Life Group Notes – February 20, 2022

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All Nations Church

Life Group Study

Jesus Said – Matthew 6:5-18

The Lord’s Prayer

Week of February 20^th,  2022

Study by Wayne Arcand

Prayer is an essential and integral part of a believer’s life. The quality of our prayer life may very well reflect the quality of our personal relationship with Jesus. What kind of a relationship can we have with our spouse, children or best friend if we never or seldom talk to them? What kind of a relationship can we have with our heavenly Father if we seldom or never talk to him? In this study, we will consider the nature of prayer and how the Lord’s prayer is a template given by Jesus to teach us how to pray to the Father.  My prayer is this study will help each of us to deepen our relationship and strengthen our walk with the Lord.

Matthew 6: Jesus Teaches about Prayer

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask hi-m.

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Fasting

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

1. Let’s start this study with a general discussion on our understanding of prayer:
   1. What is prayer?
   2. Why do we pray?
      1. Mark 1:35
      2. Philippians 4:6-7
   3. How do we pray?
      1. James 1:6
      2. John 16:23

• Romans 8:26

1. 1 John 5:14

1. When do we pray? 1 Thessalonians 5:17
   1. What is the context of this very short verse?
   2. How do we practically apply this principle?
2. What are we expecting when we pray?
3. What if our prayers appear not to be answered?

2. There are two key phrases that are repeated in Matthew 6, verses 5 to 8. ( The use coloured highlighters can make these verses stand out)
   1. Identify the phrases.
   2. What does each phrase suggest to you?
   3. What do you think the motivation is for the person in verses 5 & 7?
   4. What is the motivation of the person in verses 6?
   5. Who should our attention be focused on when we pray? Why?

3. In verses 9 to 13, briefly describe the meaning behind each verse and how each verse can be used as a pattern or template of how Jesus is teaching us to pray.

4. Consider verses 16 to 18:
   1. Do you see similarities between Jesus teaching on prayer and his teaching on fasting?
      1. What phrases and concepts are similar?
   2. What is the difference in motivation and reward for the hypocrite and the person who follows Jesus’ teaching?

For Personal Reflection:

How would I rate my prayer life? Perhaps more important, how do I think Jesus would rate my relationship to him? Do my priorities reflect my desire/commitment to spend time with Jesus that he might impact my life, and through me impact the lives of others? What changes do I have to make to have the kind of intimate relationship with Jesus that he desires with me?