Most of us don’t have a healthy and robust prayer life. Theologian D. A. Carson says that if you really want to embarrass the average Christian—just ask them to tell you about their private prayer lives. Many of us can impress others with our Bible knowledge or our evangelism stories but our private prayer times are embarrassing.

Sermon Questions:

1. For many of us, we’re just not sure how much good prayer actually does. Have you ever had those thoughts? Have you ever wondered if God really is hearing your prayers? Explain.

2. Jesus tells us to keep on knocking if the door seems closed to us in prayer. How persistent are you in your prayers? Do you believe God delights to share his power with those who are bold enough to bother him?

3. In Jesus’ parable, Jesus’s point, you see, is not to compare God to an unjust judge but to contrast him with one. He is saying, If even an unrighteous, selfish judge would grant answers because of persistent asking; and if even a sleeping, stingy friend will eventually get up and give us our request, HOW MUCH MORE will our Heavenly Father, who does love and care for us and constantly watches over us, give us what WE need when we come persistently to him and ask him?

4. Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart… is that how you pray? Why or why not?

5. Are you praying big things for God’s kingdom, things in line with Jesus’s obvious love for the world? What are you so passionate about for God’s kingdom that you refuse to quit praying about it and you keep going until heaven listens?