Our Father Part 3

OBJECTIVE

In this module, students will gain a deep understanding of the Our Father Prayer by looking at how the prayer is constructed and what each part means. This prayer has 4 parts or themes so in week 1, students will look at the first few lines in the prayer which reflect the relationship and faith we have with the Lord and the recognition of the Almighty God. Week 2: students will look at the second part of the prayer which reflects on God's kingdom in our lives and the importance of seeking His will and not our own. In week 3, students will focus on the meaning of the daily bread that comes from God.

INTRODUCTION - 5 Minutes

Let's recall so far the first 3 petitions in the Our Father prayer. First, that His name would be glorified, that His kingdom would come, that His will would be accomplished not only in heaven but on earth as well; then the fourth petition we are switching over to today is OUR own needs.

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 25 Minutes

Notice in this important prayer that our Lord taught us, we don't begin praying by asking for things. We first glorify Him and ask for His will; then we ask for our daily bread-what will sustain us.

"Give us this day our daily bread"

The bread signifies not only food in general, but absolutely everything necessary for life, everything that makes our existence possible. We find the meaning of food in the very first chapter of the Bible, in the account of the creation of man. Having created the world, God provides food for man, and this means that man's life depends on food for survival.

Man receives food from God; it is God's gift to man and he lives not in order to eat but to grow in the likeness of God in everything we do. Everything we need to survive is what God provides. Food, drink, sleep, health, sight, hearing, physical ability to move and function. It's all from God but it starts when we realize all the small things that we need to live ALL come from God because He provides them. But this prayer reminds us we need to ASK. It's our duty to pray and ask for God to provide these things in order to live.

When Christ was tempted in the wilderness by the devil and felt hunger, the devil suggested that he turn the stones into bread, but Christ refused saying: "Man does not live by bread alone" (Matthew 4:4). He overcame and judged that man can not depend on bread alone. He freed Himself from that dependency and food became a gift from God, not something to be enslaved by. So yes, we need food to survive, but we can't forget the source that provides it nor can we solely rely on the physical food. We need God's presence in our lives.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

  • Have you ever considered what you eat everyday to be gifts from God? Why or why not?
    • It's easy to take for granted every time you eat a home cooked meal. We forget the person who spent time making it and most of all we forget to be grateful that God provided the gift of an adult preparing it and for the blessing that you even had a meal. Imagine if you counted every snack and every meal as a gift from God? How many gifts would that be?
  • What is the difference between the "bread" or food we eat and the "divine bread" that God gives us? What are some examples?
    • Food we eat every day is to replenish our bodies so we can function and live. Heavenly bread or communion is the greatest food God provides us because it's for the remission of our sins. We wouldn't have eternal life if God didn't provide that gift.
  • What are some things that you find yourself dependent on and can not live without?

CONCLUSION - 5 Minutes

We receive bread, we receive life and because God has given us "bread" to live and survive. We need to live for Him. To live in communion with Him, in knowledge of Him.

RESOURCES

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Share with your parents what you have learned so far about the Our Father Prayer. Quiz them and see if they know the 4 petitions discussed in this prayer.