Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

A MODEL PRAYER
Part 1

1. These words by our Lord:
   1. Became immortal from the moment they were spoken
   2. No other form of words has taken a hold upon mankind like the few brief words known as "The Lord's Prayer"
2. It is thought provoking:
   1. That the Lord's Prayer is taught to little children by Christian mothers to become a part of their little lives right from the beginning
   2. My own mother taught me the Lord's prayer when I began to use her tongue

1. When we compare Matthew 6 with Luke 11:2-4 we find:
   1. That Matthew uses "After this manner pray ye"
   2. Whereas Luke says, "When ye pray, say, Our Father"
   3. So that the former makes the Lord's prayer a model prayer, and the latter makes us recite the words verbatim or just as the Lord spoke them
2. The Lord's Prayer is a model prayer as to manner:
   1. Speaking generally of its character we are struck by its brevity, its directness, the simplicity of its thoughts and expression; these facts alone make it divine
   2. It is direct - here are a number of distinct and definite requests, each of which is stated clearly and plainly in a few simple words. The ideal prayer must be offered to God in the same simple direct manner
   3. It is simple - this is not a prayer reserved for the cultured the highly educated. It is one that everybody can use and understand. Wayfaring men, though fools, need not err therein - Is. 35:8
   4. Yet, who can fathom or measure its depth? Wrote some one, "There's a deep below the deep, and a height beyond the height, and our hearing is not hearing, and our seeing is not sight" - Ps. 42:7
   5. It is purposeful in the highest sense - it respects the majesty of God and includes mans needs

1. This prayer is a model as to order:
   1. It teaches us that in all true prayer God's glory will occupy the first place - Examples: That was the lessons Isaiah learned from the behavior of the angels - Is. 6:3-4; that was the lesson Moses was taught when he was called into the Lord's service Ex. 3:5
   2. This seems to be a difficult lesson for some to learn - to have respect and reverence for the name and place of the Lord, "Reverent and holy is His name" - Ps. 111:9
2. This prayer is a model prayer as to the spirit:
   1. After all, the power of prayer is not in the words we use, though they are important, but in the spirit in which we offer it; Examples: Note the different spirit of the two men that went to the temple to pray - Luke 18:11-13; note further the spirit the penitent thief had when he prayed, "Lord remember me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom" - Luke 23:42-44; the spirit of the pleading mother who sought help from the Messiah - Matt. 15:22-28
   2. The spirit of humility has always characterized or marked the prayers of the suppliants, for humility is a virtue that has its roots in the meek and lowly Son of man - Matt. 11:28-30; 21:5
3. This prayer is a model prayer as to confidence:
   1. It assumes the confidence of a child to its parent. To the child there occurs no question as to the willingness of the parent. It takes that willingness for granted. So it is with the Lord's prayer - it expresses complete confidence in the benevolence of our heavenly Father; Examples: Our Lord's approach when praying to his Father - John 11:42; the attitude of the centurion - Matt. 8:8-9; Peter's cry in danger - Matt. 14:30
   2. It never questions the integrity of the heavenly benefactor - Num. 23:19-20
4. Let us use the Lord's Prayer as a pattern or a model:
   1. Follow its privity - Matt. 6:7; long prayers may have their place on certain occasions but short, meaningful prayers are always in place
   2. Follow its reverence