Simple Sermon Outline: Prayer That Fills You Up

Last week the Desperate Pastor blog introduced a new series of posts, "Simple Sermon Outlines" for the hardworking pastor who takes seriously the task of breaking the Bread of Life to God's people but is sometimes up against a wall and fresh out of ideas. The outlines posted here will be simple and sparse, in the hope that they will ignite (not replace) the process of prayer, study, and creativity.

This week's entry is based on a chapter in my newest book, The Red Letter Life" 17 Words from Jesus to Inspire Simple, Practical, Purposeful Living. It suggests twelve tips (yes, twelve--you got a problem with that?) for prayer, drawing from the Lord's Prayer:

Prayer That Fills You Up
Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4

Pray Communally ("Our")

Pray Relationally ("Father")

Pray Confidently (because our Father is "in heaven," ruling over all)

Pray Respectfully ("Let Your name be kept holy")

Pray Cooperatively ("Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven")

Pray Specifically ("Give us...bread")

Pray Practically ("Give us the bread we need today")

Pray Contritely ("Forgive us our sins")

Pray Graciously ("As we forgive those who have wronged us")

Pray Submissively ("Lead us")

Pray Purposefully ("Not into temptation, but deliver us from evil")

Pray Worshipfully ("For yours is the kingdom, power, and glory forever")