Redeemer Lutheran Church and Preschool
Sermon Series Lent 2024
Connecting with the Divine:
Unravelling the Lord's Prayer for All Generations
Embark on a transformative journey through a 6-week sermon series delving into the profound wisdom of the Lord's Prayer. Explore the timeless words that Jesus shared, unraveling the layers of meaning and discovering how this prayer serves as a blueprint for a deeper connection with God. Each week unveils a new facet, guiding you to reflect, pray, and cultivate a richer spiritual life. Join us as we unpack the Lord's Prayer, unlocking its power to shape our hearts and draw us closer to the divine.
- Feb. 18 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name
- Feb. 25 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- Mar. 3 Give us this day our daily bread.
- Mar. 10 Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
- Mar. 17 Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
- Mar. 24 For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
— Week 1 —
Our Father in Heaven, hallowed by Thy Name
Lenten Devotions
In Lutheran Churches, daily devotionals are often distributed during Lent to be used as part of our Lenten journey to Holy Week and Easter Sunday. These will be distributed at church each Sunday with devotions for the week. The devotions will follow the theme from Sunday, which will be a piece of the Lord's Prayer. You can also download the weekly devotionals from this page as a PDF.
Everything Starts with Seeing God as Father
(Summary of the sermon from 2/18/24)
Amid life's chaos and uncertainties, a timeless invitation exists to connect with the divine. This invitation transcends the mundane and offers solace amidst the storms. This invitation is encapsulated within the profound words of the Lord's Prayer, a prayer that was Jesus’ response to being asked how to pray.
This week we focus on the introduction, "Our Father in heaven,” and the first petition, “Hallowed be thy name."
Unpacking the Introduction
The significance of addressing the divine as "Our Father" cannot be overstated. It serves as the cornerstone of our spiritual understanding, inviting us to perceive the universe through the lens of loving fatherly connection rather than fear.
— Week 2 —
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven
Your Kingdom Come... The Kingdom of God Is What You Really Want
(summary of the sermon from 2/25/24)
In the tapestry of existence, where the divine meets the mundane, there lies an invocation, a prayer uttered through the ages: "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." These words, resonating from the lips of countless believers, encapsulate a profound longing, a yearning for the Kingdom of God to permeate every facet of human existence. But what does this Kingdom entail? How does its manifestation translate into our daily lives?
Understanding the Kingdom: Where the King Reigns
A kingdom is wherever the king is in charge. A kingdom is where things are done the king’s way. The kingdom of God is where things are done God’s way. It is a realm where the divine order prevails. What is the way of God? Jesus showed us exactly how things are when they are done God’s way because Jesus is the exact representation of the Father (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus told us that the foundation of everything done God’s way is “love.”
— Week 3 —
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
A Prayer of
Focus and Trust
(a summary of the sermon from March 3, 2024)
In the midst of the cycles of chaos and the calm in our lives, there exists a prayer that echoes through centuries, resonating with the deepest needs of humanity: "Give us this day our daily bread." These words, uttered by countless lips, penned in sacred texts, and passed down through traditions, hold within them a profound invitation to live in trust and a call to focus on the present moment.
What do these simple yet profound words mean? How do they shape our understanding of provision, gratitude, and reliance on the Divine? Let’s unpack its layers and uncover the timeless wisdom it offers.
— Week 4 —
Forgive Us Our Trespasses
as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us
Lenten Devotions
Week 4
"Forgive Us Our Trespasses as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us"
Forgive Us Our Trespasses as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us?
Amid life's complexities and challenges, the prayer that guides all other prayers is the one that Jesus taught us directly: the Lord's Prayer. Its words are not a mere formula to be recited but a profound journey into the heart of our relationship with the divine and with each other. Today, our focus is on the phrase: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
You can’t tell me that’s not a scary thing to pray: Dear Father in Heaven, forgive me my sins just like I forgive everyone who sins against me. Forgive me the same way I forgive other people. Oof! That could be a punch in the gut. This phrase needs some unpacking to get at what we are praying.
— Week 5 —
Lead Us Not Into Temptation but Deliver Us From Evil
Lenten Devotions
Week 5
"Lead Us Not Into Temptation But Deliver Us From Evil"
Human Frailty and Divine Protection —
The Final Phrase of the Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer could be considered the central prayer of the Christian faith. After all, it’s the prayer given by Jesus Himself. Each phrase in this profound prayer reveals layers of meaning and reflection for our lives as believers. Today, we dig into the strange but powerful last phrase of the Lord’s Prayer as it is found in the scriptures: "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil."
Or watch a replay on our YouTube channel.
— Week 6 —
For Thine Is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory
Forever and Ever. Amen.
Lenten Devotions
Week 6
"For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever and ever. Amen."
Closing Worship: Exploring the Doxology of the Lord's Prayer
In our journey through the Lord's Prayer, we have explored the depths of its meaning and significance. Each line of this prayer explodes with insight into our relationship with God and guidance for our lives.
We Have Reached the End of the Lord’s Prayer
The Lord's Prayer is not a formula that we recite. It is the words of Jesus outlining a life of prayer for His followers. It begins by defining our relationship with God as Father/child, which orients our entire prayer life and worldview. As we move through the prayer, we pray for provision, forgiveness, and spiritual protection. Now we reach the end of the prayer. How does one conclude such a profound and timeless prayer? Doxology.