Difference between revisions of "Sermon for August 23rd, 2015"
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==Teach Us To Pray: Our Father In Heaven== | ==Teach Us To Pray: Our Father In Heaven== | ||
There's an old story about a World War II military airplane that hat been hit by enemy fire, and was going down in flames. The captain turned to his flight crew and said, "Gentlemen, do any of you believe in the power of prayer?" One of the men, a devout churchgoer, said "I do, sir." To which the captain responded, "Good, because we're short one parachute. You pray, and the rest of us will put on a chute." | There's an old story about a World War II military airplane that hat been hit by enemy fire, and was going down in flames. The captain turned to his flight crew and said, "Gentlemen, do any of you believe in the power of prayer?" One of the men, a devout churchgoer, said "I do, sir." To which the captain responded, "Good, because we're short one parachute. You pray, and the rest of us will put on a chute." | ||
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| + | A recent USA Today/Gallup Poll indicated that 83% of Americans believe God answers prayer. A poll by Fox News found that 77% of Americans believe that prayer has the ability to help people heal from illness or injury. And yet, our belief in prayer is somewhat relative. I suspect that given a choice between a prayer or a parachute, about 99.9% of Americans would choose the parachute. | ||
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| + | In the New Testament, Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies, and the Apostle Paul tells us to pray for people in authority. And yet, another recent survey by Lifeway research indicates that Americans are more likely to pray for a parking spot, a winning lottery ticket, or a sports team than for either of these two things. An even higher percentage of Americans have prayed that something bad they did would not be discovered. | ||
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| + | Clearly, we are a little bit confused when it comes to prayer. | ||
Revision as of 17:21, 22 August 2015
Luke 11:1-4
1He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins,for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
Matthew 6:7-13
7When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
Teach Us To Pray: Our Father In Heaven
There's an old story about a World War II military airplane that hat been hit by enemy fire, and was going down in flames. The captain turned to his flight crew and said, "Gentlemen, do any of you believe in the power of prayer?" One of the men, a devout churchgoer, said "I do, sir." To which the captain responded, "Good, because we're short one parachute. You pray, and the rest of us will put on a chute."
A recent USA Today/Gallup Poll indicated that 83% of Americans believe God answers prayer. A poll by Fox News found that 77% of Americans believe that prayer has the ability to help people heal from illness or injury. And yet, our belief in prayer is somewhat relative. I suspect that given a choice between a prayer or a parachute, about 99.9% of Americans would choose the parachute.
In the New Testament, Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies, and the Apostle Paul tells us to pray for people in authority. And yet, another recent survey by Lifeway research indicates that Americans are more likely to pray for a parking spot, a winning lottery ticket, or a sports team than for either of these two things. An even higher percentage of Americans have prayed that something bad they did would not be discovered.
Clearly, we are a little bit confused when it comes to prayer.
