Resources from the Gospel Coalition

The Gospel Coalition has made available several hundred sermons, conference lectures, interviews, and articles by dozens of conservative Evangelical pastors and scholars. Many are names familiar to us all (Carson, Duncan, Piper, Dever, Driscoll, Lutzer, Begg, etc), and many were completely new to me. The sermons are indexed both by topic and scripture reference. They are also downloadable (for you ipod guys).

5 Solas RC Sproul

Dr. Sproul is currently doing a series on the five solas entitled God Alone. You can listen to this series on the Ligonier ministry website: http://www.ligonier.org/.

Reciting the Prayer Jesus taught His disciples and creeds

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our
daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
(Matthew 6:7-13 NKJV)

Here it is “do not use vain repetitions”. Well at least don’t be repetitive. This is why we don’t recite the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray in our worship services. These words will become commonplace and we have been warned about being repetitious. We will not recite this portion of Scripture. Could it be it sounds too high church?

Sometimes we recite the Psalms, or read the dark black and the lighter words from the back of the hymnal, this is fine. As for Matthew 6:7-13 no way! Christian assemblies who don’t recite Matthew 6:7-13 interestingly don’t usually recite the Creeds either.

I wonder what’s the real objection for not praying the prayer Jesus taught His disciples, or the Creeds? It’s not the prayer nor the creeds; it must be the person reciting. He is in disagreement with the statements below evidently.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and
earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. [See Calvin] The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

The following is used by permission of David Dee, pastor of Christ our Life Church, Curran, Michigan.This is a part of the constitution of this assembly of believers and is directly quoted from it. Here is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray:

As we go throughout our life as a Christian on Earth in this present World, wanting and needing to know and experience the character and capabilities of God in our moment by moment walk with Him as our Creator, Lord and savior;-remember that Jesus has taught us to pray in such a way so that as we “hallow” our Heavenly Father’s Name, we will always be able to trust and rest in the “fullness” of the true and real “meaning” of all that God is, and all that God does, in our life as His Child!

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, (Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV) "Jehova-Nissi” The-Lord-Is-My-Banner (Exodus 17:15)

Hallowed be Your name. (God’s character is holy).

Your kindom come. “Jehovah-shammah” The-Lord-is-There (Ezekiel 48:35)

Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. “Jehovah-shalom” The-Lord-is-Peace (Judges 6:24)

Give us this day our daily bread. “Jehovah-Jireh” The-Lord-Will-Provide (Genesis 22:14)

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. “Jehovah-Rapha” The-Lord-Who-Heals (Exodus 15:26)

And do not lead us into temptation, “Jehovah-ra “Ah” The-Lord-Is-My-Shepherd (Psalms 23:1)

But deliver us from the evil one. “Jehovah-Tsidqenuw” The-Lord-Our-Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. God’s capabilities are kingly, [God is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords]; - and, God’s capabilities are all powerful, and infinitely glorious.

Now folks, really what is the problem? The prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray is not the problem.

The argument that either is vain or repetitious is unacceptable, remembering: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12).

"Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You" (Psa. 119:11).

Really, this is about the dumbest statement of a Christian “I have repeated it so often it (the Word) has become commonplace and has lost it’s meaning.” If anyone feels reading Scripture repeatedly looses it’s power and effectiveness check out Hebrews 4:12 and Psalms 119:11.

In public worship, please, find another argument for omitting the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray and the lack of reciting the Creeds.

Ken Clouse