July 6, 2025

Luke 18:1-14

Does Prayer Work?

Sunday Sermons

Does God actually hear our prayers, or is prayer merely wishful thinking and positive self-talk?

In a world that sometimes feels the weight of heaven’s silence and is drowning in the hopelessness of skepticism, Jesus told two parables—one about a widow and a judge, the other about a Pharisee and a tax collector. These stories speak directly to our own questions about prayer. And they’re more than just lessons about talking to God or at God—they’re revelations about the heart of the One we pray to, and about the condition of our own hearts when we pray.

Join Pastor Jim as he helps us explore what our prayer life reveals about who we really trust. Come and discover how Jesus reveals a God who is righteous, just, and welcoming—and how that changes everything about the way we approach Him in prayer.

Speaker

Jim Thomas

Series

The Gospel According to Luke

Go to Series

Scripture

Luke 18:1-14

Topics
Community Life Growth & Discipleship

Sermon Notes

Luke 18:1-14

Does Prayer Work?

Pastor Jim Thomas

“Your prayer life reveals who you really are: how much you really want and depend on God.” –
Michael Reeves

A parable about the heart of the One to Whom we pray (vv. 1-8)

“God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day.”
Psalm 7:11

“For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.”
Psalm 11:7

“The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.”
Psalm 33:5

“The LORD is righteous; He has cut in two the cords of the wicked.”
Psalm 129:4

“The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.”
Psalm 145:17

“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. ‘Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’”
Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭27‬-‭30

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Philippians 4:6

A parable about the hearts of the ones who pray (vv. 9-14)

“Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all.”
D. L. Moody

How should we respond?

  1. Pray Persistently
  2. Bow Humbly
  3. Trust Completely

“Prayer is beyond any questions the highest activity of the human soul. Man is at his greatest and highest when, upon his knees, he comes face to face with God.”
Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“The person who is deluded always speaks about how ‘nice’ they were. The person who enjoys the full assurance of eternal salvation knows only we were sinners, but we were saved by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. False assurance always speaks about what we have done. Real assurance always speaks about what Christ has done for us, and by his grace, what Christ has done in us.”
Sinclair Ferguson

Discussion Questions

  •  Do you sometimes find yourself at risk of prayer becoming more of a performance than a petition? What can you do to focus your attention on talking with God during prayer?
  • Have you ever resonated with the idea, ‘I’m going to be fine—I’ve been pretty good’? What can we learn from the tax collector’s example about how we should approach God in prayer?
  • If we take to heart the comment that our prayer life reveals how much we really want and depend on God, what should change in our prayer life?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs

“Christ Our Hope In Life and Death“ by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, and Matt Papa
“Holy Holy Holy“ by John Bacchus Dykes and Reginald Heber
“I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130)“ by Jordan Kauflin, Keith Getty, Matthew Merker, and Stuart Townend
“How Deep The Father’s Love For Us“ by Stuart Townend
“Lord I Need You“ by Daniel Carson, Matt Maher, Christy Nockels, Jesse Reeves, and Kristian Stanfill
All songs are used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690

Call To Worship: At The Cross

Most merciful God, thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus. We remember this day His redeeming death, that we might stand forgiven at the cross. Thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus, to whom we belong, in life and in death. He bore our infirmities and carried our sorrows. Most holy God, thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus, who became sin for us and suffered the punishment due to us, that we might stand forgiven at the cross. In the name of our Lord Jesus, amen.

Classic Prayer: George Herbert 1593 – 1633

Thou hast given so much to me, give me one thing more — a grateful heart: Not thankful when it pleaseth me, As if Thy blessings had spare days, But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.

Confession of Sin:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You this day, in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole hearts; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Grant to Your people pardon and peace, that in Your great mercy, we may be forgiven all our sins, and serve You with a quiet and contrite heart.  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

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