Praying to Our Father in Heaven Makes All the Difference (Matthew 6:7-15)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. As you look at the text, how does Jesus say knowing God as Father impacts the way we pray? Do you find it easy or difficult to think of God as Father? Why?

2. How do the first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer challenge our priority in prayer? Why should these come before the petitions for our own needs in the last three petitions? How can we implement this in our prayer life individually and corporately?

3. Why do you think Augustine called “forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors” as the “terrible petition”? How does this and the teaching in verses 14-15 challenge the way we relate to others, especially other Christians?

4. What did you find most helpful from the sermon text and/or the sermon on the text?