Podcast Summary: Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Episode: Adoration: “Hallowed Be Thy Name”
Release Date: February 21, 2025
Host/Author: Tim Keller
Description: Sermons by Tim Keller, founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC and NY Times best-selling author of “The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism.” For more sermons and resources, visit www.gospelinlife.com.

Introduction: The Importance of Prayer in Knowing God Personally

In the opening segment of the episode (00:03), the host emphasizes the distinction between knowing about God and genuinely knowing Him on a personal level. Central to this relationship is prayer, which is portrayed as essential for deepening one's understanding of God, self-reflection, and spiritual growth. The host invites listeners to delve into Tim Keller's teachings on the crucial role of prayer in the Christian life.

Understanding the Lord's Prayer as a Model for Adoration

Tim Keller begins his sermon by examining the Lord’s Prayer, particularly focusing on the phrase “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” from Matthew 6:5-15. He highlights how Jesus instructs believers to prioritize adoration of God above all else in their prayers.

Key Quote:

"Once we've addressed, once we know who we're talking to, our Father who art in heaven. The first thing that we're supposed to address in prayer is hallowed be thy name."
— Tim Keller (02:15)

Keller explains that "hallow" means to treat something as absolutely sacred and ultimate. This sets the foundation for all subsequent prayers, ensuring that God remains the supreme focus of one’s life.

The Necessity of Praise

Keller outlines the Necessity of Praise, emphasizing that adoration is not only vital for Christians but also an inevitable aspect of human nature. He contrasts genuine prayer with hypocritical prayers—those performed for show or only in times of need.

Key Quote:

"The consistency of your prayer life will tell you who your God is."
— Tim Keller (07:45)

He underscores that true prayer reflects a heart that adores God continuously, not just when seeking help or in moments of crisis. Keller references William Temple, who stated, "Your religion is what you do with your solitude," reinforcing the idea that how one prays in private reveals the authenticity of their faith.

The Primacy of Praise

Moving forward, Keller discusses the Primacy of Praise in prayer. He explains that praise should organically precede all other petitions and confessions within the Lord’s Prayer. This order is not merely procedural but frames and saturates the entire prayer experience.

Key Quote:

"Praise is to dominate and saturate. Praise is to dominate not just all of prayer, but it's to dominate all of your life."
— Tim Keller (09:30)

Keller illustrates how adoration of God lays the groundwork for healthy petitions and honest confessions. Without adoring God first, requests for personal needs or admissions of sin are distorted by misplaced priorities and unresolved adoration of other aspects of life.

Anatomy of Praise: Balancing God's Love and Majesty

Keller introduces the Anatomy of Praise, likening it to a pendulum that balances the love and majesty of God. He explains that true adoration involves recognizing both God's intimate fatherly love and His transcendent glory.

Key Quote:

"The more you see his greatness and glory, the more his love means."
— Tim Keller (25:40)

Through practical examples and personal anecdotes, Keller demonstrates how a balanced view of God enhances one’s ability to trust Him and find peace in prayer. He shares a transformative story of a church member, Bessie Lee, who experienced profound personal change by prioritizing adoration over petitions, leading to a more centered and peaceful prayer life.

Practical Applications of Adoration in Prayer

Keller delves into practical implications of prioritizing adoration:

1. Healing Self-Image and Forgiveness:
   He addresses common struggles, such as the inability to forgive oneself, by identifying underlying issues of misplaced adoration. Keller explains that when individuals prioritize self-condemnation over God’s forgiveness, they hinder their own healing and spiritual growth.

   Key Quote:

   "All our failures are failures of adoration. You’ve got to get your life back in perspective."
   — Tim Keller (12:00)

2. Reducing Anxiety Through Trust:
   Keller connects anxiety and the lack of peace in petitions to a failure in adoration. Without fully hallowing God, individuals may place undue emphasis on worldly concerns, leading to persistent worry and unrest.

   Key Quote:

   "Adoration of God is the thing that will heal your view of the world and your view of yourself."
   — Tim Keller (14:50)

3. Building Trust in God’s Holiness and Love:
   He discusses the necessity of embracing both God's holiness and His loving nature to develop a robust trust in Him. By fully adorating God, believers can reconcile His justice with His mercy, fostering a deeper reliance on His character.

   Key Quote:

   "The more holy you see him to be, the more loving you see him to be."
   — Tim Keller (24:55)

Conclusion: Adoration as the Foundation of a Transformed Life

In his concluding remarks, Keller reiterates that adoration is the bedrock of a meaningful prayer life and a transformed Christian existence. By consistently prioritizing the worship of God's name, believers can ensure that their prayers are genuine, their requests are grounded in trust, and their confessions are free from distorted self-perception.

Final Quote:

"Adoration heals that in our heart. It’s the reason you hate yourself or deny your sinfulness. Adoration enables you to see who you are and yet accept it."
— Tim Keller (30:45)

Keller closes by encouraging listeners to adopt the "Anatomy of Praise" in their own prayer lives, fostering a balanced and profound relationship with God that reflects both His love and His majesty.

Additional Resources

For those interested in deepening their understanding of prayer and adoration, Tim Keller's book, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God, is recommended. The book offers biblical guidance and practical advice for making prayers more personal and impactful.

Visit www.gospelinlife.com for more sermons, resources, and information on how to engage further with Tim Keller's teachings.

Timestamp Reference:
Note: All timestamps correspond to the transcript sections provided and denote the minute and second mark where the quoted material appears.