This document provides an overview of Lutheran teachings on prayer based on a study of the Lord's Prayer. It discusses that prayer is a privilege and command for believers, defines prayer as speaking to God, and notes we should pray to God alone. It explains we should pray in Jesus' name, with confidence, according to God's will, and that the Holy Spirit helps believers in prayer. Jesus' Lord's Prayer is given as an example prayer. The document also references Luther's view of prayer as spiritual comfort and defense against evil.

1. Chain the Catechism: A topical study through the Lutheran confessions The Lord’s Prayer Prayer Basics Memorization Verses: Mt 7:7-8 Ask and it… Ps 19:14 May the words… Jn 14:13-14 I will do whatever… Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious… Is 65:24 Before they call… Lu 5:16 Jesus often withdrew… Ps 65:8 When morning dawns…

2. Sing it! I couldn’t hear nobody pray.O Lord!Couldn’t hear nobody pray,O-way down yonderBy myself,I couldn’t hear nobody pray,In the valley,Couldn’t hear nobody pray,On my knees, Couldn’t hear nobody pray,With my burden,Couldn’t hear nobody pray,An’ my Savior,Couldn’t hear nobody pray.O Lord! Chilly waters,Couldn’t hear nobody pray,In the Jordan,Couldn’t hear nobody pray,Crossing over,Couldn’t hear nobody pray.Into Canaan,Couldn’t hear nobody pray.O Lord!Hallejuh!Couldn’t hear nobody pray,Troubles over, Couldn’t hear nobody pray,In the Kingdom,Couldn’t hear nobody pray,With my Jesus,Couldn’t hear nobody pray. O Lord!

3. Sing it! It's me oh Lord - Standin' in the need of prayerIt's me oh Lord - Standin' in the need of prayerNot my mother (not my father) it's me oh LordNot the preacher (not the sinner) It's me oh LordStandin' in the need of prayerIt's mighty rough road - Standin' in the need of prayerFor me to carry my load - Standin' in the need of prayerHelp me throught the night - Standin in the need of prayerShow me which way's right - Standin' in the need of prayerI've been down so long - Standin' in the need of prayerI know I been wrong - Standin' in the need of prayer

4. Heaven is… Talk with a neighbor about your prayer life. Make a list of your favorite prayer verses together, using the chart.

5. Write out the Lord’s prayer on paper. Then write your thoughts / draw images (annotate) in the margins as you pray it in your head. When the time’s up, let’s pray out loud together (you can use your notes). Prayer Prep

6. PRAYERO Lord our God, teach us, we beg You, to ask You aright for the right blessings. Steer the vessel of our life toward Yourself, O tranquil Haven of all storm-tossed souls. Show us the course wherein we should go. Renew a willing spirit within us. Let Your Spirit curb our wayward sense, and guide and enable us unto that which is our true good, to keep Your laws, and in all our works evermore to rejoice in Your glorious and gladdening Presence. For Yours is the glory and praise from all Your saints forever and ever. Amen. (Basil of Caesarea, c. 330-79)•Prayer•For us…•For others…•God Answers•Always and Often P raiseRepentanceAppreciationYouEveryoneResolve

7. Sing it! Whisper a prayer in the morning, Whisper a prayer at noon. Whisper a prayer in the evening, He will keep your heart in tune. God answers prayer in the morning, God answers prayer at noon. God answers prayer in the evening. He will keep your heart in tune.

8. Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name. They kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day Our daily bread. And forgive us our sins As we forgive our debtors. 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.

9. Hail, Mary, etc. O Holy Mary! Our sovereign Queen! as God the Father, by his omnipotence, has made thee most powerful, so assist us at the hour of our death, by defending us against all the power that is contrary to thine. Hail, Mary, etc. O Holy Mary! our sovereign Queen! as God the Son has endowed thee with so much knowledge and splendor, that it enlightens all Heaven, so in the hour of our death, illumine and strengthen our souls with the knowledge of the true faith, that they be not perverted by error or pernicious ignorance. Hail, Mary, etc. O Holy Mary! our sovereign Queen! as the Holy Ghost has plentifully replenished thee with the love of God, so instil into us at the hour of our death, the sweetness of divine love, that all bitterness at that time may become acceptable and pleasant to us Hail, Mary, etc Discussion

10. The Bible records no fewer than 650 definite prayers, No less than 450 have recorded answers. First recorded prayers: This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh. (Gen 2) Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD (Gen 4:26) Prayer Book: We have that! 150 complex prayers ranging widely in emotion and content, but all having the same Gospel theme. Lords Prayer: Praying in the Bible

11. What does this tell us about prayer? Just as for Adam, prayer is expression of thought and word towards God. Just as God inhaled into Adam and allowed Adam to exhale back, so it is with our lives of prayer. Luther says: “As a shoe maker makes a shoe, or a tailor makes a coat, so ought a Christian to pray. Prayer is the daily business of a Christian.” Lords Prayer: Praying in the Bible

12. The Disciples and the need to learn: “Teach us to pray” When the disciples addressed that prayer to Jesus, they were giving expression to a deeply felt NEED. Even while it is natural for the Christian to pray, it seems like we are always holding our breaths at the wrong moments. Our faith is much like the disciples’. Those who lived in daily association with Jesus came to know Him as a man of fervent prayer. If the sinless Jesus Himself was aware of the need to pray, how much greater ought not we to feel that need? So intense, so frequent, so different from His disciples’ praying was the praying of Jesus that it left them with a feeling of inadequacy. That feeling of inadequacy prompted the petition, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Lords Prayer: Jesus and Prayer

13. 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. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Not just a model prayer, but an instruction to pray this way as a source of strength and comfort. Jesus models His own prayer-life within the Trinity, and reveals consistently (even in prayer) the connection of Father and Son. Notice that He only petitions once (or twice) for earthly comforts. This will be important to Luther’s commentary on prayer. Lords Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer

14. Luther is notable for his strong connection between Anfechtung(temptation and spiritual suffering) and the amazing power of prayer. Luther often made use of the analogy of warfare: We know that our defence lies in prayer. We are too weak to resist the devil and his vassels. Let us hold fast to the weapons of the Christian; they enable us to combat the devil… our enemies may mock at us. But we shall oppose both men and the devil if we maintain ourselves in prayer and if we persist in it.” (LC) For the Christian, prayer is FOREMOST a means towards spiritual comfort and a defense against REAL forces of evil that continue to dwell from within and without. Spiritual “Tribulation” as symbolized in Revelation Just like any good defense, prayer requires discipline and practice. It might not be the same for everyone, but everyone should find practices that are comfortable per their spiritual gifts. Nevertheless, there are basic parameters as outlined in the Catechism. Lords Prayer: Luther’s Praying

15. I do not want you to recite all these words in your prayer. That would make it nothing but idle chatter and prattle. Rather do I want your heart to be stirred and guided concerning the thoughts, which ought to be comprehended, in The Lord’s Prayer. These thoughts may be expressed, if your heart is rightly warmed and inclined toward prayer, in many different ways than with more words or fewer… listen in silence, and under no circumstances obstruct them. The Holy Spirit Himself preaches here, and one Word of His sermon is far better than a thousand of our prayers. Many times I have learnt more from one prayer than I might have learned from much reading and speculation.”

16. The Lord’s Prayer:Prayer Basics What privilege and command does God give to those who believe in Jesus Christ? What is prayer? To whom should we pray? Whose prayers are acceptable to God? What should be the content of our prayers? How should we pray? Who helps us pray? How does God answer prayer? For whom should we pray? Where should we pray? When should we pray? What prayer did Jesus give us to show us how to pray? ______________________________ SS: Command; Prayer is; To Whom M: Believers Only; Content T: How; Who Helps W: Answers; For Whom Th: Where; When; Jesus Example

17. Pray: Lord, have mercy upon the world. Look down with pity upon all the children of men: upon all who are lonely and blind to God; upon all who prefer evil to good; upon all the high places who forget that height and depth, in the world and in the world to come, belong to You; upon the sick of mind and heart; upon all who are with You and those without You; upon those who pray and those who do not; upon those who have fallen and those who are penitent. It is so long now since the warm blood of the cross poured from the heart of God. But we prefer to stumble around in the cold of our making, not the quiet beautiful cold of a winder night but the dirty lonely cold of our hate. Lord, have mercy. Amen. (O.P. Kretzmann; 1901-1975)

18. SS: Command; Prayer is; To Whom What privilege and command does God give to those who believe in Jesus Christ? God commands and invites believers in Jesus Christ to pray. Matt. 7:7-8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you, For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 1 Thess. 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. What is prayer? Prayer is speaking to God in words and thoughts. Ps. 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, 0 Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Acts 7:59-60 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep. Bible narratives: Abraham prayed for Sodom (Gen. 18:22-23). Jesus in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-44). Thanksgiving for the release of Peter and John from prison (Acts 4:23-31). To whom should we pray? We should pray to the true God only, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not to idols, saints, or anything God has created. Ps. 65:2 0 You who hear prayer, to You all men will come. 1 John 5:20--21 We are in Him who is true-even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. Rev. 22:8-9 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" Bible narratives: Elijah and the priests of Baal (1 Kings 18:25-29 36-39). Daniel in the lions' den (Dan. 6:1-23). Paul in Lystra (Acts 14:8-18). Jesus' High Priestly Prayer (John 17). Pray: Look upon us, O Lord, and let all the darkness of our souls vanish before the beams of Your brightness. Fill us with holy love, and open to use the treasure of Your wisdom. All our desire is known unto You, therefore perfect what You have begun, and what Your Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer. We seek Your face; turn Your face toward us and show us Your glory. Then shall our longing be satisfied, and our peace shall be perfect. Amen. (Augustine of Hippo, 354-430).

19. M Believers Only; Content Whose prayers are acceptable to God?Only those who believe in Jesus Christ may pray to God and expect to be heard. John 14:13-14 1 will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it. John 15:7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. What should be the content of our prayers?In our prayers we should ask for everything that tends to the glory of God and to our own and our neighbor's welfare, both spiritual and bodily blessings. We should also praise and thank God for who He is and what He has done. Phil. 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Ps. 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Pray: We have confidence in You. You were at the beginning of creation. You have opened our inward eyes to give us knowledge of You, who alone are the Most High, in highest heaven, the Holy One, at ease among the holy. We implore You, Lord to help and defend us. Deliver the oppressed, pity the insignificant, raise the fallen, show Yourself to the needy, heal the sick, bring back those of Your people who have gone astray, feed the hungry, lift up the weak, take off the prisoner’s chains. May every nation come to know that You alone are God, that Jesus Christ is Your servant, that we are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. Do not count all Your servants’ sins, but cleanse us with the cleanness of Your truth and guide our steps towards holiness, so that we may do what is just and pleasing to You and those placed over us. Let us see Your face, Lord, and we shall peacefully pursue what is good, protected by Your strong hand, kept from all sin by Your mighty arm, preserved from those who hate us without cause. Give concord and peace to us and to all living on the earth, as You gave them to our fathers when they prayed to You, believing truly, ready to obey the All Powerful, the All Holy. Amen. (Clement of Rome, c. 100).

20. T How; Who Helps How should we pray? We should pray A. in the name of Jesus, that is, with faith in Him as our Redeemer; John 16:23 1 tell you the truth, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. B. with confidence, that is with firm trust that for Jesus' sake our prayers will be answered; Matt. 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. James 1:6-7 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. C. according to God's revealed will. Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Luke 22:42 Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done. Matt. 8:2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." 1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Who helps us pray? God the Holy Spirit prays with and for us. Rom. 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Pray: O true, gracious, and loving God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who has revealed Yourself to me so graciously for my salvation, and who so kindly invites me to call upon You! Why should I address my prayer to anyone but to You alone? Far be it from me to do so! Grant me grace to address You with full confidence, and unceasingly seek Your grace and help, firmly believing that You will surely hear my prayer. Amen. (C.M. Zorn)

21. W Answers; For Whom How does God answer prayer? God hears the prayers of all Christians and answers in His own way and at His own time. Is. 65:24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. 2 Cor. 12:8-9 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. Bible narratives: Jesus healed a centurion's servant (Matt. 8:5-13). Jesus healed a paralytic (Matt. 9:18). The Lord planned to rescue Israel from Egypt (Ex. 3:7-10). The parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). For whom should we pray? We should pray for ourselves and for all other people, even for our enemies, but not for the souls of the dead. 1 Tim. 2:1-2 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Matt. 5:44 Pray for those who persecute you. Heb. 9:27 Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. Bible narratives: The tax collector prayed for himself (Luke 18:13). Abraham prayed for Sodom (Gen. 18:23-32). The Canaanite woman prayed for her daughter (Matt. 15:22-28). Jesus prayed for His enemies (Luke 23:34). Stephen prayed for his enemies (Acts 7:60). Pray: Gracious Lord, who takes hold of the sighing of a contrite heart before it is uttered; make us, we beg You, the temple of the Holy Spirit, that we may be defended by the shield of Your celestial goodness, through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Sarum Breviary, c. thirteenth century)

22. ThWhere; When; Jesus Example Where should we pray? We should pray everywhere, especially when we are alone, with our families, and in church. 1 Tim. 2:8 1 want men everywhere to lift up holY hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. Matt. 6:6 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. Luke 5:16 Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Acts 12:5 Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. When should we pray? We should pray regularly and frequently, especially in time of trouble. Ps. 65:8 Where morning dawns and evening fades You call forth songs of joy. Ps. 119:164 Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous laws. Dan. 6:10 When Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Luke 18:1 Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 1 Thess. 5:17-18 Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Ps. 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me. Bible narrative: The early Christians kept the customary hours of prayer (Acts 2:46-3:1; 10). Note: See Luther's suggestions in this catechism for daily morning, evening, and mealtime prayers. What prayer did Jesus give us to show us how to pray? Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer. Bible narrative: The Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4). Pray: O heavenly Father, blessed God, I am a poor, miserable sinner. I am not worthy to lift up my hands and eyes to You in prayer. But You have commanded us all to pray and have promised to hear us. At the same time, You have taught us the words and the way to pray. Obedient to Your command, and relying on Your gracious promise, I come in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ and pray with all Your holy Christians on earth, as He has taught us to pray. Our Father…Amen. (Martin Luther, 1483-1546).

24. Conclusion God commands and invites believers in Jesus Christ to pray. Prayer is speaking to God in words and thoughts. We should pray to the true God only, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not idols, saints, or anything God has created. Only those who believe in Jesus Christ may pray to God and expect to be heard. In our prayers we should ask for everything that tends to the glory of God and to our own and our neighbor’s welfare, both spiritual and bodily blessings. We should also praise and thank God for who He is and what He has done. We should pray A. In the name of Jesus, that is, with faith in Him as our Redeemer. B. with confidence, that is with firm trust that for Jesus’ sake our prayers will be answered. C. According to God’s revealed will. God the Holy Spirit prays with and for us. God hears the prayers of all Christian sand answers in His own way and at His own time. We should pray for ourselves and for all other people, even for our enemies, but not for the souls of the dead. We should pray everywhere, especially when we are alone, with our families, and in church. We should pray regularly and frequently, especially in time of trouble. Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer.

25. The Lord’s Prayer: Intro: Our Father who art in heaven. Next Time…(8/19)