Lenten Sermon Series: Reflections on The Lord's Prayer

Do you remember the first time you heard the Lord’s Prayer? Most of us not only can’t remember when we first heard this prayer, we can’t remember when we memorized it–because our memorizing was not a conscious effort; it was simply the process of hearing the words until they were part of our very persons.

Yet most of us don’t know much about this prayer, and we’re inclined to recite it without thinking. Martin Luther, with his penchant for saying things directly, described the Lord’s Prayer as the greatest martyr, “for everybody tortures and abuses it.” It is mostly, of course, the abuse of familiarity. Because we say it so often and because its words have the flow of poetry, we are likely to speak it without investment of either mind or heart.

Lent is an appropriate time to consider the prayer Jesus taught us to pray in a careful way. This year during Lent our scripture readings, sermons, and worship services will focus on different parts of the Lord’s Prayer.

In addition to our usual worship practices each week I’ll be introducing a different prayer practice that you can continue in your daily life. As we listen and learn from the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples you will get to learn about other ways to pray.

My hope is that we will all be renewed by spending time with the Lord’s Prayer. My hope is that some familiar phrases from the prayer may come to life for you in a new way this season and that our prayer life as a congregation and as individuals will be strengthened.

February 14
Our Father in Heaven
Matthew 6:5-13

February 21
Your kingdom come. Your will be done.
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52February 28
…on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 26:36-39

March 6
Give us this day our daily bread.
Matthew 20:1-16

March 13
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 18:23-34

March 20 (Palm/Passion Sunday)
And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
Matthew 4:1-11; 16:21-23