30:8

Big Idea: The Lord's Prayer teaches us to prioritize God's kingdom and character above our own needs, and to seek forgiveness both from God and toward others.

Target Length: 35-40 minutes

Introduction

Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's Prayer. Not as a magic formula to recite, but as a pattern for how to pray. In this one prayer, Jesus gives us everything we need to understand the priorities of prayer.

The Lord's Prayer begins with God's character and kingdom, moves to our needs, addresses our sin and forgiveness, and ends with deliverance from evil. It's a complete theology of prayer in a few sentences.

Today we're unpacking this prayer and learning how to pray like Jesus taught.

I. Begin With God's Name and Kingdom (Matthew 6:9-10)

'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.' This is where Jesus starts.

Prayer doesn't begin with your needs. It begins with God's character. Hallowed be your name — set apart, sacred, holy.
Your kingdom come — you're not praying for your kingdom. You're praying for God's kingdom to advance.

This reorients everything. Prayer is not about getting God to help you achieve your goals. It's about aligning yourself with God's goals.

II. Ask for Your Daily Bread (Matthew 6:11)

'Give us today our daily bread.' Now Jesus addresses needs. But notice: daily bread, not future security. Not luxury. Daily sustenance.

This teaches dependence. You're not praying for next year. You're trusting God for today. This builds faith.
It also teaches perspective. You don't need to accumulate everything. You just need what's sufficient for today.

In our consumer culture, this is radical. Jesus teaches us to be content with enough, trusting that God will provide tomorrow when it comes.

III. Forgive and Be Forgiven (Matthew 6:12)

'Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.' Here's the heart of the prayer. You're asking for forgiveness while offering it.

There's a condition: you forgive others as you've been forgiven. If you're holding onto bitterness, unforgiveness, you're blocking your own access to God's forgiveness.
This is not transactional. God's forgiveness doesn't depend on you forgiving others. But your experience of God's forgiveness does.

Living in unforgiveness is living in a prison. Forgiving others is releasing yourself from that prison.

IV. Deliverance From Evil (Matthew 6:13)

'And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' The prayer ends where it must: with a recognition that there are forces working against us.

Prayer is not just about asking for good things. It's about asking for protection from evil.
You're acknowledging that you can be tempted, that you're vulnerable, and that you need God's protection.

This is humility. You're not enough. You need God's strength to resist temptation.

Appeal

Pray the Lord's Prayer this week. Not as a recitation, but line by line. Let each petition shape how you pray. Let it reorient your priorities.

Then teach others to pray this way. Show them that prayer is not about getting God to do what you want. It's about aligning yourself with what God wants.