Hallowed Be Your Name

In one paragraph

This message walked through Matthew 6:1-18, centered on the Lord's Prayer within its Sermon on the Mount context. Pastor Brad worked through what Jesus meant about motivation in giving, prayer, and fasting, then took the congregation phrase by phrase through the prayer itself. He closed by connecting the prayer's shape to how disciples are meant to live out the gospel in ordinary life. The setup...

Read together

1. Lamentations 3:22-23 opening encouragement: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end
2. 1 Peter 2:4 shared after a worship song: coming to Christ who is the living cornerstone, rejected by people but chosen by God for great honor
3. Isaiah 40:8 read during the offering: the grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever
4. Romans 8:37 quoted in a gospel-in-ten-words response: more than conquerors through him who loved us
5. Romans 5:8 highlighted as really important: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
6. Matthew 5:16 contrasted with Matthew 6:1 on letting your light shine before people so they glorify the Father
7. Matthew 6:1-18 the main passage for the sermon, covering giving, prayer, the Lord's Prayer, forgiveness, and fasting
8. Luke 11:2-4 the shorter form of the Lord's Prayer, placed after the Good Samaritan and Mary and Martha
9. Revelation 5:9 referenced when speaking about hallowing God's name, all tribes tongues and nations gathered around the throne
10. Revelation 7:9 referenced alongside Revelation 5:9 about all peoples lifting up God's name
11. Psalm 67 mentioned as spreading praise from us outward to others, tied to hallowed be your name; also announced as next week's text
12. James 1:13 cited when discussing lead us not into temptation: do not say the Lord tempted you
13. Luke 17:20-21 read at the close: the kingdom of God does not come with observation, for the kingdom of God is within you

Talk about it

1. Pastor Brad read several congregation members' answers to the question 'What is the gospel in 10 words or less?' Which of those responses stood out to you, and why?
2. Pastor Brad said that as a church 'we are a lot of times guilty of trying to get people changed before they get saved,' pointing to the line 'while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' Where have you seen that tendency show up, and how does it affect the way we relate to people outside the faith?
3. Jesus says motivation matters when we give, pray, and fast. How do you personally keep a check on your own motivation when you do those things privately versus when others might see you?
4. The Lord's Prayer opens with three petitions that are entirely about God before it ever gets to our needs. What does that order say about how we are meant to approach God, and how does your own prayer life reflect or fall short of that pattern?
5. Pastor Brad closed by sharing Step 11 from Alcoholics Anonymous, 'praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry it out.' How does that sit alongside the way you normally pray, and what would it look like practically to pray that way this week?