This Sunday we will be exploring the Lord's Prayer as part of our WORDS theme. We will be leading the service next month (Sun Mar 16) and this work will connect with that service. Scholar John Dominic Crossan gives a compelling opening to his book "The Greatest Prayer" entitled The Strangest Prayer. He also gives a very interesting interview on the Lord's Prayer with Dr Rachel Kohn on The Spirit of Things from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio National.
Here are the two versions from the New Testament (New Revised Standard Version):
Matthew 6:9-13 (NRSV):
9 “Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
Luke 11:2-4 (NRSV):
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
