The Pattern for Prayer
Luke 11
Introduction
- Opening Question: Why do people live so badly?
- Cultural Critique: The lack of admirable and imitable figures in society
- Importance of Prayer: Highlighting prayer as the answer from the life of Christ
The Necessity of Prayer
- Prayer Before Action: Emphasis on the need to pray before doing anything
- Pattern of Prayer: Jesus' life as a model of constant prayer
- Disciples' Request: The disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray
The Model Prayer (Luke 11)
- Two Divisions:
- Verse 2: Focus on God's interests
- Verses 3-4: Focus on our interests
- Three Petitions in Each Section
God's Interests (Verse 2)
- Cry of Faith:
- Directed to the Father
- John 1:12 and John 14:6: Relation to God as children
- 1 Peter 5:7: Casting cares on God
- Cry of Concern:
- Hallowed be Thy Name
- Psalm 19:14: Acceptable words and meditations
- 2 Corinthians 5:17: New creation in Christ
- Cry of Hope:
- Thy Kingdom Come
- Future and Present: Desire for God's kingdom now and in the future
Our Interests (Verses 3-4)
- Physical Needs:
- Give us each day our daily bread
- Philippians 4:19: God supplies all needs
- Example of daily reliance and gratitude
- Spiritual Needs:
- Forgive us our sins
- Ephesians 4:32: Forgiving others as God forgives us
- Romans 8:1: No condemnation in Christ
- Importance of forgiveness and a cleansed conscience
- Moral Needs:
- Lead us not into temptation
- James 1:13: God does not tempt anyone
- Praying for protection from unrecognized temptation
- Example of honesty and integrity
Conclusion
- Prayer's Purpose: Aligning with God's will, not getting our will done
- Careful Requests: Being mindful of what we ask for in prayer
- Final Exhortation: Encouragement to pray with an eternal perspective
Closing Prayer
- Focus on Eternal Values: Praying for God’s will to be done
- Gratitude for Prayer: Thankfulness for the privilege and responsibility of prayer
*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.
About the Contributors
Howard G. Hendricks
Dr. Howard G. Hendricks, known simply as “Prof,” directly or indirectly touched millions of lives in the evangelical community and beyond. For more than sixty years Prof served on the faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), where he taught more than ten thousand students. He served as the chairman of the Center for Christian Leadership for over twenty years. He also ministered in person in more than eighty countries. Through speaking engagements, radio, tapes, films, the sixteen books he authored and coauthored, countless journal and popular-market articles, his service on numerous boards, and his work as a chaplain to the Dallas Cowboys (1976–1984), his reach was and is worldwide.
His legacy, in partnership with Jeanne, his wife of more than sixty-five years, includes four children and six grandchildren. Holding large audiences enthralled at venues such as Billy Graham’s conference center or Promise Keepers’ stadium rallies, Prof would confide, “It’s wonderful to be here with you, but I have a group of delicious students waiting for me back at the seminary.”
Contributors
