DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE


Sermon Series: The Gospel of Luke
Sermon Title: A Story about the Right and Wrong Way to Pray
Sermon Text: Luke 18:9-14
Sermon Points:
1. The Target Audience
2. A Self-Righteous Prayer
3. A Godly Prayer
4. Jesus’ Response
The Big Idea: You can’t exalt yourself and God at the same time.

Daily Devotional Guide
It’s no accident that Jesus’ words on prayer appear here in Luke’s gospel in the context of future events. Jesus has already warned about the coming destruction that was fulfilled in the destruction of the temple, a few decades after these words were spoken. Last week, we saw Him challenge His disciples to persevere and pray. But how should they pray? That’s the subject of this week’s text.

Anyone can pray. What sets disciples of Jesus apart is who they pray to and how they pray. Even deeply religious people who attend church regularly can pray to the right person but in the wrong way. When true Christians pray, they do so to the God of the Bible with humility. Christian prayer can be a lot of things. It’s worship. It’s a conversation. It’s trust. But it is never religious performance. Religious performance exalts self. Humble prayer exalts God. We can’t do both. With this story, Jesus is showing His followers the right way to pray. As we await God’s perfect justice, we must do so in humble, continual prayer.

Monday - Matthew 6:5-15
Tuesday - Matthew 22:39-46
Wednesday - Romans 8:18-39
Thursday - 2 Corinthians 12:1-21
Friday - Galatians 6:1-18
Saturday - Ephesians 6:10-20
Sunday - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Sermon Series: The Gospel of Luke

Sermon Text: Luke 18:1-8

Sermon Title: A Parable about Prayer

Big Idea: Be persistent in prayer as you await God's perfect justice. 

Sermon Points: 

1. A Picture of Injustice

2. A Picture of Seeking Justice

3. A Picture of Perfect Justice

4. A Picture of What God's People Should Do While They Wait


Daily Devotional Guide

I usually write our daily devotional guide in silence. That's not the case this week. As I type, a shooter has just attacked a private school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, killing multiple children and wounding more. As the reports are coming in, it appears that the shooter is a man who pretends to be a woman.


We live in a broken world. Christians know this. Sometimes events happen to remind us of just how broken it is. This is one of those events. 


Christians long for God's perfect justice. As we saw last week, politicians aren't going to bring it. What we long for is only coming through the Lord Jesus Christ. 


But what should we do while we wait? Jesus helps us answer that question with His parable in this week's passage. Were Jesus to return in our lifetime, we don't get extra credit for the coolest bunker with the most freeze dried food. It's wise to be prepared for the worst but Jesus calls us to do more, namely persistent prayer. As you read, pray, and listen this week, ask God to keep you devoted to persistent prayer while you await and even work toward His perfect and just kingdom.


Monday - 1 Kings 19:1-18

Tuesday - Psalm 3:1-8

Wednesday - Psalm 4:1-8

Thursday - Psalm 22:1-31

Friday - Matthew 6:5-15

Saturday - Matthew 7:7-11

Sunday - Revelation 6:9-11