“One of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray…’ So He told them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” — Luke 11:1–4 (BSB)
We call God “our Father” because through Christ we are adopted as His children. We pray for His name to be hallowed, His Kingdom to come, and His will to be done—on earth, in our lives, as it is in heaven. We trust Him to provide daily bread, to forgive our sins as we forgive others, and to protect and deliver us from the power of evil.
Canon Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) writes, “The Lord’s Prayer is not only something we pray—it is something we live. Its petitions shape our desires, reorder our priorities, and form us in the likeness of Christ.”
Bishop Julian Dobbs (Diocese of the Living Word, ACNA) explains, “Every Christian should know, love, and pray the Lord’s Prayer. It is the Church’s daily bread of prayer, teaching us how to seek God and live in His grace.”
The 1662 Book of Common Prayer places the Lord’s Prayer at the heart of nearly every service—Morning and Evening Prayer, the Holy Communion, Baptism, Confirmation, and more. It is both a personal and a communal prayer, teaching us to pray not “my Father” but “our Father.”
J.C. Ryle wrote, “No prayer is more deeply rooted in the Church of Christ than the Lord’s Prayer. It is suited to every age, every church, and every believer. Let it never be prayed lightly or thoughtlessly.” (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, 1865)
Archbishop Foley Beach (ACNA) has said, “When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we align ourselves with the heart of Christ. We are drawn into the priorities of heaven and sent into the world with His grace.”
The Lord’s Prayer glorifies Christ because it came from His lips, reveals His heart, and leads us to trust, worship, and obey the Father as He did.
St. Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258 AD): “What prayer can be more spiritual than the one given by Christ, who sent the Holy Spirit? What petition can be more true before the Father than those spoken by the Son?” — On the Lord’s Prayer, 1
St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407 AD): “The Lord did not teach us to pray with lofty words, but with holy petitions. This prayer is a ladder from earth to heaven.” — Homily on Matthew, 19
St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–395 AD): “Each phrase of the Lord’s Prayer lifts the soul toward God. It teaches us not only what to say, but how to desire.” — On the Lord’s Prayer, 1
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
St. Thomas Church
PO Box 873
Abbotsford, BC,
V2T 7A2, Canada
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
