Let's Learn to Pray Once More!

“Let’s Learn How to Pray Once More!”

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date:  4 March 2018

Text: Matthew 6.5 - 13

Thesis: Jesus can teach us to pray!

Introduction

Martin Luther’s barber, Peter Beskendorf, once asked him for advice on how to pray.  Luther wrote him out some instructions in a short work called; “A Simple Way to Pray, for Master Peter the Barber.”

So, as a diligent and good barber, you must keep your thoughts, senses, and eyes precisely on the hair and scissors or razor and not forget where your trimmed or shaved, for, if you want to talk a lot or become distracted thinking about something else, you might well cut someone’s nose or mouth or even his throat.

How much more does a prayer need to have the undivided attention to the whole heart alone, if it is to be a good prayer?(1)

I Biblical Prayers are Different than Contemporary Prayers:

A.  Biblical Prayers are Prayed by the Broken Hearted

B.  Biblical Prayers are Prayed in Desperate Times and Circumstances

C.   Biblical Payers are Similar Regardless if Prayed in Private or in Public

II Why Do We Pray Differently Today?

A.  We are Free

B.  We are not at war in our own space

C.   We are fed

D.  We are housed

E.   We are prosperous

F.   We are educated

G.  We are mobile

H.  We are healthy

I.   We are clothed

J.   We are conditioned

III Why Should We Pray Biblically Today?

A.  For the church of Christ Here – She’s Going Into Apostasy

B.  For the church of Christ Elsewhere – She’s Being Persecuted

C.   For the Unfaithful – They Are Headed for Hell

D.  For the Nation – She Is Turning to Immorality and a Culture of Death

E.   For Our Community – She Is Embracing and Teaching Immorality

IV How Can We Learn to Pray Biblically?

A.  Jesus will teach us!

CONCLUSION:  Prayer is to the Christian as nuclear weapons are to the military

The Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context:  Biblical prayer is mandatory and not optional.

The Challenge of the Text for Christians Today – “Lord, teach us to pray!”

“The Gospel Call” – Acts 2.38

NOTES:

(1) As quoted in:  Mohler, R. Albert, (The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Down), Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson, 2018, pg. 14 - 15

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.