Week of November 13, 2023
Kingdom Qualities: Prayer and Humility
Jesus follows up his teaching about the difficulties and suffering of the end times, before He returns, with two parables dealing with prayer. In the first, He stresses the importance of continuing to pray with faith, trusting that we have a loving God who will act on our behalf. In the second he emphasizes the importance of humility. We come before the Lord not worthy but in need of his grace and mercy.
Monday | Luke 18:1-14
At first glance, it would seem a strange combination of character attributes in these two stories of Jesus: persistence and humility. How do you see the two connected? What does the persistent pray-er believe? What does the humble prayer-er believe? How can you cultivate each quality in your prayer life?
Tuesday | 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 & James 1:5-8
Christ-followers are praying people. According to the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonian Christians, what is the content of our prayers? What is the role of prayer in keeping the fire of the Holy Spirit burning? What does the Apostle James emphasize in his teaching on prayer? How do we resist doubt in our praying?
Wednesday | Luke 1:46-55
God chooses a peasant girl named Mary to bear the Christ-child. Her Spirit-inspired song praises God that he honors his humble servant with such a privilege! What are the “reversals” that Mary sings of in this song? How do you believe that God lifts up the humble? Why is humility such an important quality for a Christ-follower?
Thursday | 1 Peter 5:5-11
Again the theme of humility comes to the forefront of the Christian life, here in relationship with other Christians. Why is humility so important in developing a healthy Christian community? What does it mean for you to humble yourself in a relationship with another person? What is the connection between our humility before God and our humility with others?
Friday | 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 & 2 Corinthians 10:17-18
The ancient Roman world was one of relentless competition for social honor and relentless effort at self-promotion. The Apostle Paul speaks to the opposite in healthy Christian culture. What is the reason Paul gives for God choosing the humble rather than the powerful? Why is it arguably central to the Christian faith response to God to boast in him rather than in ourselves? Who is responsible for our salvation? How practically do we boast in the Lord?
