Living the Lord’s Prayer: Bringing God’s Kingdom Here

Today, we gathered as a family to celebrate God’s faithfulness and to recognize the ways He is moving among us. We began by lifting up our new children’s pastor, Martha Ryan, in prayer, laying hands on her and committing to cover her with ongoing intercession. This act reminded us that caring for one another, especially those who serve, is a vital part of our calling as a church. We are not spectators but participants in God’s work, stepping into each other’s lives both physically and spiritually.

Turning to Matthew 6, we explored Jesus’ teaching on prayer. Jesus warns against performative, wordy prayers meant to impress others, and instead invites us into honest, childlike conversation with our Father. The Lord’s Prayer is not just a ritual to recite, but a teaching tool—a framework that shapes our hearts and priorities. It reminds us that prayer is about relationship, not performance. We are invited to approach God as our Father, not a distant authority, and to remember that we are part of a family—His family.

The prayer’s petitions are deeply practical. “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” is not a passive hope for the distant future, but a call to actively participate in bringing God’s kingdom into our daily lives—our homes, workplaces, and relationships. We are to seek God’s presence and character in every interaction, allowing His love, peace, and justice to shape our actions. This means living with humility, compassion, and a willingness to forgive, just as we have been forgiven. Forgiveness is not just a gift we receive, but a flow that must move through us to others, lest our hearts become stagnant and bitter.

We are reminded that God desires partnership with us, even in our imperfection. Like a parent cherishing a project built with a child, God delights in working alongside us, not because we are flawless, but because He loves us. Our prayers are not just requests for God to act, but invitations for Him to use us as His hands and feet. To pray “Your kingdom come” is to offer ourselves to be part of the answer.

Finally, prayer is not just about speaking, but also about listening. We are called to cultivate quietness in our hearts, making space to hear God’s voice amid the noise of life. As we go out, we are sent to represent God’s kingdom wherever we are, empowered by His Spirit to bring His will to bear in every situation.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Prayer is honest relationship, not performance God invites us to approach Him as children, not as performers seeking approval. The most powerful prayers are often the simplest, spoken from the heart rather than crafted for an audience. When we let go of the need to impress, we discover the freedom and intimacy of true conversation with our Father. [41:32]
• 2. God’s kingdom comes through our participation “Your kingdom come, your will be done” is a call to action, not just a hope for the future. We are invited to embody the values of heaven—love, justice, humility—in our daily lives. God’s kingdom breaks in as we choose to act with integrity, compassion, and faithfulness in every sphere of influence. [49:37]
• 3. Forgiveness must flow through us Receiving God’s forgiveness is inseparable from extending it to others. When we refuse to forgive, our hearts become stagnant, like water that cannot flow. True freedom and spiritual vitality come when we allow forgiveness to move through us, releasing bitterness and making space for God’s life to flourish. [56:19]
• 4. Listening is as vital as speaking in prayer Prayer is not a monologue but a dialogue. God has things to say to us that are far more significant than what we bring to Him. Creating space for silence, reflection, and attentive listening allows us to hear His guidance and experience deeper transformation. [04:32]
• 5. God delights in partnering with us God chooses to involve us in His work, not because we are perfect, but because He loves us. Our imperfect efforts, offered in faith, are precious to Him. When we pray for God to move, we must also be willing to be part of the answer, offering ourselves as instruments of His grace. [60:46]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [14:14] - Prayer Requests and Announcements
• [15:21] - Introducing Martha Ryan, Children’s Pastor
• [16:26] - Laying on of Hands and Prayer for Martha
• [18:56] - Worship Through Giving
• [35:37] - Turning to Matthew 6
• [36:02] - Jesus Teaches on Prayer
• [37:02] - Reciting the Lord’s Prayer
• [38:22] - The Disciples’ Request: Teach Us to Pray
• [39:23] - The Heart of Prayer: Audience of One
• [41:32] - Childlike Prayer and Authenticity
• [45:35] - Our Father: Relationship and Family
• [47:43] - “Your Kingdom Come” in Daily Life
• [53:20] - Daily Bread and Trusting God for Today
• [54:55] - Forgiveness: Letting It Flow
• [57:09] - Bringing God’s Kingdom to Our World
• [59:11] - God’s Partnership with Us
• [63:14] - Praying Without Ceasing and Listening
• [65:30] - Responding to God’s Call
• [69:13] - Closing Prayer and Sending Out

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:5-15 (NIV) — 5 “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.
6 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.
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Jesus in Matthew 6, what is the difference between the way the hypocrites pray and the way He teaches His followers to pray? ([36:14])
2. What are some of the specific things Jesus tells us to ask for in the Lord’s Prayer? ([37:02])
3. In the sermon, what was the reason given for laying hands on Martha Ryan and praying for her as a church family? ([16:26])
4. What does the pastor say happens when forgiveness stops flowing out of us to others? ([56:19])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus warn against “heap[ing] up empty phrases” and praying to be seen by others? What does this reveal about God’s priorities for our prayers? ([36:37])
2. The Lord’s Prayer includes the line, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” According to the sermon, what does it mean for God’s kingdom to come in our daily lives, not just in the distant future? ([49:37])
3. The pastor compares forgiveness to water that must keep flowing. What are the spiritual consequences, according to the sermon, of refusing to forgive others? ([56:19])
4. The sermon says God delights in partnering with us, even in our imperfection. Why do you think God chooses to involve us in His work, rather than just doing everything Himself? ([01:00:46])

Application Questions

1. The pastor said the most powerful prayers are often the simplest, like those of a child. When you pray, do you ever feel pressure to “sound spiritual” or impress others? How could you make your prayers more honest and childlike this week? ([41:32])
2. “Your kingdom come, your will be done” is a call to action, not just a hope. Think about your home, workplace, or a relationship—what is one specific way you could bring God’s kingdom values (love, justice, humility) into that area this week? ([49:37])
3. The sermon talked about forgiveness needing to flow through us. Is there someone you are struggling to forgive right now? What is one step you could take this week to begin letting go of bitterness? ([56:19])
4. The pastor said our prayers are not just requests for God to act, but invitations for Him to use us as His hands and feet. The next time you pray for someone’s need, are you willing to be part of the answer? What might that look like in a real situation? ([01:01:10])
5. The sermon encouraged making space to listen to God, not just talk. What is one practical way you could create quiet in your life this week to listen for God’s voice? ([04:32])
6. The church laid hands on Martha Ryan to support her in her new role. Who in your life could use your encouragement or prayer support right now? How could you step into their situation, either physically or spiritually, this week? ([16:26])
7. The pastor said God delights in our imperfect efforts, like a parent cherishing a child’s project. Is there something you feel unqualified to do for God? How might you offer your “imperfect” self to Him this week and trust that He delights in your willingness? ([01:00:46])