Prayer, persistence and preaching

These are the sermons from July 28 (still catching up obviously) and it is an opportunity to think about prayer. Prayer is a tricky thing to talk about but it is always worth visiting or re-visiting. When the Lectionary includes Jesus talking about prayer in two different ways, as he does in Luke 11:1-13, the need to address it becomes pretty compelling. What makes Jesus’ words so interesting in his story about being persistent.

Persistence is one of those things that we all want, or at least think we want, as long as we can figure out how to be persistent without also being a pain. Persistence in prayer is additionally complicated because we don’t want to fall into the notion that if we pray enough, in the right way, at the right time, etc. then God is required to grant us what we ask . . . this is NOT true.

Knox Presbyterian 130728_Knox

St. Mark’s Presbyterian 130728_StMarks

Give these a listen if you have the time and inclination and I hope they provide some clarity around prayer, persisting in prayer and even a bit about the nature of God.

Blessings,