Our recent series on the Lord’s Prayer explored its timeless words with fresh eyes. More than just a prayer, it’s a framework for the kind of life Jesus wants us to live – moving us from asking to acting, from praying to participating in God’s work. Each line pulls us deeper into God’s heart, reminding us who God is, who we are, and how we’re called not just to pray but to live, love, and act in the world.
Here’s a quick recap using the NRSVUE translation, shaped around what we ask of God and how we are called to act in response:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be revered as holy.
Ask
For God’s character to be known and revered throughout the world.
Act
Practice daily acts of kindness, stand up for what is right, treat others with dignity and respect, and live with trust and confidence, knowing we are deeply loved and never alone, held in the care of a God who nurtures us like a loving parent.
May your kingdom come. May your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Ask
For God’s justice, peace, and love to shape the world around us.
Act
Be agents of change by volunteering in our communities, advocating for justice, promoting peace and equity in daily life, and actively working to align our actions with God’s dream for creation.
Give us today our daily bread.
Ask
For our daily needs to be met, trusting God to provide for us and for others.
Act
Share resources generously, support food banks, care for neighbors in need, and cultivate gratitude for the provisions we receive.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Ask
For forgiveness from God in proportion to the forgiveness we extend to others.
Act
Engage in personal and communal practices of forgiveness, seek reconciliation with those we’ve wronged, release grudges, and advocate for economic justice, addressing systems of inequality and exploitation.
And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from evil.
Ask
To avoid unnecessary trials and hardship, and for strength, courage, and resource to endure when they do inevitably come our way.
Act
Embrace the reality of trials as part of the journey of faith, stand firm through prayer, draw strength from faith communities, and expect opposition as a sign of faithful living in alignment with Jesus’ teachings.
Check out all the messages from this series
Rev. Tom Hathaway - July 27, 2025
Faith Without Applause
Everyone’s heard of Rosa Parks. Fewer know Jo Ann Robinson—the quiet leader whose late-night flyer campaign sparked a 381-day bus boycott. And in Judges 4, everyone remembers Deborah and Jael, but few know what to make of Barak, the general who fought... but only after getting a push. This sermon explores what kind of leadership actually changes the world. Not the loudest voice. Not the one in the spotlight. But the faithful ones behind the scenes—who print the flyers, hold the line, carry the gear, and make space for others to shine. Turns out, that’s exactly the kind of greatness Jesus modeled.
Scripture References: Judges 4:1-31
From Series: "Legends"
They’re called legends, but not because they had it all together. The judges of ancient Israel were a wild bunch: prophets, warriors, outsiders, and deeply flawed human beings. Their stories are full of bloodshed, bravery, foolishness, and faith. In this series, we’ll explore these messy figures not as moral examples to copy but as reminders that God works through imperfect people to bring courage, justice, and unexpected hope. These aren’t fairy tales. They’re gritty, complicated, and oddly familiar. And through them, we’ll discover a God who still shows up in the chaos.
More From "Legends"
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When Weakness WinsRev. Tom Hathaway - July 20, 2025Judges 3:7-731 |
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Faith Without ApplauseRev. Tom Hathaway - July 27, 2025Judges 4:1-31 |
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What’s on Your Altar?Rev. Tom Hathaway - August 3, 2025Judges 6:1-40, Judges 7:1-25, Judges 8:1-35 |
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