How should Christians pray and fast? – Sermon on the Mount E4

How should Christians pray and fast? How important is the heart behind these spiritual disciplines? Where should our priorities be? In this episode Noël, Esther and Mark look at Jesus' teaching on prayer, fasting and our relationship to possessions in Matthew 6.5–24. We dig deeper into The Lord's Prayer and discuss prioritising our relationship with God and our devotion to him.
Timestamps

• (00:00) - Intro
• (00:40) - Matthew 6.5–15: Jesus' teaching on prayer
• (02:00) - Historical context
• (03:45) - Meaningless repetition
• (05:10) - The heart behind our actions
• (09:02) - How is The Lord's Prayer used in church?
• (10:36) - Contemporary Jewish writings vs The Lord's Prayer
• (14:15) - Daily bread
• (18:28) - Forgiving isn’t easy: Esther's story
• (22:27) - The reality of forgiveness
• (24:20) - Power imbalance
• (26:27) - Matthew 6.16–24: Jesus' teaching on fasting and treasures
• (27:59) - Why do people fast?
• (32:21) - Treasures in heaven: Our priorities

Send us your questions!
We'd love to hear from you. We'll be compiling some questions for the final episode of the series which will be a Q and A.
Submit your question

Bible a MonthCould you put the Bible in someone’s hands every month with a regular donation of £10 or more? Find out more about how you can share God's word today.

The Rooted Podcast is brought to you by Bible Society, a Christian organisation that translates, publishes, and distributes the Bible. We communicate its relevance and invite people to experience the transforming power of the Scriptures in today’s world. Visit our website to find out more.

Rooted:
Rooted is our devotional journal that helps make the Bible available to everyone, everywhere. Every other month, you’ll receive a new 80-page journal filled with insightful devotionals, thought-provoking prompts, and lots of opportunities to reflect, journal and be creative. Sign up today to receive your first journal for free.

Socials:

Bible Society: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)

Disclaimer:

This is a Bible Society podcast, but it’s also a conversation between people exploring the Bible together. We won’t get everything right, and we won’t always agree! Please be patient with us and join us on the journey.