Matthew 6:7-8 Jesus said, “When 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. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
You are there in the midst of my prattle
and my hiding
Thank you for your patient presence
Thank you for calling me again to what is deeper and true
Forgive me for defaulting to well-worn words
Empty language borrowed from ritual or even scripture
Help me come to you honest and real
nothing veiled, nothing hidden
Help me come to you present and fresh
new every morning
Matthew 6:9-10 Jesus said, “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Glory to You, Heavenly One
Abba, Maker, Creator
I long for your kingdom, the fullness of your grace and victory
The longing is a sign of you in me
Abide more and more, so I not only long but look and see
Abide forever, so I not only long but pray and speak and act
Full-filling your words
now mine
The Lord’s Prayer informs, forms, and transforms us and the world. – Lisa Degrenia.
The Evil One in Scripture
1. A Cosmic struggle organized against God
Ephesians 6:10-12
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
2. The Evil One devours and destroys
1 Peter 5:6-8
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
3. The Evil One is a deceiver and liar
2 Corinthians 11:14
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
4. The Evil One twists situations into temptations
Satan tempting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden – Genesis 3
Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness – Luke 4:1-13; Matthew 4:1-11
Worship Resources for this Message
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
I renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of my sins.
I accept the freedom and power God gives me to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.
I confess Jesus Christ as my Savior, put my whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as my Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races.
According to the grace given to me, I will remain a faithful member of Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representative in the world.
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I’m excited to now offer mp3’s of my Sunday messages. A huge thank you to Leon and my brothers and sisters at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota for all their help in making this possible. If you’re ever in Sarasota, please drop by for worship Sundays at 9am or 10:30am, or drop by during the week for a chat or small group. You and those you love are always welcome.
The Lord’s Prayer informs, forms, and transforms us and the world. – Lisa Degrenia.
Colossians 2:13-14
And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.
Psalm 103:12
as far as the east is from the west so far he removes our transgressions from us
2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
If I’m not willing to forgive others then I’m not asking God to forgive me, no matter what words I use. I am asking God to excuse me, but not asking God to forgive me. – Darrell Johnson
God forgives the penitent and one of the chief evidences of true penitence is a forgiving spirit. – John Stott
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I’m excited to now offer mp3’s of my Sunday messages. A huge thank you to Leon and my brothers and sisters at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota for all their help in making this possible. If you’re ever in Sarasota, please drop by for worship Sundays at 9am or 10:30am, or drop by during the week for a chat or small group. You and those you love are always welcome.
The Lord’s Prayer informs, forms, and transforms us and the world. – Lisa Degrenia.
Give us this day, our daily BREAD
GIVE us this day, our daily bread
Give us THIS DAY, our DAILY bread
Give US this day, OUR daily bread
Our response to realizing God’s generous, great grace and our daily dependence upon God and others (interdependence)
trust
humility
gratitude
solidarity
justice
James 1:17 NRSV
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Proverbs 30:7-9 NRSV
Two things I ask of you; do not deny them to me before I die.
Remove far from me falsehood and lying.
Give me neither poverty nor riches.
Feed me with the food that I need,
or I shall be full, and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or I shall be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.
We live in a society that abhors dependence upon God or anyone else. Yet every time we ask God for bread, we are acknowledging not only our dependence upon a beneficent God but also our dependence on other people. No bread comes to our table without the work, the sacrifice and the gifts of strangers whom we do not know and cannot thank. – Will Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas, Lord Teach Us
The bread that is spoiling in your house belongs to the hungry.
The shoes that are mildewing under your bed belong to those who have none.
The clothes stored in your trunk belong to those who are naked.
The money that depreciates in your treasury belongs to the poor. ~St. Basil the Great
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I’m excited to now offer mp3’s of my Sunday messages. A huge thank you to Leon and my brothers and sisters at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota for all their help in making this possible. If you’re ever in Sarasota, please drop by for worship Sundays at 9am or 10:30am, or drop by during the week for a chat or small group. You and those you love are always welcome.
The Lord’s Prayer informs, forms, and transforms us and the world. – Lisa Degrenia
We have no idea of how to live until we first know who God is.
So when we say that God’s name is holy, that tells us how we ought to live.
Knowing the Creator tells us where the creation is meant to move. – Will Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas, Lord Teach Us- The Lord’s Prayer and the Christian Life
Hallow has two meanings
1) To holy-fy and honor
2) To make known, reveal
If you claim to be a child of God, a follower of the Risen Christ, live like it and pray like it. – Lisa Degrenia
Matthew 25:37-40
37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Matthew 5:16
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
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I’m excited to now offer mp3’s of my Sunday messages. A huge thank you to Leon and my brothers and sisters at Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota for all their help in making this possible. If you’re ever in Sarasota, please drop by for worship Sundays at 9am or 10:30am, or drop by during the week for a chat or small group. You and those you love are always welcome.
