Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Luke 11:1-13

Context

Jesus’ lesson on prayer in Luke’s gospel comes not in the context of a longer sermon (as with Matthew’s parallel in the Sermon on the Mount), but rather in response to a request from one of his disciples who had seen him praying. Luke’s account comes early in Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, and it immediately follows his visit with Mary and Martha (when he praises Mary for spending time with him).  

Preaching Angles

Learning to Pray

We are sometimes tempted to speak of prayer as something as innate as speaking with a best friend or inviting God into our thoughts that are already running through our heads.

There is some truth to this, of course,…

1. If prayer is a practice that needs to be learned, how do we keep it from feeling mechanical or rote? Do you think that a heartfelt prayer can be offered to God wrongly?

2. How do you make sense of the tension between welcoming trials with joy as opportunities for growth and asking God to keep up away from trials?

3. In what ways is prayer like friendship with God? In what ways is prayer characterized by persistence? Why do you think Jesus seems to oppose these two in discussing God’s response…