The Disciples' Father and the Disciples' Prayer

The Sermon on the Mount has been called a manifesto of a counter culture (John Stott).  Jesus’ Sermon declares the norms and values, the characteristics and conduct of the new world, the new society that Jesus calls the kingdom of heaven.  This counter culture reflects a whole new way of thinking and being and acting. Included within this are new ways of thinking about their relationships, starting from their relationship with God.  First and foremost, within the culture of the kingdom, we relate to God as a generous Father. As it turns out, this is not an easy idea to get our heads around.  Some of this comes from the fact that, for many of us, our notions of fatherhood are deeply problematic.  For others of us, our religious upbringing makes it difficult for us to think of God as a father. Certainly that was the case for Jesus’ first hearers.  But disciples deeply formed by the truth that God is their father, do one thing as naturally as they breathe – they ask him for the gifts they know he loves to give. As a result, they don’t stress over prayer; they just pray.