The Parable of the Friend at Midnight

Sunday, I preached the first of two messages on prayer. It's a two-part series on the parables of Jesus about prayer that I am simply calling, "God Answers Prayer." Here is the sermon skeleton from Sunday.

Title: “God is not a Sleepy Friend”

Text: Luke 11:1-13

Theme: Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray (Luke 11:1).

Probing Question: What is the most important lesson about prayer that you should learn?

Point: God answers prayer.

Outline:

I. Pray with reverence for God (11:2-4).

The Model Prayer teaches us three fundamental lessons about how to ray God-centered and God-exalting prayers.

A. Pray directly to God.

B. Pray about things that will bring glory to God.

C. Pray as if everything depends on God.

II. Pray with dependence upon God (11:5-8)

This Parable of the Midnight Caller raises two questions about your prayer life that reveal the nature and level of your dependence upon God.

A. Do you pray?

B. How do you pray?

III. Pray with confidence in God (11:9-13)

In verses 9-13, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray with confidence that God is able and willing to answer prayer.

A. Pray with confidence that God is able (11:9-10).

B. Pray with confidence that God is willing (11:11-13).