Lesson 8: Prayer 95
especially when applied to issues of justice, how consistent is my own
prayer life in this area?
Focusing on the Meaning
It can be argued that the Gospel of Luke focuses more on prayer than
any other Gospel. Luke 11:1–13 and 18:1–8 are central to Jesus’ teach-
ing on this essential habit for effective disciples. Taken together these
two passages are an invitation for disciples to persistently offer faithful
prayers to God. Prayer involves cultivating the voice of God in our lives
and is an act of submission. As followers of Jesus, we are to examine our
time spent in prayer and consider whether our approach is that of a self-
righteous judge or of a humble, but persistent petitioner.
These passages also challenge us to lead persistent prayer lives that
boldly seek God’s resources, God’s response, and God’s just provision
for others. Prayer should include a corporate consciousness that encour-
ages disciples to develop corporate responsibility that aligns with God’s
kingdom orientation. This is possible because the character of God is
good. Thus, as these focal texts demonstrate, highly effective disciples
seek a renewed journey of spiritual formation characterized by the
habit of prayer. These prayers are consistent, God-centered, corporate,
grounded into the goodness of God, confident in the Holy Spirit, and
oriented towards an ethic of kingdom justice.
TEACHING PLANS
Teaching Plan—Varied Learning Activities
Connect with Life
- Before the session, tear pictures/articles out of magazines or news-
papers of events, persons, or situations that Christians might pray
for. Divide the class into groups of three to six members.