Class Lesson for August 23, 2026

 Series: Pray this way...

Sermon Recap

Luke 18:9–14 contrasts two men who went to the temple to pray: a Pharisee confident in his own righteousness, and a tax collector who could only cry out, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus says it is the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who went home justified. This parable teaches that prayer is not a platform for self-congratulation but a posture of humility. True repentance does not compare itself favorably to others; it simply casts itself on the mercy of God.

 

Wayne’s notes from his sermon last Sunday: Luke 18:9-14

 

Luke 18:9-14

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you; this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Luke 18:9-14.

 

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you most in Luke 18:9-14?
2. Why do you think the Pharisee's prayer, despite sounding religious, was not acceptable to God?
3. What made the tax collector's prayer different, both in content and posture?
4. Why is it so easy to slip into comparing our own righteousness to other people's, even unintentionally?
5. What is the difference between conviction that leads to humble confession and shame that leads to hiding?
6. What would it look like for you to pray more like the tax collector this week?

 

Closing Thoughts

The Pharisee’s prayer reminds us how easily comparison and self-righteousness can creep into community, while the tax collector’s prayer shows what genuine humility before God sounds like. As a group, we can model honest confession with one another, refuse to compare our sin against someone else’s, and remind each other that our standing before God is never based on our performance but always on His mercy. A group marked by humility becomes a safe place for real transformation to happen.

 

END

When Prayer Becomes a Mirror

Luke 18:9-14

 

1.   We Start Measuring Ourselves

2.   Spiritual Blindness Can Hide Behind a Good Life

3.   Repentance is the Cure for Comparison

Luke 18:9-14

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you; this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

Most of us spend a great deal of our lives managing the picture that other people see. We want to be seen as good parents, good grandparents, good Christians, faithful friends, generous and dependable people.

 

But Jesus tells a story about two men who went to the temple to pray. One had a very impressive picture of himself. The other wasn't interested in the picture, because he knew what the X-ray would show.

 

When you come before God in prayer, are you more aware of what you've done, or what He has done?

Comparison looks sideways.

Discipleship looks forward.

Worship looks upward.

Click Play to Watch

Class Lesson for August 16, 2026

 New Series: Pray this way...

Sermon Recap

Luke 18:1–8 teaches that believers ought “always to pray and not lose heart.” Jesus tells the parable of a persistent widow who wears down an unjust judge through sheer perseverance, then makes a “how much more” argument: if even an uninterested, unrighteous judge eventually gives justice, how much more will a good and loving Father respond to His own children who cry out to Him day and night? Persistent prayer is not about convincing a reluctant God. It is the natural posture of faith that keeps trusting Him even when the answer is delayed.

 

Luke 18:1-8

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

“And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, “Give me justice against my adversary.” For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.”’ And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?’”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Luke 18:1-8.

 

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you most in Luke 18:1-8?
2. Why do you think Jesus used an unjust judge, rather than a good one, to make His point about God?
3. What is the difference between persistent prayer that flows from faith and prayer that flows from doubt or anxiety?
4. Why do you think believers are tempted to lose heart when prayers aren’t answered quickly?
5. How does Jesus’ closing question about finding faith on earth connect persistence in prayer to the state of our faith?
6. What is a situation in your life right now where you need to keep praying and not lose heart?

  

Closing Thoughts

Jesus told this parable precisely because perseverance in prayer does not come naturally when circumstances are discouraging. As a group, we can carry each other’s burdens by continuing to pray for one another’s requests over time, refusing to give up on people or situations too quickly, and reminding one another that God is not an unjust judge who must be worn down, but a Father eager to act on behalf of His people. A church that prays persistently becomes a people marked by hope rather than discouragement.

 

END

Teacher Notes:

Click Play to Watch

What stands out to you about Chris and the advice

he gives his son?

Perseverance is easy to talk about when you know the story has a happy ending.

It's much harder to persevere when you're still in the middle

of the struggle.

The widow in Jesus' parable today, is also in the middle of a struggle. She doesn't know how her story is going to end. She doesn't know if or when justice will come. She doesn't even have a sympathetic person in authority on her side.

 

 

But she keeps coming.

 

Luke 18:1–8

“And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, “Give me justice against my adversary.” For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.”’ And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?’”

Jesus is addressing something that we all experience:

What happens to our prayer life when God doesn’t

seem to answer?

 

It's easy to pray when:

the diagnosis is good

job comes through

prodigal comes home

financial problem is resolved

relationship is restored

surgery goes well

or an answer comes quickly

 

But what causes us to lose heart when we've been praying about something for a long time and nothing seems to change?

 

 

 

Prayer: Transaction vs. Relationship

 

Transactional Prayer says, God, give me this.

Relational Prayer says, God, I trust You with this.

 

Persistent prayer isn’t always repeating the same request. Sometimes it’s just continuing to say, Father, I don't understand, but I still trust You.

 

The Christian isn't promised: If you persist long enough, you'll get the outcome you want.

 

We're promised something deeper: God is faithful, and therefore we can continue trusting Him even when

the outcome is uncertain.

 

  

 

Giving up says,

God isn't going to do anything.

 

Surrender says,

God, I don't know what You're going to do,

but I trust You.

 

 

Click Play to Watch

But sometimes our stories don't resolve as quickly as Chris Gardner. Some prayers take months. Some take years. And some we may not see answered this side of heaven.

 

This is where the words of Jesus become so important: “Pray and don't lose heart.”

The Bible gives this image an even deeper meaning. The rainbow first appears in Scripture as a sign of God's covenant — a reminder that God keeps His promises.

 

The rain represents what we see.

The rainbow reminds us of what we know: God is faithful.

Jesus ends this parable by asking,

“When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

 

The question isn't whether there will be rain. There will be.

The question is, when the rain comes, will we still believe

in the promise?

Perhaps one of the great gifts of growing older is that we have enough history with God to know that He can be trusted — even when we don't understand everything.

Conclusion

Faith says, I will keep praying — not because

I know what God is going to do, but because

I know who He is.

New Series: Pray this way...

What if prayer isn't just something you do... but someone you draw near to?

 

Prayer is one of the greatest privileges God has given His children, yet it's often one of the most misunderstood. It's more than reciting words, checking a box, or bringing God a list of requests. Prayer is an invitation into a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father.

 

You won't want to miss a single lesson in this brand-new series, Pray this way.

 

Together, we'll discover what Jesus taught about prayer and how Scripture invites us to approach God with confidence, humility, faith, and complete dependence upon Him. Along the way, we'll learn how prayer transforms our hearts, aligns our lives with God's will, strengthens our faith, and equips us to faithfully intercede for others.

 

Whether you've walked with Christ for decades or simply desire a richer prayer life, this series will encourage and challenge you to experience the joy of daily fellowship with God.

 

Because the greatest blessing of prayer isn't simply getting answers... it's getting closer to the One who hears every prayer.

 

"Lord, teach us to pray." 

Luke 11:1

Our first lesson is from Mark 1:35 and John 15:5–7.

Sermon Recap

Mark 1:35 and John 15:5–7 reveal that prayer is not a performance but a relationship to abide in. Jesus, in the middle of a demanding ministry schedule, withdrew early in the morning to a solitary place to be with the Father. His fruitfulness flowed out of His communion, not the other way around. John 15 makes the connection explicit: apart from Christ we can do nothing, but those who abide in Him bear fruit and find their prayers shaped by His will. Time with God is not a task on the to-do list; it is the root system that makes everything else possible.

 

Mark 1:35

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.

 

John 15:5–7

[5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (ESV)

 

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you most in Mark 1:35 and John 15:5-7?
2. Why do you think Jesus prioritized prayer even during His busiest seasons of ministry?
3. What does it look like practically to "abide" in Christ throughout a normal day?
4. How does understanding prayer as relationship rather than duty change the way you approach it?
5. What competes most for the time you would otherwise give to prayer?
6. How might a life of consistent prayer change the way you handle stress, decisions, or busyness?

 

Closing Thought

Jesus' example in Mark 1 shows that even the busiest ministry calendar must be built on the foundation of communion with the Father. As a class, we can ask one another honestly about our rhythms of prayer, encourage each other when distraction and busyness crowd it out, and remind one another that fruitfulness in life always flows from abiding, not striving. A church that treasures time with God becomes a people who carry His presence into every space they enter.

END

Teacher Notes:

Pray this way…”Our Father…Hallowed be Thy Name”

We need to learn to Abide!

When you think about prayer, what’s the

first thing

that comes to mind?

For many, it’s giving grace…

Click Play to Watch

Transaction vs Relationship

1st Lesson in the series... 

Mark 1:35

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.

John 15:5–7

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Mark 1:35

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.

This wasn’t a one-time event, but a pattern we see throughout Luke's Gospel, where Jesus regularly withdrew to pray, sometimes for an entire night.

John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.

John 15:7

If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 

 Where is the transformation in this verse?