Sermon Summary

This week, Pastor Chris continued in our Pray Like Jesus series, sharing the reality that our prayer lives reveal how healthy we truly are. Prayer is the temperature gauge for where we are at spiritually. It is the essential communication link between the visible and invisible realm and the primary way we articulate our emotions to God. Without prayer, there’s no communication or abiding relationship with the Lord. As we talk to Him, He talks back to us. If we want to pray like Jesus, the best place to start is the model of the Lord’s Prayer.

Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 

How to Pray Like Jesus

1. Connect with Him Relationally

Revelation 5:8–9 (ESV)

8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

2. Worship His Name

Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 

  • God is Righteousness – He makes us clean
  • God is Sanctifier – He has called us and set us apart 
  • God is Healer – He heals all our diseases
  • God is Banner of Victory – He defeated our enemies 
  • God is Shepherd – He speaks to us and leads us 
  • God is Peace – He is our peace in every storm
  • God is Provider – He supplies all of our needs 

3. Pray His Agenda First

Matthew 6:10 (ESV)

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

He will always give you all you need from day to day if you will make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. LUKE 12:31 TLB

4. Depend on Him for Everything

Matthew 6:11 (ESV)

11 Give us this day our daily bread

5. Forgive and Be Forgiven

Matthew 6:12 (ESV)

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors...

6. Engage in Spiritual Warfare

Matthew 6:13 (ESV)

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

7. Forgive from the Heart

Matthew 6:14 (ESV)

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Genesis 22:8–12 (ESV)

8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

Genesis 22:13–14 (ESV)

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

  • What are you withholding from God?

Discussion Questions

  1. Pastor Chris shared the reality that we rely too often on our five senses, when the Bible says to fix our eyes on what is unseen (2 Corinthians 4:18). Do you struggle with this at all? Share with the group and get prayer in that specific area.
  2. What are some ways that we can pray the Lord’s agenda? Share some ideas with the group.
  3. Pastor Chris shared the Biblical truth that we will be forgiven to the extent that we have forgiven others. What emotions does this reality produce in you? Is there anybody that you need to forgive today?
  4. Abraham was tested by God to prove the confidence of His faith and He withheld nothing, even his only son. Have you ever withheld a part of your life from God? Is there anything you need to surrender to Him today?

Application Questions

  1. Pastor Chris shared the reality that the Lord loves us passionately. Do you return his love with the same passion? Answer this question honestly this week and determine what stands in the way.
  2. Are you withholding anything from God? Search your heart this week and be honest before the Lord about anything He reveals.
  3. Have you been spiritually weak in your prayer life? Come before the Lord this week and commit to pray the Lord’s prayer daily, knowing that He stands ready to meet with you.