Temptation and Evil,
W. Gregory Pope, preaching

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Series: The Lord’s Prayer

James 1:2-5, 12-15; Ephesians 6:10-18

A minister in a large city parked his car in a “No Parking” zone.  He was short of time and couldn’t find a space with a meter.  So he put a note underneath the windshield wiper which read: “Dear Officer, I’ve circled this block ten times looking for a parking place.  If I don’t park here, I’ll miss my appointment.  ‘Forgive us our trespasses.’”

When he returned, he found a parking ticket underneath the windshield wiper along with a note that read: “I’ve circled this block for ten years.  If I don’t give you a ticket, I’ll lose my job. ‘Lead us not into temptation.’”

Forgive As We Are Forgiven
W. Gregory Pope, preaching

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Series: The Lord's Prayer

I John 1:8-2:2; Ephesians 4:29-31

This morning we return to our reflections on the Lord’s Prayer.  And we come to the one that carries the greatest emotional load.  FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US. 

I don’t know where you are today. Perhaps your greatest need this morning is to be forgiven; or it may be the need to forgive.  They are both as crucial to our spirit as bread is for our body.

Paul Tillich said that nothing greater can happen to a human being than being forgiven.  For forgiveness means being accepted in spite of being unacceptable.  Forgiveness, he says, is nothing short of a miracle.  Sometimes forgiving those who have deeply wounded us is nothing short of a miracle.

The good news is we worship the God of miracles.  The God who forgives us our trespasses, and helps us forgive those who have trespassed against us.

FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES begins the petition. 

"Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"
W. Gregory Pope, preaching

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Series: The Lord’s Prayer

Mark 6:34-44; John 6:48-51

We continue to give thought to what it means to pray The Lord’s Prayer each week in worship and perhaps daily in our lives.  Today the petition GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. 

“Give.”  A petition of request.  Request is a valid part of prayer. 

This petition calls us to acknowledge our dependence upon something, Someone, beyond ourselves for our daily sustenance.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.  A prayer for the very basic necessities of life.  It’s the only thing this prayer permits us to pray for.  Not a new Rolls Royce, not a mansion, not even financial success.  Just enough bread for the day.

And while this petition calls us to acknowledge our dependence upon God for daily necessities, this petition also calls us to work with God in answer to this prayer.

"Thy Will Be Done"
W. Gregory Pope, preaching

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Deuteronomy 20:10-16; Romans 12:9-21 

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the supposed mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, is a devoted disciple of a radical form of Islam.  As were many of the hijackers.  They believe their actions - flying planes into building - taking the lives of almost 3000 innocent people was the will of Allah.

This morning in our disturbing text from Deuteronomy, a priest stands before the Hebrew army as they go into battle.  The priest tells them first to try and make peace with those they encounter.  If they accept peace, take them as your slaves.  But if they make war, kill all the men, and God will give you the women, children, and livestock as your own.

And for those who live in the land they believe God wants them to have, they are told,  “You must not let anything that breathes remain alive.  You shall annihilate them.”  They do it in the name of Yahweh.  Is this the word of the Lord?

"Thy Kingdom Come"
W. Gregory Pope, preaching

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Series: The Lord’s Prayer

 Isaiah 65:17-25; Mark 1:14-15

THY KINGDOM COME.

What is the kingdom of God?
It did not originate with Jesus.

It began in the Garden of Eden where we see symbolized, mythologized God’s intention for all creation:  an idyllic paradise where all creation was woven together into an intricate tapestry and Adam and Eve had all their needs met.  God’s presence overflowed in selfless love expressed in the delights and pleasures of the Garden.  “God saw everything God had made, and it was good.”

God so marveled at Adam and Eve that God placed all creation into their hands and made them its stewards.  They were to nurture this world with tender care, preserving it as a place where there would be no war, violence, or distrust; no racism, inequality, or prejudice; a place where each member of creation’s family would rely on one another.