The New National Baptist Hymnal: 21st Century Edition: 2nd Quarter 2015

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

This hymnal contains beloved classics shared throughout the Christian tradition, and it has many valuable resources. It serves the worship needs of all denominations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Jan 1, 2001
• ISBN: 9781589429437

Book preview

Bible Study for Week of January 4, 2015

LESSON 1

FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS

Unifying Topic: A Model for Prayer

LUKE 11:1–13

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: LUKE 11:1–13

The New National Baptist Hymnal, 21st Century Edition #43 (NNBH #25); God’s Promises Bible, Luke 11:1–13; Boyd’s Commentary for the Sunday School

Luke 11:1–13

MAIN THOUGHT: And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. (Luke 11:2, KJV)

LESSON SETTING

This quarter begins with the subject of prayer. Prayer is essential to a faithful Christian life. The importance of prayer was repeatedly demonstrated by Jesus in His ministry on earth. As we study the Gospels, we find Jesus constantly praying to His Father before making important decisions concerning His ministry. Through prayer, we commune with God who in turn gives us the power we need to work for His Kingdom.

EXPOSITION

Jesus was constantly in prayer during the course of His ministry. The Disciples of Jesus observed Him on numerous occasions praying to His Father. Having seen how Jesus raised Peter’s mother-in-law from her sick bed, cast out demons, and healed a man with leprosy, the Disciples quite obviously concluded that the real key to Jesus’ ministry lay in His consistent prayer life; thus they asked Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’ (Luke 11:1, NRSV).

I. A MODEL FOR PRAYER (Luke 11:1-4)

At the outset of today’s lesson we find Jesus engaged in prayer. We are not told exactly where He was praying, only that it was in a certain place (ibid.). Jesus prayed in various places and for extended periods of time. His Disciples likely noticed a change in His countenance after He finished praying. One of His Disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples’ (ibid.). Jesus’ prayer life exemplified a perfect model of prayer not only for His Disciples but for all believers. Earlier in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is depicted praying when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove (see Luke 3:21). Jesus prayed all night long just before choosing His Disciples (see 6:12), and He was praying on the mountain before He was transfigured (see 9:28). The Disciples knew that prayer was the source of Jesus’ strength in His ministry. They saw how intimate His relationship with His Father grew through prayer. Certainly they wanted to experience this same power and connection.

Realizing how important prayer would be to them, Jesus did not hesitate to teach His Disciples. The way in which Jesus instructed them to pray would later become known as the Model Prayer. The Model Prayer is a guide to be used by anyone desiring to pray according to God’s will. Jesus told His Disciples exactly how to pray and what to say when they prayed. In the Model Prayer, Jesus said to the Disciples, When ye pray, say… (11:2, KJV). We can use the prayer Jesus taught His Disciples as a model upon which we can base our own prayers.

Jesus’ prayer was given as a guide for how and what to pray. It begins by acknowledging who God is. Jesus told His Disciples to pray to our Father which art in heaven (ibid.). There are many so-called gods, but we are to pray to the God of heaven, the Father of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. We are in a familial relationship with God: He is our Father. As our Father, God is the Head of the human family. He instructs us in the way in which we are to go. He provides for us and takes care of all our needs. We establish our personal relationship with God by referring to Him as our Father. True prayer connects us to God in a loving relationship which enables us to call Him Father. This relationship comes only through faith in Jesus