The Lord's Prayer; Teach It To Your Children

III. The Lord's Prayer
As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.

 http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php

 

As we delve into the Lord's Prayer, we are once again reminded that it is the head of the family's responsibility to teach the Lord's Prayer to their family.

I was once asked why Lutherans pray this prayer every time we gathered together to worship. The person asking was a indeed a devout Christian (of no denomination). She felt that because we use this prayer rather than speak out of our own hearts and minds, we are not sincere. My answer to that is; of course we pray, at times, with prayers that are not distinctly the Lord's Prayer. But, I teach the Lord's Prayer and pray it often because it is the way Jesus taught us to pray. When Jesus gave it to us, he said this:

“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. 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray:

 

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (Matt 6:5-13 NIV)

 

This is a simple prayer to learn. It takes very little time or energy to teach our children to pray it. May God set it in our hearts to teach it to our whole households.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 4:14-30 Hometown Service

Luke 4:14-30 NIV
“Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown." (vs 24)

Jesus had gone to Nazareth, where he grew up. He was run out of town.

A few years ago, I was asked by a former Bishop to serve the three-point parish where I grew up. I thought about it. But, not for too long. I figured if Jesus could not serve in his hometown, who was I too even imagine that I could? I know that it happens in some places. There are those congregations who have (for the lack of ordained clergy) raised up lay pastors from their own congregations. These men and women need our prayer support. They face obstacles to their ministry that we can't even begin to imagine. Sometimes, they aren't even aware of where the challenges are coming from; but they are there: seen or unseen; known or unknown.

Whether we serve the LORD from within the communities or not, we will find opposition to the proclamation of God's Kingdom in Jesus Christ. Not everyone loved Jesus then. Not everyone loves him today. Not everyone will love his followers.

God's Peace - Pr. J