2026-02-23 Lent 1
Tim Stephenson
- 3 minutes read - 573 wordsIntro
What is Lent?
40 days
reflection
desert time
anticipating the Cross
A series in 6 parts of the Christian life, sharing in:
worship
prayer
scripture
communion
service
good news
Jesus you are the way, guide us on our journey.
Reading: Luke 11:1-12
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,[a] hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.[b] 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c] And lead us not into temptation.[d]’”
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Brief exposition based on my reading of the structure of the passage
Jesus praying, John teaches disciples to pray, how would Jesus have us pray?
Pattern:
Abba,
praise,
following / submission,
our necessary support,
forgiveness to us,
from us to others,
protection.
Illustration exhorting us to 'shameless audacity'
Explanation of illustration (and repetition for emphasis).
Satire / parody for even greater emphasis, making 3 in total - a superlative.
Approaches to prayer
Where, when, how.
Music? A candle? A comfy chair? A cup of tea?


Discussion
Do you pray using your own words? Or do you prefer to follow a prayer book, or the Psalms? Or do you pray without using words at all?
How 'real' are you in prayer? Do you feel you have to be polite with God, or do you feel free to express anger, disappointment, or frustration?
How much of your prayer time is spent listening?
What is the biggest obstacle to your prayer life right now?
Is there a 'door' you have stopped knocking on because you feel it has been closed for too long? What would it look like to start knocking again?
Feedback
Close
Father, thank you for the promise that when we knock, the door will be opened for us. Grant us courage to keep asking and knocking. Amen.