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Learn to Pray

July 17, 2022

Luke 11:1-13

1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.”

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Read Luke 11:1-4

  1. How did you learn (or are you learning) to pray? Who, if anybody, helped you learn? How did they help you?
  2. How is this account similar to the parallel account in Matthew 6:5-15? How is it different?
  3. Do the differences in these accounts create confusion or questions for you?
  4. How does this prayer, frequently referred to as the Lord’s prayer, function as a way to organize our prayer life?
  5. How are prayer and forgiveness related?

Read Luke 11:5-8

  1. What does this parable teach us about prayer?
  2. How might the person’s ‘shameless audacity’ end up convincing the other person to give him what he is asking for?
  3. Does this passage suggest we ought to approach God in prayer with ‘shameless audacity?’ What would that look like for you?

Read Luke 11:9-10

  1. What three commands does Jesus give? How are each of them unique? How are they related to prayer?

Read Luke 11:11-13

  1. Summarize Jesus’ line of thought in these verses.
  2. This passage suggests God likes to
    Reveal Answer
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  3. From this passage, what is the ultimate good gift? What do you think that means?