How to Pray / How not to Pray

Discussion Questions

1. Read for yourself Matthew 6:5-13. What stands out to you as you read this passage?  

2. In our scripture reading today Jesus warns His followers how not to pray. “Don’t be like the hypocrites.” These hypocrites prayed in two ways that were wrong. First they have turned praying into a spectator sport, loving the attention they get. Second, they keep babbling on, thinking they would be heard because of their many words. Can you think of modern examples of this sort of praying? 

3. The problem with this sort of praying is that it’s either just to get attention from others, or it questions God’s love for us. Using prayer to seek attention from someone other than God is wrong. Plus, by thinking that we need to convince God to listen to us with long eloquent speeches we are assuming that He must not really care about us. God loves you so much that all you need to do is come before Him and He is listening. Spend some time in prayer right now, thanking God for His great love for you. 

4. At the end of this passage Jesus taught His followers how to pray with the words of “The Lord’s Prayer.” Take some extra time to read through this prayer. How is it different from the prayers of the “hypocrites.” What can you learn about prayer for paying attention to Jesus’ prayer?