Praying in Light of God's Priorities (Matt. 6:9-10)

Outline: Matthew 6:9-10

1. Petition #1: Hallowed by your name
2. Petition #2: Your kingdom come
3. Petition #3: Your will be done

Summary: As an introduction to the Lord's Prayer, Jesus taught us two basic prayer principles.  First, our prayers should be fueled by pure motives (6:5-6). Second, our prayers should be characterized by deep trust in our Father's care for us (6:7-8).  What it would look like to infuse these prayer principles into our everyday prayers? Jesus shows us by equipping us with a model prayer, which is known as the Lord's Prayer (6:9-15).  The six petitions in this model prayer give us "hooks" to hang our prayers on. This week we focus our attention on the the first three petitions in which Jesus teaches to pray in light of our Father's top priorities: His glory, His kingdom, and His will.

Discussion Questions:

• What does it mean that the Lord's Prayer is a model prayer?
• What is the basic structure of the Lord's Prayer? What significance is there to that structure? 
• What must we keep in mind when we address God in prayer? 
• What are we requesting when we pray "hallowed by your name"?
• What are we requesting when we pray "your kingdom be come"?
• What are we requesting when we pray "your will be done"?
• In what way does the phrase "on earth as it is in heaven" serve as an interpretive "key"?
• What practical steps might we take to see our motives more fully shaped by God's priorities?

Application Questions:

• To what extent are my Father's priorities shaping my prayers?
• Am I more concerned about my glory, my kingdom, and my will or vice versa? Explain.
• If my motives more fully aligned with God's priorities, what powerful effects might this have on my life and the lives of those around me? 

Prayer Points:

• Confess to God your lack of concern for His priorities.
• Praise Jesus for being the perfect model of reverence, submission, and obedience.
• Praise Jesus for dying on the cross to forgive your self-centeredness, that is, your (very human) tendency to make life about your glory, your kingdom, and your will.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you align your motives with God's priorities.

Worship:

Here are three new kingdom-focused worship songs!

Build Your Kingdom Here - Rend Collective

Let Your Kingdom Come - Sovereign Grace 

All Glory Be To Christ - Kings Kaleidoscope