Growing in Prayer and Faith

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.  And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’  For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?  I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Luke 18:1-8

1. Opening Prayer

2. Scripture Reading

Read aloud the Bible passage at the top of this page (Luke 18:1-8).

3. Group Discussion

(1) What struck you the most about Pastor McAlpine’s teaching in the video, “Growing in Prayer and Faith”? If you were telling a friend or family member about it, what would you highlight? What will you remember?

(2) In the introductory section of his article “Growing in Prayer Part 2: Learning to Pray to Your Father,” Bill Kynes argues that “the key to praying like Jesus is found in our relationship with God as our Father.” What is the basis for this argument?

(3) What struck you about the passage by C.S. Lewis in Reflections, “What is God’s Plan for Your Life?”

(4) What insights did you gain from the Bible Study of Luke 18:1-8?

(5) What, according to David Mathis, are the twin texts of fellowship? (See Habits of Grace, pp. 146-148.) What is fellowship, and why is it important?

4. Prayer Requests

5. Closing Prayer