Life / Small Group · aligned to Methodist / Wesleyan
Teach Us to Pray: The Lord's Prayer Line by Line
Jesus gives us more than words to repeat — He gives us a pattern for relationship with the Father that shapes how we worship, depend, forgive, and trust.
Review & safety checks
This lesson plan is well-crafted, theologically sound, and aligned with Wesleyan-Arminian doctrine. The progression from God's glory to personal needs to forgiveness to spiritual protection reflects solid theology of grace and holiness. Scripture citations are accurate and appropriately used. The leader notes show pastoral sensitivity, especially around the forgiveness discussion. The plan is ready for use.
No theology, sensitivity, or plagiarism issues flagged. Reviewed against the Methodist / Wesleyan Statement of Faith.
Lesson plan
Warmly welcome the group and briefly frame tonight: most of us have said the Lord's Prayer hundreds of times, often on autopilot. Tonight we slow down to hear it line by line as Jesus' own teaching on how to pray. Open with a short prayer asking the Spirit to help the group pray, not just study prayer. Read Matthew 6:9-13 aloud together once, slowly.
Walk through the prayer phrase by phrase. (1) 'Our Father in heaven' — prayer begins in relationship, not performance. Through Christ we are adopted (Romans 8:15); 'Our' reminds us we never pray as isolated individuals. (2) 'Hallowed be your name / Your kingdom come / Your will be done' — before we ask anything, we orient ourselves around God's glory, reign, and will. As Wesleyans we see here the heart of holiness: wanting God's will done in us as it is in heaven. (3) 'Give us this day our daily bread' — daily, honest dependence on God for ordinary needs; not a year's supply, just today's. (4) 'Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors' — the only petition Jesus comments on afterward (Matthew 6:14-15). Received grace becomes given grace; forgiveness flows out of being forgiven (1 John 1:9). (5) 'Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil' — a humble cry for protection and grace to grow in love. Tie it together: the prayer moves from God's glory, to daily needs, to relationships, to spiritual battle — a complete pattern we can pray any day. Note Luke's shorter version (Luke 11:1-4) shows it's a pattern, not a magic formula.
Move into discussion using the questions below. If the group is on the larger side, split into pairs or threes for the first questions, then gather a few responses with the whole group for the apply question.
Hand each person a card with the five movements of the prayer (Father/relationship, God's glory & will, daily provision, forgiveness, deliverance). Give 2-3 minutes of quiet for everyone to write one short personal sentence under each heading — turning the pattern into their own prayer for this week. Then invite the group to pray together: the leader reads each line of the Lord's Prayer aloud, pausing after each so members can pray their own sentences silently or briefly aloud.
Encourage the group to pray through the Lord's Prayer slowly once each day this week using their cards. Close by praying the Lord's Prayer aloud together as a group.
Discussion questions
- warmupWhich line of the Lord's Prayer is most familiar to you, and which one do you tend to skip past without thinking?
- warmupWhat difference does it make that Jesus teaches us to begin with 'Our Father' rather than with our requests?
- digJesus puts God's name, kingdom, and will before our daily needs. Why do you think He orders the prayer this way, and how does that challenge how we usually pray?
- digThis is the only petition Jesus explains afterward (Matthew 6:14-15). Why might forgiving others be tied so closely to receiving God's forgiveness?
- applyWhat would it look like this week to actually pray for 'daily bread' — bringing today's real needs to God instead of carrying tomorrow's worries?
- applyIs there a relationship where 'as we also have forgiven our debtors' is hard for you right now? What is one step toward extending the grace you've received? (Share only what you're comfortable sharing.)
Scripture
Matthew 6:9-13 (BSB) — So then, this is how you should 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 also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
Matthew 6:14-15 (BSB) — For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
Luke 11:1 (BSB) — One day in a certain place, Jesus was praying, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'
Romans 8:15 (BSB) — For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!'
1 John 1:9 (BSB) — If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Leader notes
Prep checklist
- Read Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4 a few times this week and pray the prayer slowly each day so you teach from experience.
- Prepare prayer-pattern cards listing the five movements (Father/relationship, God's glory & will, daily provision, forgiveness, deliverance) — one per person.
- Decide ahead whether to split a larger group into pairs/threes for the discussion questions.
- Choose which Bible translation you'll read from and have it ready (notes use BSB).
- Be ready to handle the forgiveness application gently — some members may carry painful relationships; never pressure anyone to share, and don't give clinical or legal counsel.
- Pray for your group by name before the session.
Materials
- Bibles or printed copies of Matthew 6:9-13
- Prayer-pattern cards (printed or index cards)
- Pens or pencils for each person
- Optional: printed Lord's Prayer for closing in unison
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