In the sermon by Daniel Thursby, he focuses on a passage from Matthew 6:5-13, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer, preferring to call it the model prayer. This scripture is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches about charitable giving, prayer, and fasting, emphasizing the importance of sincerity in these acts rather than performing for public accolade.

Thursby highlights Jesus' assumption of private prayer as a given in the Christian life, teaching not that we should pray, but how to do so authentically. The sermon underlines the pitfalls of praying for the sake of being seen by others or with repetitive emptiness, instead advocating for prayer in solitude where the focus is on a genuine connection with God.

The essence of the sermon is to motivate believers to embrace prayer as a profound, yet simple practice, encouraging them towards a personal and private communion with God. Thursby elaborates on the teachings of Jesus regarding prayer, advising against praying for human praise or with vain repetitions. He illustrates these points with the story of Daniel and the comparison between the prayers of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, highlighting the efficacy and simplicity of heartfelt prayer over performative acts.

Furthermore, Thursby breaks down the Lord's Prayer as a template for effective communication with God, emphasizing its components of praise, petition, confession, and supplication. He stresses that prayer should be genuine and simple, mirroring the structure given by Jesus, starting with reverence for God's name, acknowledging His will, requesting daily needs, seeking forgiveness, and asking for protection from temptation and evil.

In conclusion, the sermon encourages believers to approach prayer with a heart of sincerity, focusing on the spiritual intimacy it fosters with God, rather than external validation. Thursby calls for a deeper understanding and practice of prayer as taught by Jesus, aiming for a faithful application of these principles in the lives of his listeners.