Bible Study Week 2: Insights on The Model Prayer

WEEK TWO – EXTENDED REFLECTION OF PASSAGE

Insights on The Model Prayer — Matthew 6: 5-14 (NIV)

NOTE FOR GROUP LEADER: With the group, read or listen to the passage again and discuss any, or all, of the reflection questions. Items needed: Reading passage and questions.

Prayer

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,^[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Note to group leader: Use the following questions for reflection/discussion after the reading. You may select just a few based on your group.

1. How do you react to the idea that Jesus says that people who pray in public could be hypocrites?
2. Is it always true that people who pray publicly are hypocrites? When do you think that praying publicly is not hypocritical?
3. What is the value of public prayer?
4. What is the value of private, personal prayer?
5. Jesus says “your Father knows what you needbefore you ask him.” Why, then, should we pray?
6. This Bible Study is entitled, “Insights on the Model Prayer.” Why is the Our Father considered the “model prayer?”
7. Is there a part of the “Our Father” that inspires you or calls out to you in a special way? Why?
8. What is your favorite prayer? Why?
9. Discuss the concept of forgiveness. Is it important? Why? Why not?
10. What is the impact of forgiveness?

NOTE TO GROUP LEADER: At the end of the session, you may want to allow a few moments for open discussion and what the session may have meant for the group.