The Lord's prayer
Why "Our Father" precedes the petitions
God answers all petitions of the Lord's prayer purely out of fatherly love for his children, not as means to his own ends. Luther explained this in the Small Catechism:
Our Father who art in heaven.
What does this mean?
Answer. God would thereby [with this little introduction] tenderly urge us to believe that He is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may ask Him confidently with all assurance, as dear children ask their dear father.
What does "Amen" mean?
This is also answered in the Small Catechism:
That I should be certain that these petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven and heard; for He Himself has commanded us so to pray, and has promised that He will hear us. Amen, Amen; that is, Yea, yea, it shall be so.
In fact, for Christians to doubt that God will answer their prayers is to call him a liar (Large Catechism 3:121-123).
A prayer for use in family worship services
In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Father who art in heaven,
In whose Triune name we were washed with water by the word,
Hallowed be thy name.
Our Father, you are well pleased to give us the kingdom;
Thy kingdom come,
Our Father, you are not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance;
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Our Father, you feed the birds of the air, which neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;
Give us this day our daily bread.
Our Father, you so loved the world that you gave your only Son that we might not perish, but have everlasting life,
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Our Father, you will not allow us to be tested beyond what we can bear;
Lead us not into temptation,
Our Father, in our Lord Jesus Christ you conquered sin, death, and the devil;
Deliver us from evil.
Our Father, you give us your Holy Spirit that we lack no good thing, and you promise to graciously answer all these petitions brought in the name of your beloved Son, whom you hear always;
Amen.
More resources for worship at home
Passages on the efficacy of baptism
Lutheran litany (the Lord's prayer used responsively; off-site)
Other Christ-centered prayers
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
About this site
Dawning Realm proclaims the good news of the kingdom as confessed at Caesarea Philippi, Nicaea, and Augsburg.
† This cross symbol, when appearing to the left of a topic, designates a category in Theology of the Cross, a directory of Lutheran articles.
Last modified:
February 15, 2009 6:38 AM
Author information. David Bickel confesses the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, the Augsburg Confession, and the other documents of the Book of Concord because they faithfully summarize the sacred writings of the prophets and apostles. As a layman, he lacks the call needed to publicly teach in the church. | professional web page
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Scripture translations. Copyright information
The good Father
And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Luke 11:5-13 (ESV)
The gift of the kingdom
"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Luke 12:32-34 (ESV)
