The Widow and the Tax Collector
August 28, 2022
Have you ever had an unanswered prayer? Is there something for which you have finally stopped praying? Have you ever felt unworthy to approach God in prayer? Join us for part one of Kingdom People, where we will meet two unlikely prayer warriors who teach us the power of persistent, humble prayer.
Passage
Luke 18:1-14
Principles
Kingdom people pray with ______________________. (Luke 18:1-8)
__________ in God begins in the “__________________” of life.
God’s delay is evidence of His ________.
Kingdom people pray with ________________. (Luke 18:9-14)
Practice
Practice ______, ____________________ prayer. (Hebrews 4:16)
Humility without persistence = a lack of __________ in ____________
Persistence without humility = too much __________ in __________________
Small Group Questions
Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couple’s or family devotion, or with a small group.
HANGOUT
What one word best describes your prayer life as it is today? What word do you want to describe your prayer life? What would have to change for your prayer life to be more fulfilling?
HEAR
Read Matthew 6:5-8
- What makes the kind of prayer described in these verses hypocritical? How does this compare to the prayer of the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14?
- What is the difference between Jesus’ warning against babbling on and on in prayer (Matthew 6:7) and the persistent prayer of the widow in Luke 18:1-8?
- If God knows what you need before you ask Him, why do we need to pray? What does that teach us about the purpose of prayer?
Read Matthew 6:9-13
- Why is it important to acknowledge God as our father and as holy when we approach Him in prayer?
- How should praying for God’s will to be done affect how we pray? Have you ever experienced a time when your will did not align with God’s? Whose will had to change? Why?
- What Old Testament story comes to mind when you pray, “Give us this day our daily bread”? How does this prayer for provision often differ from our prayers for provision?
- What makes verse 12 an extremely dangerous prayer? Read Matthew 6:14-15. How is your capacity to extend forgiveness to others affecting your capacity to receive God’s forgiveness? What do you need to do?
- Does God lead us into temptation? If so, why? Can you think of biblical examples to support your answer?
- Use verses 9-13 as a template for your prayer time. Invite group members to pray aloud or silently, following the pattern of Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 6.
HUDDLE
What is your most persistent prayer? How long have you been praying for that? What is God’s delay teaching you? Talk about it, invite accountability, and take time to pray together.
Daily Reading
This week we will focus on passages describing how we are justified by faith and not by our good works. As you read each passage, thank God that we have been justified through Jesus’ death on the cross.
- Day 1: Luke 18
- Day 2: Romans 2
- Day 3: Romans 3
- Day 4: Romans 4
- Day 5: Romans 5
- Day 6: Galatians 2
- Day 7: Ephesians 2
Think Deeper
- Have you ever given someone what they wanted to get them to leave you alone?
- Do humility and persistence go together? Why or why not?
- Does God prefer the prayers of the humble and hurting over those of the pious and the proud? Why or why not?
Suggested Reading
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence
Prayer, A Holy Occupation, by Oswald Chambers
If You Will Ask, by Oswald Chambers
The Necessity of Prayer, by E. M. Bounds
Prayer, by Richard Foster
Check out these books from our suggested reading list at https://bit.ly/AspireSMB