Worshiping with Others
You’ve probably noticed that the entire Lord’s Prayer is written in the plural. Its very first word is addressed to “Our” Father in heaven. Not my father. Not your father. Ours. This is a family thing. “Give us our daily bread . . . forgive us our sins,” and so on. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we do so corporately, in community with others—not just personally and spontaneously but liturgically in unison with millions of Christians around the world today, and in fellowship with the communion of saints stretching back to those first twelve apostles gathered around Christ as he gave them this prayer. We are not designed to hallow the Father’s name entirely on our own. It’s not enough just to download resources for solitary prayer and worship from the Internet. We all need the encouragement, the challenge, and the discomfort of active participation in a local worshiping community.
—Pete Greig, How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People
The Lord’s Prayer begins with a powerful reminder—God is our Father. Not mine alone, not yours alone, but ours together. Every line is written in the plural: “Give us,” “forgive us,” “lead us.” Prayer in Jesus’ design is a family activity, meant to be prayed in community as well as in private. When we pray it, we join not only those around us but also millions of believers across the world and throughout history.
Faith was never meant to be a solo project. We grow when we share in worship, prayer, and service with others—receiving encouragement, accepting challenge, and even embracing the discomfort that comes from doing life together. In praying “Our Father,” we remember we belong to something bigger than ourselves, a family bound together in God’s love. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics