Creekside Community Church
The Posture of Powerful Prayer (Luke 18:1-17)
January 19, 2025 Jeff Bruce, Lead Pastor
Locations & Times
Creekside Community Church
951 MacArthur Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577, USA
Sunday 7:00 AM
1. Persistence (vv. 1-8):
2. Penitence (vv. 9-14):
3. Powerlessness (vv. 15-17):
2. Penitence (vv. 9-14):
3. Powerlessness (vv. 15-17):
For Further Thought and Discussion
Getting Started
1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
Going Deeper
2. Read vv. 1-8. Why does the judge grant the widow’s request (vv. 4-5)? What lessons shouldn’t we draw from this story? What lesson should we draw? Why will Jesus’ followers be tempted to lose heart prior to his return (see vv. 1, 7; compare Luke 17:20-37). How is Jesus encouraging us through this parable? What, according to Jesus, should we be concerned about (v. 8)?
3. Read vv. 9-14. Why would Jesus tell this parable immediately after the parable of the persistent widow (vv. 1-8)? As we plead for God’s vindication, what do we need to keep in mind?
4. Compare and contrast the Pharisee and the tax collector (vv. 9-14)? What, according to Jesus, is required for us to have right standing with God (compare Psalm 32:1f; Romans 4:4-8)? Why would this story have been shocking to the Pharisees? How should this impact the way we approach God (see Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 5:3)?
5. Read vv. 15-17. Why would the disciples try to prevent parents from bringing their children to Jesus (v. 15)? How does Jesus respond (vv. 16-17)? What does it mean to “receive the kingdom of God like a child” (v. 17)? How should this impact our posture in prayer (compare John 15:5)?
Application
6. Jeff noted that there are two ways to err when it comes to unanswered prayer; on the one hand, we can assume that all unanswered prayer is due to us (“I did something wrong”). On the other hand, we can assume that all unanswered prayer is due to God (“it wasn’t God’s will”). Which of these errors are you more prone to make?
7. Why is persistence essential to prayer? Why does God place such a high value on it (see Luke 18:8)? Where do you need to grapple with God in prayer? Name one area where you need to be more persistent in prayer.
8. Why is confession critical if we want to see more of our prayers answered (compare Psalm 66:18; James 5:13-16)? How can you grow in the discipline of confession?
9. What’s one way you can apply this passage this week?
Getting Started
1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
Going Deeper
2. Read vv. 1-8. Why does the judge grant the widow’s request (vv. 4-5)? What lessons shouldn’t we draw from this story? What lesson should we draw? Why will Jesus’ followers be tempted to lose heart prior to his return (see vv. 1, 7; compare Luke 17:20-37). How is Jesus encouraging us through this parable? What, according to Jesus, should we be concerned about (v. 8)?
3. Read vv. 9-14. Why would Jesus tell this parable immediately after the parable of the persistent widow (vv. 1-8)? As we plead for God’s vindication, what do we need to keep in mind?
4. Compare and contrast the Pharisee and the tax collector (vv. 9-14)? What, according to Jesus, is required for us to have right standing with God (compare Psalm 32:1f; Romans 4:4-8)? Why would this story have been shocking to the Pharisees? How should this impact the way we approach God (see Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 5:3)?
5. Read vv. 15-17. Why would the disciples try to prevent parents from bringing their children to Jesus (v. 15)? How does Jesus respond (vv. 16-17)? What does it mean to “receive the kingdom of God like a child” (v. 17)? How should this impact our posture in prayer (compare John 15:5)?
Application
6. Jeff noted that there are two ways to err when it comes to unanswered prayer; on the one hand, we can assume that all unanswered prayer is due to us (“I did something wrong”). On the other hand, we can assume that all unanswered prayer is due to God (“it wasn’t God’s will”). Which of these errors are you more prone to make?
7. Why is persistence essential to prayer? Why does God place such a high value on it (see Luke 18:8)? Where do you need to grapple with God in prayer? Name one area where you need to be more persistent in prayer.
8. Why is confession critical if we want to see more of our prayers answered (compare Psalm 66:18; James 5:13-16)? How can you grow in the discipline of confession?
9. What’s one way you can apply this passage this week?