Children’s Sermon

Luke 11:1-13

What Is Your Name?

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Luke 11:1-13
What Is Your Name?

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Objects needed: Telephone book and/or a map

Is there anyone here who doesn’t have a name? A name is important because it gives us an identity. One of the first things to happen after a baby is born is that the parents give the baby a name. As we grow older and live our life with honesty and goodness, we bring honor to our name.

If we look inside a telephone book we see that it contains lists of names and phone numbers. What if this phone book contained only numbers? That would not be helpful because we would have no way of matching phone numbers to a person and would have no way of making contact.

States, cities, and roads also have names. A map would not be helpful if locations were not identified by a name. We would have a difficult time finding our way and knowing where we are. As you can see, names are important.

God has many names; Jesus, Holy Spirit, Lord, Master, Prince of Peace, The Word and Yahweh, to mention a few. And, he suggested that we call him “Father” when we pray.

The Bible tells us that the disciples saw Jesus praying and they said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (11:1).

Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say, Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy” (or “Hallowed be your name”) (11:2)–and he taught them The Lord’s Prayer.

When we pray to God and use the name, Father, it reminds us that God is like a loving father who will protect us and take care of us. It is a name that helps us know how to talk to God when we pray. It is a name that helps us find our way when we need direction. It is the most holy of names. When we live our lives with honor, we are honoring God’s name.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2011, Richard Niell Donovan