SERIES: The Great Adventure: Miracles (Luke)
TITLE: The Miracle of Sight
Scripture: Luke 18: 1-17, 35-42
I. THE BLESSING OF SIGHT
3 lessons on prayer in first 17 verses. They can be summed up like this: “Prayer is the permanent occupation of the believer, done in persistence but done knowing that we who pray are undeserving sinners dependent no God’s grace. We are trusting, helpless children looking to our Father for help beyond our abilities.”
1. Lesson #1: Teaching on the persistent widow. [Verses 1-8]
Point of sight: See that God cares for us much more than any human can. There is value in (persistence in praying) and not (quitting).
2. Lesson #2: Teaching of the Pharisee and the publican (tax collector). [9-14]
We can come as a (self-righteous hypocrite) like the Pharisee or we can come with (humility and repentance) like the tax collector.
Point of sight: there is something to be said for (humility) in prayers. We need to see ourselves as sinners in desperate need of God’s (forgiveness and grace).
3. Lesson #3: Seen in Jesus’ response to the children. [15-17]
Point of sight: being childlike is an (absolute necessity) for seeing the kingdom of God.
II. THE BLESSING OF SEEING
Connection between Mark 10 and Luke 18.
Historically there were two Jerichos:
1) The ancient city taken captive by Joshua in Joshua 6
2) The one built by Herod the Great. Located between Jordan River and Jerusalem.
The difference between James and John’s request in Mark 10 and the blind man’s. J & J say, “Do for us whatever we want” vs. “Have mercy on me!” In other words, (“Do whatever YOU want”) See the difference?
NEXT WEEK: TGA: Miracles
Title: The Miracle of Peace
Scripture: Luke 8: 22-27 (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41)
