LUTHER SEAL OR LUTHER ROSE THE FIRST SHOULD BE A BLACK CROSS IN A HEART, WHICH RETAINS ITS NATURAL COLOR, SO THAT I MYSELF WOULD BE REMINDED THAT FAITH IN THE CRUCIFIED SAVES US. "FOR ONE WHO BELIEVES FROM THE HEART WILL BE JUSTIFIED". ALTHOUGH IT IS INDEED A BLACK CROSS, WHICH MORTIFIES AND WHICH SHOULD ALSO CAUSE PAIN, IT LEAVES THE HEART IN ITS NATURAL COLOR. IT DOES NOT CORRUPT NATURE, THAT IS, IT DOES NOT KILL BUT KEEPS ALIVE. "THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" BUT BY FAITH IN THE CRUCIFIED.

LUTHER SEAL OR LUTHER ROSE SUCH A HEART SHOULD STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF A WHITE ROSE, TO SHOW THAT FAITH GIVES JOY, COMFORT, AND PEACE. IN OTHER WORDS, IT PLACES THE BELIEVER INTO A WHITE, JOYOUS ROSE, FOR THIS FAITH DOES NOT GIVE PEACE AND JOY LIKE THE WORLD GIVES. THAT IS WHY THE ROSE SHOULD BE WHITE AND NOT RED, FOR WHITE IS THE COLOR OF THE SPIRITS AND THE ANGELS.

LUTHER SEAL OR LUTHER ROSE SUCH A ROSE SHOULD STAND IN A SKY- BLUE FIELD, SYMBOLIZING THAT SUCH JOY IN SPIRIT AND FAITH IS A BEGINNING OF THE HEAVENLY FUTURE JOY, WHICH BEGINS ALREADY, BUT IS GRASPED IN HOPE, NOT YET REVEALED. AND AROUND THIS FIELD IS A GOLDEN RING, SYMBOLIZING THAT SUCH BLESSEDNESS IN HEAVEN LASTS FOREVER AND HAS NO END. SUCH BLESSEDNESS IS EXQUISITE, BEYOND ALL JOY AND GOODS, JUST AS GOLD IS THE MOST VALUABLE, MOST PRECIOUS AND BEST METAL.

THE PERFECT PRAYER

SUNDAY BIBLE CLASS SCHEDULE NOV 2 – LORD’S PRAYER NOV 9 – EAST FORK PRESENTATION NOV 16 – LORD’S PRAYER NOV 23 – LUTHER PREP PRESENTATION NOV 30 – LORD’S PRAYER DEC 7 – CANTATA FELLOWSHIP DEC 14 – LORD’S PRAYER DEC 21 – LORD’S PRAYER DEC 28 – CHRISTMAS BREAK

NOTE THESE ARE THE TWO CURRENT VERSIONS OF THE LORD’S PRAYER COMMONLY USED IN OUR CHURCHES. ONE IS FROM 1988 AND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LITURGICAL CONSULTATION. THE OTHER IS FROM 1928 AND THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER.

INTRODUCTION 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, OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD; AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES,

INTRODUCTION AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY ARE YOURS NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN. AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US; AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.

HISTORICAL SETTING JESUS’ DISCIPLES (HIS “STUDENTS”) ONCE ASKED HIM ABOUT PRAYER (LUKE 11:2-4). THEY WANTED JESUS’ GUIDANCE FOR PRAYER. (PRAYER IS A HEART TO HEART CONVERSION WITH GOD.) THE PRAYER JESUS GAVE THEM WE OFTEN CALL “THE LORD’S PRAYER.” AT ANOTHER TIME, JESUS WAS TEACHING ABOUT PRAYER AND HE GAVE “THE LORD’S PRAYER” AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO PRAY (MATTHEW 6:9-13). THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE DIFFERENT AND THE PRAYERS ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AS WELL (IN ENGLISH AND GREEK), BUT THE MEANING OF THE PRAYER IS STILL THE SAME IN BOTH.

STUDY OUTLINE INTRODUCTION ADDRESS FIRST PETITION (“REQUEST”) SECOND PETITION THIRD PETITION FOURTH PETITION FIFTH PETITION SIXTH PETITION SEVENTH PETITION DOXOLOGY

GOAL OF THIS BIBLE STUDY SEE WHY THIS PRAYER, THE ONLY PRAYER THAT OUR LORD EVER GAVE US AS A MODEL PRAYER, IS IN FACT THE PERFECT PRAYER.

ADDRESS OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. / OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? WITH THESE WORDS GOD TENDERLY INVITES US TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS OUR TRUE FATHER AND THAT WE ARE HIS TRUE CHILDREN, SO THAT WE MAY PRAY TO HIM AS BOLDLY AND CONFIDENTLY AS DEAR CHILDREN ASK THEIR DEAR FATHER.

GETTING INTO THE PRAYER WITH THE WORDS OF THE ADDRESS, JESUS SETS THE MOOD FOR THE LORD’S PRAYER BY REMINDING US OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES TELL US ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND HOW THIS RELATIONSHIP CAME ABOUT? “HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE THE FATHER HAS LAVISHED ON US, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD!” (1 JOHN 3:1). “WHEN THE TIME HAD FULLY COME, GOD SENT HIS SON, BORN OF A WOMAN, BORN UNDER LAW, TO REDEEM THOSE UNDER LAW, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE FULL RIGHTS OF SONS” (GALATIANS 4:4,5). “YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS” (GALATIANS 3:26).

GETTING INTO THE PRAYER WITH THE WORDS OF THE ADDRESS, JESUS SETS THE MOOD FOR THE LORD’S PRAYER BY REMINDING US OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES TELL US ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND HOW THIS RELATIONSHIP CAME ABOUT? “HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE THE FATHER HAS LAVISHED ON US, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD!” (1 JOHN 3:1). “WHEN THE TIME HAD FULLY COME, GOD SENT HIS SON, BORN OF A WOMAN, BORN UNDER LAW, TO REDEEM THOSE UNDER LAW, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE FULL RIGHTS OF SONS” (GALATIANS 4:4,5). “YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS” (GALATIANS 3:26). BECAUSE GOD LOVES US, GAVE US HIS SON, AND GAVE US FAITH IN HIM, WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN.

GETTING INTO THE PRAYER WHAT ASSURANCE DO WE HAVE IN PRAYER FROM KNOWING THAT GOD IS OUR FATHER? WHAT OTHER ASSURANCES DO WE GAIN FROM THIS FACT? LIKE A FATHER, HE WILL LISTEN TO US. ALSO LIKE A FATHER, HE WILL GIVE US WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT IS BEST FOR US.

GETTING INTO THE PRAYER EVALUATE: IN NO OTHER RELIGION ON EARTH IS THERE SUCH A WARM RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GOD WORSHIPED AND THE WORSHIPER AS THERE IS IN THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. TRUE. GOD AS A LOVING FATHER IS UNHEARD OF IN MOST RELIGIONS. CATHOLICS: GOD IS A HARSH JUDGE WHO HAS TO BE APPEASED. ISLAM: THERE IS NO CONCEPT OF GOD AS A LOVING FATHER.

GETTING INTO THE PRAYER MANY PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY HAVE A POOR CONCEPT OF FATHERHOOD. HOW WOULD YOU USE SCRIPTURE’S MESSAGE ABOUT OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN TO TEACH SOMEONE ABOUT FATHERHOOD? HOW WOULD YOU USE THIS MESSAGE TO COMFORT SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER KNOWN THE LOVE OF AN EARTHLY FATHER? GOD IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF A FATHER AND THE BEST FATHER ANYONE COULD HAVE.

GETTING INTO THE PRAYER THE WORDS “IN HEAVEN” REMIND US THAT GOD IS ALMIGHTY. WHAT ADDED ASSURANCE DOES THIS GIVE YOU AS YOU PRAY? WE ARE PRAYING TO GOD WHO CAN ACTUALLY MAKE OUR PRAYERS HAPPEN!

GETTING INTO THE PRAYER SAINT JAMES WROTE: “IF ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM, HE SHOULD ASK GOD, WHO GIVES GENEROUSLY TO ALL WITHOUT FINDING FAULT, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM. BUT WHEN HE ASKS, HE MUST BELIEVE AND NOT DOUBT, BECAUSE HE WHO DOUBTS IS LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA, BLOWN AND TOSSED BY THE WIND. THAT MAN SHOULD NOT THINK HE WILL RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD” (1:5-7). WHAT THINGS CAUSE US TO LACK CONFIDENCE WHEN WE PRAY? HOW DOES THIS HINDER OUR PRAYER LIFE?

GETTING INTO THE PRAYER SAINT JAMES WROTE: “IF ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM, HE SHOULD ASK GOD, WHO GIVES GENEROUSLY TO ALL WITHOUT FINDING FAULT, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM. BUT WHEN HE ASKS, HE MUST BELIEVE AND NOT DOUBT, BECAUSE HE WHO DOUBTS IS LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA, BLOWN AND TOSSED BY THE WIND. THAT MAN SHOULD NOT THINK HE WILL RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD” (1:5-7). WHAT THINGS CAUSE US TO LACK CONFIDENCE WHEN WE PRAY? HOW DOES THIS HINDER OUR PRAYER LIFE? DOUBTING IN GOD TO PROVIDE. THIS MEANS WE WILL NOT RECEIVE FROM OUR LORD.

GETTING INTO THE PRAYER ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10, RATE THE BOLDNESS AND CONFIDENCE WITH WHICH YOU PRAY (1 BEING WEAK; 10 BEING STRONG). ON ANOTHER SCALE OF 1 TO 10, INDICATE THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH YOU PRAY (1 BEING INFREQUENTLY; 10 BEING OFTEN). WHAT WILL GOD USE TO IMPROVE BOTH OF THESE ASPECTS OF YOUR PRAYER LIFE? HIS WORD, WHICH TELLS US HOW HE HAS ANSWERED PRAYER IN THE PAST AND PROMISES TO ANSWER PRAYER IN THE FUTURE.

LUTHER SAID: “FOR BY HIS WORD, GOD TESTIFIES THAT OUR PRAYER IS HEARTILY PLEASING TO HIM AND WILL ASSUREDLY BE HEARD AND GRANTED, SO THAT WE MAY NOT DESPISE IT, CAST IT TO THE WINDS, OR PRAY UNCERTAINLY” (KOLB-WENGERT, THE BOOK OF CONCORD, THE LORD’S PRAYER, P. 443, PARAGRAPH 20).

ADDRESS SEVEN SPECIFIC REQUESTS – (PETITIONS) NOTE: OF THE SEVEN PETITIONS ONLY ONE HAS TO DO WITH OUR PHYSICAL NEEDS; THE OTHERS ALL DEAL WITH OUR SPIRITUAL NEEDS AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR GOD. WE SHOULD EXAMINE OUR PRAYERS AND SEE IF THAT SAME RATIO IS PRESENT!

EXPANDED PARAPHRASE WITH THE CONFIDENCE JESUS GIVES ME I COME TO YOU, FATHER. HE SHOWS ME WHAT A WONDERFUL FATHER YOU ARE, AND HE HAS MADE ME YOUR CHILD. I BRING MY NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF MY FELLOW CHRISTIANS TO YOU, FOR YOU ARE ABLE AND EAGER TO HELP US” (JOEL FREDRICH, “LORD’S PRAYER,” P. 7).

CLOSING PRAYER DEAR FATHER, BY THE SACRIFICE OF YOUR SON, JESUS, YOU HAVE RECONCILED ALL PEOPLE TO YOURSELF. BY THE WORKING OF YOUR SPIRIT, YOU HAVE CALLED US TO FAITH AND HAVE MADE US YOUR CHILDREN. WE REJOICE OVER THIS RELATIONSHIP. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUAL PRESENCE. WE PRAISE YOU FOR YOUR TENDER CARE AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYING TO YOU AS BOLDLY AND AS CONFIDENTLY AS ANY DEAR CHILDREN COME TO THEIR DEAR FATHERS. AMEN.