Week 1: Introduction to the Lord's Prayer
Small Group Study Guide: The Lord’s Prayer
This study will explore the meaning and significance of the Lord’s Prayer, guiding participants to deepen their understanding and practice of prayer. Each session includes video teaching from Dr. Timothy Smith, scripture readings, discussion questions, personal application prompts, and a guided prayer to conclude your time together.
Session 1: Introduction & Overview
Each week bring your Bible, notebook and a pen.
Watch Video: Lord’s Prayer Introduction & Overview with Dr. Timothy Smith
Read Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-4
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you already know about the Lord’s Prayer? Have you memorized it?
2. In Matthew 6:5-8, what does Jesus teach about prayer before introducing the Lord’s Prayer?
3. Why do you think Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1)?
4. How does the Lord’s Prayer serve as both a specific prayer and a model for how to pray?
5. What role has prayer played in your spiritual journey so far?
Application:
Throughout Lent you will be encouraged to pray The Lord’s Prayer three times each day. Here are a few ways that others have found helpful in praying The Lord’s Prayer.
Pray The Lord’s Prayer reciting it slowly line by line. Take time to pause and savor each phrase: “Our Father…who art in heaven…hallowed be your name…”.
Another way of praying The Lord’s Prayer is to follow the Spirit’s prompting to expand on a phrase. For instance, when praying “Your will be done on earth…”, you might sense the Spirit directing you to a specific way God wants His will done in your life. Or, when praying “Forgive us our sins…”, be aware of how the Holy Spirit might be pointing you to a specific sin in your life needing forgiveness.
Experiment with taking a phrase from The Lord’s Prayer and making that phrase your ‘Prayer of the Day’. For example, you might want to take the prayer for our daily bread and throughout the day specifically pray for the many who do not have bread today.
This week, as you pray the Lord’s Prayer daily and reflect on how it shapes your approach to prayer.
During this week listen to the Podcast when you have time.
Guided Prayer:
Close by praying the Lord’s Prayer together ending with this prayer:
“Father, we thank You for the gift of prayer and for inviting us into a closer relationship with You. As we begin this study of the Lord’s Prayer, open our hearts and minds to understand Your Word and draw us closer to You. Help us to see prayer not just as words, but as a relationship with our loving Father. Amen.”
For added enrichment consider singing the Lord’s Prayer or Listening to some artist singing the Lord’s Prayer.
Suggested Artists:
Charles Billingsley
Daniel Emmet