Episode 067 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 3: Always Near Us

When Jesus told us to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven,” it is literally recorded in Greek as, “in the heavens.” Why would Jesus be talking about God being “in the heavens?” What did this mean to the people first hearing Jesus say this? And what does this mean for us in our relationship with God and in our understanding of “Heaven?” All of this and more is addressed in this teaching as we explore not only the God who rules and reigns over all, but the God who is ever present to us in the midst of our circumstances and our lives.

Discussion Questions

  • What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
  • Was it helpful learning how the ancients viewed the cosmos? Does this help you to better understand any other passages in the Bible that weren’t discussed in this teaching?
  • Being reminded that God rules and reigns the world, what comfort, joy, or challenge arises in you?
  • When you think of heaven, do you think of a place far, far away? Has this negatively shaped your view of God in some way?
  • In this teaching we learned that God is present and always near us. How will this change the way you pray, if at all? How does this change the way you live?
  • How can you begin walking out the truths of this teaching this week?

For Further Study

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4 Comments

  1. Alan Lorrimer-Riley May 21, 2019 at 9:59 am - Reply

    As always I loved Brad’s teaching here but I do have serious doubts about the ‘Ancient Israelites believed in a flat earth with solid dome’ scenario. I think it is an unproven hypothesis, and yet many of my favourite Bible teachers seem to go along with it. I have come across a book called ‘Interpreting Eden’ by Vern Poythress. I am currently weighing up whether to download the Kindle edition. A summary of his argument can be found here. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/stop-saying-ancient-israelites-believed-sky-big-solid-dome-heavenly-sea.

    • Brad Gray May 28, 2019 at 6:22 pm - Reply

      Thank you, Alan, for offering another perspective. Many of the top shelf scholars still hold to the view I presented, but it’s always good hearing another perspective.

  2. Bill Black May 21, 2019 at 4:46 pm - Reply

    Great information Brad thanks for your diligence!
    About time somebody presented a picture of what it might look like although I see it as waters being compressed into itself producing another form of water-the air we breath, less dense water, and in the center of the marble a round glob of earth wherein in the center-very hot from being compressed, what might be known as hell wherein most are taught is destruction but we must keep in mind that fire can also remove dross/iniquity thus restoring the gold hidden and become as being saved as if by fire?.

  3. karl figg July 2, 2019 at 10:29 am - Reply

    Brad, this is so rich and consistent with the rest of scripture. God among us or always near us. It leads so well into the next part of the verse that he wants us to bring his kingdom here on earth. Thank you for these teachings. I usually watch them twice and then listen to the podcast at least twice while I write a summary of the teaching in my journal. Keep up the great expository work.

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