“Father…”

“Father…”
Luke 11:1-2
July 26, 2026

Some questions as we begin this morning: 

• How many times did you pray last week — prayers at meals, at your children’s bedsides, with a co-worker, while you were driving, on your knees in the morning, with your disciple/friend…?
• How many times do you suppose you prayed last year?  In your life time?
• How many times have you read books about prayer?  Heard sermons about prayer?
• How many times have you been convicted/felt guilt for lack of prayer?

This morning we come to one of the most well-known passages of Scripture:  the Lord’s Prayer.  These words have been sung to multiple tunes, been recited in church many times, and even used at secular events as a source of comfort and encouragement. 

These words remain the simplest, clearest, and most profound instruction from our Savior on prayer.  I have preached multiple times on this prayer, including a series from Matthew’s account that I began in January, 1996 (when Tanner was almost two years old).  Many of us have read or spoken these words dozens or even hundreds of times.  Yet for all their familiarity, they still instruct us how to pray and still encourage us to pray.  Over the next several weeks, we will look at this prayer phrase by phrase, and see the richness of how our Savior teaches us to pray.  These words are not a formula to pray, but a pattern to pray.  It’s a model for what God-honoring prayer looks like.  And it doesn’t begin with confession, or our needs, or thanksgiving, or even praise.  It begins with a recognition of and a commitment to our relationship with God. The opening verses remind us —

Prayer begins with an expression of our dependent, loving relationship with God.

One of the emphases of Luke’s gospel is prayer.  More than any other gospel writer, Luke shows us Christ repeatedly in prayer, and instructing on prayer.  As we begin our meditation on this familiar prayer, let’s begin with two encouragements in approaching prayer…
 
1.     The Pattern of All Prayer (vv. 1-2a)
2.     Where All Prayer Begins (v. 2b)

Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 11:1-2.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.