"Living the Prayer Jesus Gave us. Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

First Covenant Church of Willmar

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"Living the Prayer Jesus Gave us. Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

January 21, 2024 • Pastor Chris Pappenfus • Luke 4:16–22, Luke 7:18–23

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Living the LORD’s prayer is an invitation to not only speak these precious words that Jesus gave us in prayer but also live them out in our daily lives. The LORD’s prayer opens with a declaration of praise, adoration, and acceptance of God, who provides for his children as our loving Heavenly Father. Next, Jesus calls his disciples to submit to God’s will and earnestly desire God’s lordship in their lives by praying, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The Kingdom can come in the slightest of circumstances. All it takes is an awareness of God's love for us, the appropriate love of others, and the willingness to live obediently in the present with joy and peace. Doing the will of God is to live Christianly. Our worldview is shaped by Jesus Christ and our faith-based decisions are made with awareness, assessment, and action.

Read and reflect on Luke 4:16-22; 7:18-23.

Living the Prayer Jesus Gave Us: "Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver Us From Evil."

February 11, 2024 • Pastor Chris Pappenfus • Matthew 6:13

This Sunday, we will complete our series, “Living the Prayer Jesus Gave Us.” The LORD’s prayer is a wonderful gift to us and when we take the time to reflect on our prayer of declaration, submission, petition, and adoration, we see that this is prayer meant to impact our lives - everyday, all day. The final petition of the LORD’s prayer acknowledges our human frailty and the existence of an enemy determined to keep God’s children from drawing near to our Father in Heaven. We pray, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Temptations are all around us, and so we must be on guard and put our trust in the Holy Spirit who will provide us the spiritual strength and will to overcome.

Living the Prayer He Gave Us "Forgive Us Our Sins As We Forgive Those Who Sin Against Us."

February 4, 2024 • Pastor Chris Pappenfus • Matthew 5:38–48, Matthew 18:21–35, Mark 2:13–17, Luke 15

In the Gospel of Matthew 6:9-15, Jesus teaches his followers to pray and emphasizes the important work of forgiveness. God’s grace and mercy (expressed in the gift of forgiveness) is the center of the good news of Jesus. Praying for forgiveness is a vivid reminder that God frees us from debilitating guilt (covering over our shame) with the blood of Jesus for the sins of humanity. If God can forgive us, we are motivated to forgive others, showing mercy and compassion. Our process of inner healing will often ripple beyond ourselves in waves of mercy and forgiveness experienced through us by those around us. Mark 2:13-17; Luke 15:1-32. Matthew 5:38-48; 18:21-35.

Living the Prayer He Gave Us - “Give us this day our daily bread.”

January 28, 2024 • Pastor Chris Pappenfus • Matthew 18:1–5

The LORD’s Prayer is named because it is Jesus who gave us the prayer. However, it is more accurate to call it “The Disciple’s Prayer” because, for 2000 years, Jesus’ followers have turned to this prayer in our petitions and humble submission. The second petition of the prayer instructs us to pray for our Father’s provision in our daily needs. Specifically, “Give us this day our daily bread.” For many, this is the most comfortable and familiar portion of the prayer. It most accurately reflects the most common practice of prayer; a sincere desire for God to meet our needs on a daily basis. Yet, living this petition in sincere faith requires a posture that is significantly counter-cultural. A posture of child-like faith. Join us this Sunday, as Pastor Chris explores the second petition of the LORD’s Prayer. In preparation, read Matthew 18:1-5.