Christ Community Church - C3, 5340 Quince Road, Memphis, TN (2026)

06/01/2026

Give Us Today Our Daily Bread (Matthew 6:9-11)
The Big Idea: Jesus teaches that God isn't just interested in world-changing events; He desires an intimate relationship close enough to walk with you through ordinary, everyday moments.
1. What Is Jesus Telling Us to Pray For?
Every Single Daily Need We Have "Daily bread" represents everything necessary for life—physical, emotional, financial, relational, and practical needs.

“When we pray for bread we are praying at the same time for ‘everything necessary for the preservation of this life, like food, a healthy body, good weather, house, home...’” — Frederick Dale Bruner (quoting Martin Luther)

The Small Things Matter to God We often assume God is too busy for trivial things (traffic, lost keys, stressful meetings). But Jesus transfigured everyday life by inviting us to pray for the small stuff. God welcomes our thousands of trivial matters because He cares about us.
2. What Is Jesus Not Telling Us to Pray For?
Our Greeds Rather Than Our Needs Jesus teaches us to pray for bread, not cake. He promises to meet our needs, not fund our greed, comparison, or poor stewardship.

“The prayer is for our needs, not our greeds.” — D.A. Carson

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” — James 4:2-3

God’s ultimate goal is not merely to make us comfortable, but to make us holy.
3. Six Lessons About Prayer

Prayer obtains things for yourself: Asking God for help isn't selfish; it is obedience.

Asking is necessary: Not because God is unaware, but because asking develops faith, expresses dependence, and invites God into our lives (James 4:2).

God is committed to giving: Jesus doesn't say "if it's not too much trouble." He says, "Give us." We approach a loving Father with audacious confidence, not a reluctant stranger.

Pray vaguely or specifically: God doesn't require perfect wording, but specific prayers help us notice specific answers and see His faithfulness.

Pray for yourself and others: "Give us" reminds us to carry the community's needs before God.

Trust God in unanswered prayer: If God withholds something, we trust His wisdom. As Psalm 23:1 says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."

4. Practical Ways to Pray for Daily Bread

Pray the words Jesus gave us: Say "Give us today our daily bread" to place your entire day in His hands.

Set today's worries before God: Turn daily anxieties (bills, deadlines, appointments) into daily prayers.

Set today's calendar before God: Invite God into every meeting, conversation, and task before rushing in.

Be the provision for others: Ask, "God, who needs daily bread from me today?" God often answers someone else's prayer through your ordinary kindness.

Discipleship Group Questions

What "small" concerns do you hesitate to pray about, and why?

How does viewing God as a loving Father change how you approach daily needs?

Where does the distinction between "need" and "greed" become difficult in everyday life?

Which of the six lessons about prayer challenged or encouraged you the most?

Who in your life needs "daily bread" right now, and how can you help provide it this week?

05/18/2026

Rainey’s message centered on the biblical call to forgiveness, respect, and seeing people the way Jesus sees them. Using 1 Samuel 16:7 as her foundation — “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” — she challenged listeners to rethink how they view difficult people, enemies, and those who have caused pain.
She began with a story about her son being stung by a jellyfish at the beach. Even after being hurt, he was willing to go back into the ocean once the warning flag was removed. Rainey used this image to illustrate an important spiritual truth: believers are called to remain humble enough to “look again” at people and situations, even after experiencing hurt. She connected this to the word “respect,” explaining its roots mean “to look again.” Respect, therefore, is not merely politeness, but the willingness to believe someone’s story or future may be more than we first assumed.
Throughout the message, Rainey emphasized that Jesus modeled this perfectly. While others saw Zacchaeus as a corrupt traitor or the woman at the well as immoral and shameful, Jesus saw dignity, value, and possibility. His compassion and willingness to engage people respectfully became transformational. Rainey pointed out that for the woman at the well, “the respect was the miracle.” Jesus did not simply tolerate people — He restored them through compassion.
The core of the message focused on forgiveness. Rainey argued that modern Christianity often reduces faith to “going to heaven,” while the New Testament emphasizes becoming transformed into people who love enemies, forgive deeply, and reflect the character of Christ. She explained that forgiveness is not optional for Christians because forgiveness is part of the culture of God’s kingdom.
She carefully addressed several “falsehoods” about forgiveness. First, she challenged the idea that unforgiveness is simply “protecting your peace.” While boundaries are sometimes necessary, bitterness disguised as self-care is still bitterness. Jesus Himself did not “protect His peace” when He entered human suffering, served difficult people, and continued loving others despite pain.
Second, Rainey clarified that forgiveness does not mean remaining in abusive situations. Jesus taught confrontation, accountability, and involving community when someone is harmful. Forgiveness does not excuse evil or deny wounds, but it does refuse hatred and keeps the heart open to the possibility of healing and reconciliation.
Another major point was that Christians forgive because they themselves have been forgiven. Using Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant, she explained that believers cannot receive God’s mercy while refusing to extend mercy to others. Forgiveness is evidence of belonging to God’s kingdom and becoming like Christ.
Rainey also stressed that forgiveness is often an act of obedience before it becomes a feeling. Like Ananias reluctantly welcoming Saul, believers sometimes must “do as they are told” even when emotions lag behind. Christian maturity means choosing love and mercy even when it feels unnatural.
She concluded by reminding listeners that forgiveness does not minimize suffering. God fully sees injustice and pain. Yet unforgiveness ultimately poisons the heart and prevents spiritual transformation. Followers of Jesus are called to participate in the life of heaven now by becoming people marked by mercy, humility, and hope. Rainey challenged the church to become a place where respect and forgiveness are normal, and where even small acts of compassion might become miracles in someone’s life.
Discussion Questions

Who in your life do you struggle to “look at again” with dignity or hope?

What is the difference between healthy boundaries and unforgiveness?

Why do you think forgiveness is so difficult, even for Christians?

How does remembering God’s forgiveness toward you affect your ability to forgive others?

Are there relationships in your life where God may be calling you to take a step toward reconciliation?

What does it practically look like to “love your enemies” in everyday life?

Rainey said, “Respect was the miracle.” When has someone’s compassion or respect changed your life?

05/11/2026

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done
Introduction
In this message, Coleton walks through one of the most important lines in the Lord’s Prayer:
“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10
Jesus is not giving His followers empty religious words to repeat. He is teaching them how to partner with God in the renewal of the world. This prayer is not passive resignation. It is an invitation into participation with God.
Coleton structures the sermon around three major questions:

What is Jesus telling us to ask for?
Why doesn’t God just do it without our prayers?
What does this mean for our prayers practically?

Throughout the message, Coleton emphasizes a central truth: prayer matters because God has chosen to work through the prayers of His people.
1. What Is Jesus Telling Us to Ask For?
We Are Asking for God’s Kingdom and God’s Will
Coleton explains that Jesus teaches us to pray for two connected realities:

God’s Kingdom to come
God’s will to be done

These cannot be separated. God’s Kingdom is the place where God’s will is actually happening.
Coleton uses a quote from Dallas Willard to explain this idea clearly:
“God’s own ‘kingdom,’ or ‘rule,’ is the range of His effective will, where what He wants done is done.” — Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy
The sermon explains that every person has a small “kingdom” — a sphere where their choices shape reality. God’s Kingdom is the sphere where His desires, purposes, goodness, and authority reign completely.
So when Jesus teaches us to pray, “Your kingdom come,” He is teaching us to pray:

Let more of what God wants happen here.
Let more of heaven invade earth.
Let the qualities of God’s reign spread into places where they are absent.

Coleton says we see the qualities of God’s Kingdom most clearly in Jesus.
When Jesus walked the earth, He announced:
“The Kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Then He demonstrated what that Kingdom looked like.
Coleton walks through example after example from the Gospels:
Abundance Where There Was Scarcity

John 2
Mark 6

Jesus multiplies provision and turns lack into overflowing abundance.
Truth Where There Was Hypocrisy

John 3
Matthew 23

Jesus exposes false religion and reveals truth that leads to life.
Freedom Where There Was Bo***ge

Mark 5

Jesus delivers people oppressed by evil and restores them to wholeness.
Healing Where There Was Disease

Matthew 8
Mark 5

The Kingdom of God pushes back sickness and brokenness.
Restoration Where There Was Alienation

John 4

Jesus restores dignity and relationship to the Samaritan woman.
Hospitality Where There Was Hatred

Luke 19

Jesus welcomes Zacchaeus when everyone else rejected him.
Life Where There Was Death

John 11

Jesus raises Lazarus and reveals that death does not get the final word.
Hope Where There Was Despair

Mark 5

Jesus enters impossible situations and brings hope again.
Love Where There Was Hatred

Acts 9

The Gospel transforms persecutors into followers of Jesus.
Justice Where There Was Oppression

Acts 16

God breaks chains and overturns systems of darkness.
Coleton repeatedly reminds the church:
When Jesus extended the Kingdom, He extended these qualities into people’s lives.
So praying “Your Kingdom come” means praying:

Bring freedom here.
Bring healing here.
Bring justice here.
Bring peace here.
Bring restoration here.
Bring hope here.

This prayer is asking for the realities of heaven to invade earth.
2. Why Doesn’t God Just Do It Without Our Prayers?
This becomes the heart of the sermon.
Coleton addresses a question many people quietly wrestle with:
“If God is sovereign, why does prayer matter at all?”
His answer is simple and profound:
Because God has sovereignly chosen to work through people.
God Has Always Worked Through Human Partnership
Coleton goes back to Genesis.
God did not need Adam and Eve to tend the garden. He could have done everything Himself. Yet He intentionally gave humanity responsibility, authority, and participation.
God chose partnership.
Coleton quotes Dallas Willard again:
“We are meant to exercise our ‘rule’ only in union with God, as He acts with us.”
Human beings were designed to work alongside God in stewarding creation.
Prayer is part of that design.
Prayer Is Not an Afterthought — It Is Part of the Way God Ordered the World
Coleton strongly emphasizes:
God does not need intercessors.He chooses intercessors.
He quotes Tyler Staton:
“Prayer is the means by which we push back the curse that’s infected the world and infected us.”
This is one of the central ideas of the sermon:
Prayer is how God has chosen for His Kingdom to advance.
Coleton gives practical analogies:

God could have nourished us without food — but He chose food.
God could have sustained life without oxygen and blood — but He chose those means.
God could have worked without prayer — but He chose prayer.

Prayer is not magic.Prayer is partnership.
Your Prayers Actually Matter
Coleton passionately confronts the idea that prayer changes nothing.
He says believing prayer does not matter fundamentally misunderstands how God designed the world.
He points to passages showing the consequences of prayerlessness:
We Miss Things When We Don’t Pray

2 Chronicles 16:9

We Make Bad Decisions Without Seeking God

Joshua 9:14

Some Things Do Not Happen Apart From Prayer

Mark 9:29

Coleton makes an important clarification:
This is not because God is angry or withholding.It is because this is the structure God established.
He quotes Charles Spurgeon:
“If you may have everything by asking, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is.”
Even Jesus intercedes now for believers.
If prayer did not matter, Jesus would not still be praying.
3. What This Means for Our Prayers
There Is Power in Your Praying
Coleton wants believers to leave with confidence.
Not confidence in themselves.Not confidence in perfect wording.
Confidence that God has chosen to work through prayer.
He says:
Prayer works powerfully because God has set it up that way.
Coleton quotes Skye Jethani:
“We are active participants with God in the writing, directing, design, and action that unfolds.”
Prayer is participation in God’s work in the world.
Because of that, believers should actually expect God to move when they pray.
Leonard Ravenhill’s quote drives this home:
“You cannot estimate the power of prayer… because He has committed Himself to answer it.”
4. Practical Ways to Pray “Your Kingdom Come”
Coleton closes the sermon with deeply practical guidance.
Pray for Kingdom Qualities Where They Are Missing
He encourages believers to look for brokenness and pray specifically for God’s Kingdom to invade those places.
Tyler Staton’s quote summarizes this beautifully:
“Ask for Jesus to come anywhere and everywhere you know God’s kingdom of love and peace is lacking.”
Examples:

Pray for friends who do not know Jesus.
Pray for healing.
Pray for Memphis.
Pray for injustice.
Pray for broken families.
Pray for mental and emotional struggles.

Coleton encourages practices like:

Prayer walks
Prayer drives
People watching and praying
Using reminders like a “Pray for Memphis” hat

Prayer becomes a lifestyle of seeing the world through the eyes of God’s Kingdom.
Pray the Promises of God
Coleton teaches believers to pray Scripture because God is faithful to His promises.
He quotes John Wesley:
“The best we can say to God in prayer is, what he hath said to us.”
He then walks through promises believers can pray confidently:
Comfort
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4
Freedom and New Life
“If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
Peace
Philippians 4:6–7
Greater Works
John 14:12
Rest
Matthew 11:28–29
Provision
Matthew 6:33Philippians 4:19Malachi 3:10
Wisdom
James 1:5
Restoration
Joel 2:25–26Isaiah 61:3–4
Strength
2 Corinthians 12:9Isaiah 40:31
Coleton encourages believers to pray these promises boldly because they reveal God’s heart and His Kingdom.
Pray for the Things Jesus Did
Coleton says the Gospels reveal what the Kingdom of God looks like.
So believers should read about Jesus:

healing,
restoring,
forgiving,
freeing,
reconciling,

and pray for those same Kingdom realities to happen around them today.
Trust God When Prayers Aren’t Answered the Way You Want
Coleton ends with honesty and pastoral wisdom.
Not every prayer is answered the way we expect.
Paul prayed for the “thorn in the flesh” to leave, but God said:
“My grace is sufficient for you.”
Sometimes God’s Kingdom advances through weakness rather than the removal of suffering.
Coleton reminds the church:

The apostles experienced miracles.
The apostles also experienced tragedy.
Yet they never stopped believing in prayer.

The call of the believer is not to understand everything perfectly, but to trust God in the mystery.
Final Challenge
Coleton closes by bringing everything back to one foundational truth:
Prayer has power because this is how God designed the world to function.
Just as:

food satisfies hunger,
water quenches thirst,
oxygen sustains life,

God has chosen prayer as one of the primary ways His Kingdom advances in the earth.
Jesus teaches His followers to pray because prayer truly matters.
Discipleship Group Questions

When you hear the phrase “Your Kingdom come,” what do you naturally think about, and how did this message expand your understanding of it?
Which “Kingdom quality” from Jesus’ ministry (healing, restoration, justice, freedom, hope, etc.) do you most long to see break into your own life or your community right now?
Why do you think God chose to work through human partnership and prayer instead of simply doing everything Himself?
What keeps you from believing your prayers truly matter, and how did this sermon challenge that mindset?
What is one practical way you can begin intentionally praying for God’s Kingdom to come in Memphis, your family, your workplace, or your neighborhood this week?

Culture of Gospel
Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus
What if prayer is not about escaping the world, but partnering with God to heal it? Jesus taught that God’s Kingdom brings hope where there is despair, healing where there is brokenness, and love where there is hatred—and He invites ordinary people to become part of that renewal.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from C3 Kids!!!

05/05/2026

Hallowed Be Your Name
Learning to Pray with Wonder, Confidence, and Peace
Jesus does something deeply intentional in the Lord’s Prayer. Before He teaches His followers to ask God for anything, He teaches them to remember who God is. Prayer is not meant to begin with panic, requests, or anxiety—it begins with worship. Coleton explains that when Jesus says, “Hallowed be Your name,” He is teaching us to fill our minds and hearts with the greatness, faithfulness, and power of God before we ever bring Him our needs.
This message is an invitation to become people who truly pray—not mechanically, not cautiously, but with boldness, awe, confidence, and trust.
“Our Father in Heaven” — Remember Who You’re Talking To
Matthew 6:9–13
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…’”
Coleton begins by reminding the church why this prayer series matters so much to him personally. About ten years ago, he began pursuing a deeper prayer life because he wanted prayer to become more than a religious duty—he wanted to love it. During that journey, one quote changed the way he viewed prayer forever.
Quote
“Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” — Samuel Chadwick
That quote helped Coleton realize why prayer often feels difficult. The enemy is not intimidated by human strength, intelligence, or activity. He trembles at the power of God accessed through prayer. Prayer matters because God moves through it.
Last week’s focus in the series was the phrase “Our Father in heaven.” Jesus first teaches us that prayer begins by remembering who we are talking to: not a distant force, but a loving Father who welcomes His children.
Now Jesus takes us one step further.
“Hallowed Be Your Name” — Prayer Begins with Worship
Coleton explains that “hallowed” means to treat God’s name as holy, weighty, glorious, and worthy of worship.
Quote
“‘Hallowed be your name’ means ‘let [your name] be regarded as holy.’ It is not so much a petition as an act of worship; the speaker, by his words, exalts the holiness of God.” — Tremper Longman III
Quote
“Hallowing is an active kind of praying—honoring, adoring, and naming the greatness of God. While ‘Our Father’ is a reminder of God’s intimacy; ‘hallowed’ is a reminder of His incomprehensible greatness.” — Tyler Staton
Coleton explains that hallowing God’s name looks like:

Saying what is true about God
Remembering what He has done
Repeating what He has promised
Declaring what is possible with Him

This kind of prayer fills the heart with worship before requests are ever made.
The Psalms Show Us What Hallowing Looks Like
Psalm 44 — Remembering God’s Power
Scripture
“With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors… it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face…” — Psalm 44:2–3
The psalmist spends enormous time recounting God’s past faithfulness. He talks about victories God gave, enemies God defeated, and promises God fulfilled.
Coleton points out something fascinating: much of this prayer is telling God things He already knows.
Why?
Not because God needs reminding—but because we do.
We forget who He is. We forget what He has done. We forget His power, His promises, and His faithfulness. Hallowing God’s name recenters the soul.
1. Hallowing His Name Expands Our Vision of What Is Possible
One of the main effects of worshipful prayer is that it stretches our faith.
Quote
“The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something and enter into God’s realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible.” — Corrie ten Boom
Coleton says many Christians pray extremely safe prayers:

“Keep them safe.”
“Help them have a good day.”
“Bless this meal.”

Those prayers are not wrong—but if we truly believe we are speaking to the God of the impossible, why do we so rarely ask Him for impossible things?
Hallowing His name enlarges our imagination for what God can do.
Hezekiah’s Prayer — Worship Before Deliverance
Scripture
2 Kings 19:14–19
King Hezekiah is surrounded by an enormous Assyrian army. Humanly speaking, defeat seems certain.
But notice how he prays:
“Lord, the God of Israel… you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth…”
Before asking for rescue, Hezekiah hallows God’s name. He reminds himself that Assyria may be powerful, but God rules every kingdom on earth.
Only after worship does he ask for deliverance.
Coleton explains that worship gave Hezekiah courage to pray boldly in an impossible situation.
The Apostles in Acts 4 — Worship Produces Boldness
Scripture
Acts 4:24–30
After Peter and John are arrested and threatened, the disciples gather to pray.
What is shocking is what they don’t pray for.
They do not pray for safety.They do not pray for persecution to stop.
Instead they pray:
“Enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders…”
Why?
Because they began by hallowing God’s name. They remembered that God is sovereign, powerful, and able to use evil for good. Worship gave them courage.
Even Jesus Prayed This Way
Scripture
Mark 14:36
“Abba, Father… everything is possible for you.”
In Gethsemane, Jesus Himself begins by declaring what is true about the Father: everything is possible for Him.
Coleton emphasizes that hallowing God’s name even led Jesus to pray honestly and boldly.
Hallowing Changes the Way We Pray
Coleton gives vivid examples of what this can look like in everyday life.
Instead of praying weak, hopeless prayers, we pray with remembrance:

“You are the God who split the Red Sea—make a way for me.”
“You heard Hannah’s prayer after years of waiting—hear mine too.”
“You turned Saul into Paul—change this person’s heart.”
“You used evil for Joseph’s good—redeem this painful situation.”

Hallowing God’s name teaches us to pray according to God’s character and history.
Asking Big Things Honors God
Quote
“Our God is so good, gracious, and powerful that we can never ask or assume too much of him. We don’t offend Him with large requests; we offend Him with small ones!” — J.D. Greear
Coleton shares the story of Alexander the Great generously granting a soldier’s extravagant request because the request honored both his wealth and generosity.
In the same way, bold prayer honors God because it assumes He is both powerful and good.
2. Hallowing His Name Produces Peace, Rest, and Confidence
Hallowing God’s name does not only increase boldness—it also calms fear.
Psalm 46 — Worship Leads to Fearlessness
Scripture
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1
Then comes the result:
“Therefore we will not fear…” — Psalm 46:2
The psalmist’s peace flows from remembering who God is.
Coleton explains that worship anchors the soul in unstable moments.
Psalm 23 — David’s Confidence Came from God’s Character
Scripture
“The Lord is my shepherd…”
Outcome:
“I lack nothing.”
Scripture
“You are with me…”
Outcome:
“I will fear no evil.”
David’s peace was connected to his remembrance of God’s presence and care.
Coleton and Rainey’s Story of Fear and Faith
Coleton shares a deeply personal moment when someone falsely accused him and tried to get him fired.
Sitting in the car devastated, he and Rainey began hallowing God’s name together. They remembered:

God sustaining their long-distance relationship
God healing their relationship during difficult seasons
God opening ministry doors unexpectedly
God never once failing them

As they remembered God’s faithfulness, peace slowly replaced fear.
Their conclusion became:“If God has been faithful before, He will be faithful again.”
And God ultimately took care of them.
Hallowing God’s Name in Real Life
Coleton gives practical examples of how worship reshapes fear:
When Facing Enemies
God used Saul’s attacks to prepare David for kingship. No enemy can stop God’s plan.
When Struggling with Sin
God promises grace greater than our failures.
Scripture
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
When Worried About Provision
Jesus said the Father cares for birds and flowers—and values His children far more.
When Life Feels Chaotic
God still reigns over nations and history.
When Facing Death
Jesus transformed death from ultimate loss into the doorway to eternal life.
Hallowing His name teaches believers to trust God in every circumstance.
Jesus Prepares Us Before We Ask
Coleton points out something powerful in the Lord’s Prayer:
Jesus has not told us to ask for anything yet.
Before requests come:

We remember He is Father.
We remember He is holy.
We remember His power.
We remember His faithfulness.

Only then are we prepared to pray boldly and trustingly.
Practical Ways to Practice Hallowing His Name
1. Begin Prayer with Worship
Coleton encourages using worship music to shape the heart before praying.
Songs mentioned:

“Good Plans” — Red Rocks Worship
“Same God” — Elevation Worship
“Won’t Stop Now” — Elevation Worship
“Do It Again” — Elevation Worship
“I Believe” — Charity Gayle
“The Truth” — Megan Woods
“Don’t Fight Alone” — Jon Reddick

2. Remember God’s Promises in Scripture
The Bible teaches us what God has done before so we can trust what He will do again.
Coleton emphasizes that Scripture fuels confident prayer.
3. Remember God’s Faithfulness in Your Own Life
Reflect on:

Ways God provided
Times He protected
Seasons He healed
Moments He restored

Remembering past faithfulness strengthens present trust.
4. Practice Gratitude
Coleton references One Thousand Gifts and how gratitude journals helped cultivate trust in God’s faithfulness.
The more we notice God’s goodness, the easier it becomes to trust Him for impossible things.
Closing Challenge
Quote
“Powerful prayer begins with adoration.” — Tyler Staton
The heart of this sermon is simple but transformative:
Jesus wants His people to pray with power.
And powerful prayer begins by hallowing the name of God—remembering who He is, what He has done, and what is still possible with Him.
Discipleship Group Questions

Why do you think Jesus teaches us to worship before asking for things in prayer? How could that reshape your prayer life?
What are some “safe prayers” you tend to pray? What impossible or faith-filled prayers might God be inviting you to begin praying?
Which story or example from this sermon encouraged you the most personally, and why?
Where have you seen God’s faithfulness in your own past? How can remembering those moments strengthen your trust in your current season?
What practical step can you take this week to begin “hallowing His name” more intentionally in prayer?

Culture of Gospel
Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus
Christianity is not about pretending to be strong—it’s about discovering that there is a God so loving, powerful, and faithful that you can bring Him your impossible situations and your deepest fears. Jesus teaches us that prayer is not talking into the dark, but speaking to a Father who hears, cares, and still changes lives today.

04/27/2026

Teach Us To Pray — “Father In Heaven”
Introduction: Why We Need to Learn to Pray
Coleton begins with a simple but relatable picture: his son Teddy not enjoying golf because he doesn’t know how to play. “I’d enjoy it more if I knew how to hit it.” That insight becomes the doorway into the entire series—many people don’t enjoy prayer because they don’t know how to do it.
The goal of this teaching is not just to inform people about prayer, but to help them experience joy in it. Coleton introduces the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) as the foundation—a short, 31-word prayer in its original language, yet deep enough to shape a lifetime of communion with God.
Key Quote:

“The Lord’s prayer is simple enough to be memorized by small children and yet profound enough to sustain a whole lifetime of prayer.” — Justin Welby

Coleton explains that this prayer is both:

A pattern (Matthew: “pray like this”)
A prayer to be repeated (Luke 11:2: “when you pray, say…”)

Key Quote:

“We can either use each phrase as a handrail… or pray exactly these words thoughtfully.” — Frederick Dale Bruner

This series will walk through the prayer line by line, beginning with the first phrase: “Our Father in heaven.”
1. Remember Who You’re Talking To (Matthew 6:9)
Coleton emphasizes that Jesus begins prayer by reshaping our understanding of God. Before anything else, we must remember: we are speaking to a Father.
A Radical Shift in Prayer
Jesus adapts a traditional Jewish prayer (the Kaddish), which begins by magnifying God’s name—but instead of starting there, Jesus begins with relationship: Father.
This is intentional. Jesus is not removing God’s holiness—He is making Him personally accessible.
Key Quote:

“Pray to God more intimately than you think you’re allowed.” — Tyler Staton

The word Abba reflects deep closeness—not childish, but deeply personal. Coleton illustrates this with his son calling him “pop-pop”—a name that reflects relationship, not just title.
Why This Matters
How we perceive God determines how we pray:

If we think He’s angry → we become guarded
If we think He’s disappointed → we withdraw
If we think He’s distant → we disengage

Key Quote:

“Most people’s biggest problem with prayer is God Himself… scowling, perpetually disapproving…” — Pete Greig

Jesus corrects this: you are approaching the safest, most loving presence you’ve ever known.
If we don’t start here, we won’t pray freely, consistently, or joyfully.
2. Because He is Father — It Shapes How We Talk to God
Coleton addresses a common barrier: “I don’t know what to say.”
Through a deeply personal story about his son’s speech delay, he reveals a powerful truth: a father doesn’t care how polished the words are—he just wants to hear his child’s voice.
That becomes the central image Jesus wants us to carry into prayer.
Freedom Over Formula
While tools like A.C.T.S. or P.R.A.Y. can help, Coleton warns against turning prayer into a rigid system.
We don’t talk to people we love using formulas—so why would we do that with God?
Prayer is meant to be:

Natural
Relational
Honest
Free

You can:

Talk about your day
Share your highs and lows
Express frustration or confusion
Sit in silence

Even biblical examples support this:

The Psalms are full of raw emotion
Job questions and wrestles with God

Coleton makes a key distinction:

Complaining to God is prayer
Complaining about God is grumbling

God desires the first.
3. Because He is Father — It Shapes What We Expect from God
Coleton then shifts from how we speak to what we expect.
Expectation #1: We Should Expect More
Scripture:

“How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” — Matthew 7:9–11

Jesus teaches that God’s generosity surpasses even the best human parents.
Coleton challenges a common hesitation: feeling guilty for asking God for things. Many people hold back because they think their needs are too small or too selfish.
But a loving father doesn’t shame his child for asking.
He shares a powerful story of rock climbing with his dad—choosing independence over accepting help. Instead of pride, it brought hurt. Why? Because relationship invites dependence.
Key Quote:

“Jesus is trying to bring us… to the Father with hands out.” — C.H. Dodd

Not asking isn’t humility—it can actually be distance.
Expectation #2: We Should Expect “No”
A good Father doesn’t give everything His children ask for.
God’s “no” is not rejection—it is protection and love.

He sees what we don’t
He knows what will harm or shape us
He gives both yes and no as gifts

Coleton reminds us: don’t let unanswered prayers convince you God doesn’t care. Sometimes His refusal is His deeper kindness.
4. Practicing Prayer as Children of the Father
Coleton ends with practical application: What does it actually look like to pray this way?
You can:

Pray the Lord’s Prayer word-for-word
Or use it as a starting point

But most importantly, relate to God as a Father.
Practical Ways to Pray

Talk to Him about your day (even though He already knows)
Share what you’re thinking and feeling
Bring your worries and desires
Celebrate what’s good and process what’s hard
Sit quietly with Him
Even fall asleep while talking to Him

Coleton uses the image of his son talking as he falls asleep—what some might feel is “bad prayer,” a father sees as a gift.
That’s how God sees you.
Key Quote:

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” — A.W. Tozer

If we see Him as Father, we will move toward Him—not away.
Conclusion
Coleton brings the message full circle: prayer begins not with technique, but with identity and relationship.
When Jesus teaches us to pray “Our Father,” He is inviting us into:

Freedom instead of fear
Relationship instead of ritual
Trust instead of hesitation

God is not waiting for perfect prayers—He is waiting for His children.
Discipleship Group Questions

When you think about God, what is your immediate emotional response—and how does that affect your prayer life?
Why do you think Jesus chose to begin prayer with “Father” instead of focusing first on God’s holiness or power?
What tends to hold you back from praying honestly and freely with God?
Which is harder for you to accept: that God wants to give you more, or that He lovingly says “no”? Why?
What is one practical way you can begin relating to God more like a Father this week?

Culture of Gospel
Share this with someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus
What if God isn’t distant or disappointed in you—but actually wants a real relationship with you like a loving Father who enjoys hearing your voice? Jesus teaches that prayer isn’t about getting it right—it’s about coming home to Someone who already wants you.

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