Browse Bible Study Resources

Family Camp 2016: Pre Camp Special

Text: Luke 18:1-8
27 February 2016

Luke 18:1-8

“Men always ought to pray and not lose heart”   Luke 18:1 

JESUS’ OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER

  1. The problem of hypocrisy Matthew 6:5-8

  1. The problem of praying wrongly

a) For people to see
b) For the praise of men
c) Vain repetition
d) Many words

  1. The problem of prayerlessness

a) Generally
b) Specifically… even among His disciples

A SPECIAL PARABLE         Luke 18:1-8

  1. Purpose of the parable

  1. Point of the parable

“Men always ought to pray and not lose heart”  Luke 18:1

INHERENT TENDENCIES

  1. To lose heart

a) To be discouraged
b) To be disheartened

  1. Men always

a) Without fail
b) Consistent practice
c) Daily

  1. Ought

a) Necessity
b) Must
c) No option

REASONS FOR LOSS OF HEART

  1. A poor understanding of God

a) Abstract
b) Distant
c) Estranged

  1. A bleak view of the circumstances of life

a) Tough
b) Terrible
c) Overwhelming

  1. A lack of faith in God

“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”                                                                                                                     Luke 18:8

 a) It affects our prayer efforts
b) It causes us to lose heart easily

THE LACK OF GREAT FAITH IN ISRAEL

  1. Comment about the faith of the centurion

“I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel”   Luke 7:9;                                                                                                                               Matthew 8:10

  1. Comment about the faith of the Syro-Phonecian woman

“O woman, great is your faith!”      Matthew 15:28

REBUKE FOR LITTLE FAITH

  1. Rebuke of the disciples

“Why are you fearful, O you of little faith”                        Matthew 8:26

  1. Rebuke of Peter

“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”                        Matthew 14:31

FAITH AND PRAYER

  1. The lack of faith affects our prayer efforts

  1. Greatness of faith affects our prayer efforts

  1. The challenge

a) To strengthen our faith
b) To see our strengthened faith lead us to seek God in prayer