90 14 Habits of Highly Effective Disciples
BIBLE COMMENTS
Understanding the Context
The focal texts, Luke 11:1–13; 18:1–8, are situated in a broader sec-
tion of the Gospel often entitled, “The Journey to Jerusalem.” As Jesus
“resolutely” engages in this journey from Galilee to Jerusalem (Luke
9:51–19:28), this unique section contains the majority of the parables and
teachings found in this Gospel and is best interpreted through a lens of
discipleship development. Having established Jesus’ decisive authority,
this section emphasizes a deliberative journey of deepening spiritual for-
mation and an invitation to the followers of Jesus to embrace his training
and live as his community. The focal texts specifically call for a maturing
journey of intentionality in the area of persistent and faithful prayer.
Following the parable of the Good Samaritan and an exchange
between Jesus, Martha, and Mary highlighting the necessity of setting
aside distractions in order to purposefully sit at the feet of Jesus; Luke
11:1–13 encourages a rich prayer life. Prayer is the cultivation of God’s
voice in the life of his follower. As these focal texts demonstrate, highly
effective disciples seek a renewed journey of spiritual formation charac-
terized by a habit of prayer that is consistent, God-centered, corporate,
just, and persistently confident in the Holy Spirit.
Interpreting the Scriptures
A Habit of Prayer is Consistent (Luke 11:1)
11:1. Verse 1 reveals an established practice of personal prayer by Jesus.
Luke utilized the Greek word proseuchomai which in the niv appears
in the New Testament on eighty-five different occasions. With nine-
teen references, this example of prayer is most common in the Gospel of
Luke. When combined with the book of Acts, approximately forty-one
percent of the biblical references to this New Testament word for prayer
are found in the writings of Luke. There is a strong Lukan emphasis on
the priority and power of prayer, and as an outgrowth of Jesus’ personal
example, disciples are to develop a habit of consistent prayer.