Renewing Your Mind – "The Barber Who Wanted to Pray"

Podcast by Ligonier Ministries
Original Air Date: October 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the story "The Barber Who Wanted to Pray," originally written by Dr. R.C. Sproul as a children’s book, inspired by a true episode from the life of Martin Luther and his barber, Master Peter. The podcast explores the story’s lessons on prayer, discusses Martin Luther’s practical teaching on prayer, and offers encouragement for Christians of all ages to deepen their prayer lives using Luther’s "A Simple Way to Pray." The episode also includes testimonies from listeners and a studio discussion on applications for families and churches.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Impact of R.C. Sproul’s Ministry

• The host emphasizes Dr. Sproul’s gift for communicating deep biblical truths to all ages. His children’s books are designed to teach and encourage both young and old in their faith (00:33).

• Listener testimonies reveal how Sproul’s children’s stories have brought comfort and hope during dark times.

  “There were times when I was trying to commit suicide and he'd come up with one of those children's stories... and it sort of got me through.”
  — Andrew, Listener Testimony (01:21)

2. "The Barber Who Wanted to Pray" – Story Reading

The McFarland Family Setting (02:10)

• The story begins with Mr. McFarland leading nightly family devotions, which include Scripture reading, catechism questions, and prayer.
• Delaney, one of the children, expresses insecurity about her "simple and weak" prayers, prompting her father to share a formative story from his own childhood.

Master Peter and Martin Luther (03:30)

• Set in Reformation-era Europe, the story follows Master Peter, a barber who is visited by Martin Luther—now an outlaw due to his opposition to the church authorities.
• Despite facing temptation to betray Luther for a reward, Peter remains loyal.

Learning to Pray from Luther (08:00)

• Master Peter confides in Luther about his struggles with prayer, admitting, “I try to pray every night, but sometimes I feel that my prayers never go any further than the ceiling.”

• Luther offers not just encouragement but practical help: he writes a short guide, "A Simple Way to Pray," specifically for Peter.

• Luther instructs Peter to memorize:

  • The Lord’s Prayer
  • The Ten Commandments
  • The Apostles’ Creed

  Luther explains:

  “You begin by praying through the Lord’s Prayer... Think about the first petition ... allow your mind and your heart to give careful attention to what these words say and let them move you to deeper prayer.”
  — “Dr. Luther,” Story as told by R.C. Sproul (09:50)

• Luther gives examples of how to turn each phrase of these foundational texts into personal, heartfelt prayer.

3. Family Application Encouraged

• Mr. McFarland concludes by challenging his children to try Luther’s method in their own prayers.
• The children eagerly request an extra devotion (19:05), showing the story’s immediate impact.

4. Studio Discussion: The Power and Method of Prayer

Prayer as a Modeling and Teaching Opportunity (20:00)

• Dr. Sproul and Chris Larson discuss the need for practical instruction in prayer. Sproul notes,

  “People in the church... are overwhelmed with guilt because of their ineffective prayer lives... Nobody teaches them how to pray.”
  — R.C. Sproul (20:41)

• The Lord’s Prayer was given by Jesus as a model, not just a rote recitation, but a structure for thoughtful, worshipful prayer.

Why Teach Children Early?

• Sproul advocates for equipping children early with these spiritual tools, so that structured, Christ-centered prayer becomes natural as they mature.

  “Why not for children? Why not children learning this method early on in their lives so that they can build on it as they get older and older?”
  — R.C. Sproul (21:25)

Posture in Prayer (21:54)

• Discussion on the importance (or flexibility) of posture: standing, kneeling, lying prostrate—what matters is a posture of adoration and focus.

Advice for Parents and Grandparents (22:30)

• The best way to teach prayer:

  • Help children memorize the Lord’s Prayer, Ten Commandments, and Apostles’ Creed.
  • Model how to pray through them, focusing on the meaning behind each phrase.

  “Every parent can be greatly blessed by learning this simple way to pray for their own prayer life.”
  — R.C. Sproul (22:48)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “There’s not enough money in all the world to make me kill this man. He is my hero.” (Peter, the barber, on Martin Luther — 06:20)
• “You can pray and pray, never get tired of praying. We can never run out of things to pray about if we focus our attention on the Lord's Prayer, on the Ten Commandments, and on the Apostles Creed.” — Dr. Luther (17:25)
• “Our prayers should be more and more and more focused on adoration and on the praise of God and less and less and less on our own interceding for our wants and our needs.” — R.C. Sproul (21:45)
• “Teach us how to pray.” (Disciples to Jesus, referenced by R.C. Sproul as the root of the Lord’s Prayer — 20:55)

Listener Testimonies

• Andrew shares how Sproul’s children’s stories rescued him from despair and suicidal thoughts (01:21).

• Liz recounts finding hope and sobriety through Sproul’s biblical teaching following a traumatic childhood and addiction:

  “I started to develop a real hunger for God’s word... I can look back and really credit Dr. Sproul’s inspiration with getting me where I am today.”
  — Liz, Listener Testimony (23:51)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:33 – Value of R.C. Sproul’s children’s books and introduction to “The Barber Who Wanted to Pray”
• 01:21 – Listener testimony from Andrew
• 02:10–19:05 – R.C. Sproul reads "The Barber Who Wanted to Pray"
• 20:00 – Studio conversation: Practical wisdom about prayer and how to teach it
• 21:25 – Why children should learn structured prayer methods
• 21:54 – Posture in prayer discussion
• 22:30 – Practical advice for parents and grandparents
• 23:51 – Listener testimony from Liz

Takeaways for Listeners

• Prayer is a learned and guided discipline; structure and meditation on God’s Word deepen both corporate and personal prayer.
• Martin Luther’s approach—praying through the Lord’s Prayer, Ten Commandments, and Apostles’ Creed—offers a simple and rich model for all believers, regardless of age.
• Teaching children these foundational texts and modeling this method can shape their faith for a lifetime.
• Personal stories confirm that simple, scriptural truths provide profound comfort and transformation.

Original language and tone preserved. For more resources or to support Ligonier Ministries and receive a copy of "The Barber Who Wanted to Pray," visit renewingyourmind.org.