Blogging toward Sunday

The Lord's Prayer by James Tissot via Wikimedia Commons

In worship this Sunday, we will look carefully at Luke 11:1-13. The first section of this reading is Jesus' response to a request from the disciples, "Lord, teach us to pray." In the second section Jesus provides an example of persistent prayer.

Take some time to sit quietly with the text, reading it through at least twice. During the first read-through, you might simply note what intrigues you most. During the second reading, you might try to put yourself in the story, perhaps as one of the disciples or as the friend who is seeking bread for an unexpected guest. How do you hear Jesus' teaching from this point of view?

Finally, consider the following:

1. Someone else has been teaching his disciples how to pray. Who?
2. How does Jesus' model prayer begin?
3. What other components are present in the prayer?
4. Why does the man go to his friend's house at midnight?
5. What is the result of the man's persistence?
6. What "good gifts" do you seek from the Father's generous hand? How persistent are you?

As you journey toward Sunday, may the Lord bless you and those whom you love.

Shalom,
Glenda