Prayer - Luke 11:1-13 - Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - 7-27-25

Sermon podcast from the Sunday, 7-27-25 worship service - Peace Memorial Church, UCC in Palos Park, IL. Luke 11:1-13

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"Prayer" sermon podcast

7-27-25 Worship Service

Prayer - Luke 11:1-13 - Pentecost 7 - 7-24-22

 

Sermon podcast from the Sunday, 7-24-22 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. Luke 11:1-13

Sermon preview

"Prayer" podcast

The whole worship service

Shaped by Prayer

The Lord's Prayer sermon podcast from yesterday at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Earlier in the service I also sang a cover of Brian Wilson's "Love and Mercy"
"Shaped By Prayer" podcast
"Love and Mercy" cover

Bread

This week's Bible reflection (The Egg and the Scorpion) is a confusing beginning to the Sacred Cow addressing sermon from today at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL
"Bread" podcast

The Egg and the Scorpion

Canterbury Tales Style

Once there was an egg that a young child cared for night and day.  It kept it warm and safe so that it would hatch.  The child’s excitement grew as the egg started moving about and then the shell started to crack.  The child thought of the bird that would come out of the egg.  The child smiled with anticipation as the egg cracked open and out came a . . . Scorpion!  The scorpion stung the child and the child died.

***

The moral of this story?  There is none.  Scorpions don’t come from eggs.

Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?

Uh . . . no.

In this week’s Bible reading from Luke 11:1-13, there’s a part where Jesus asks that nonsensical, seemingly good for nothing question.

And then the followup either makes things more confusing or adds clarity.  How Jesus-y.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Evil?

Maybe that’s not what Jesus said. The Greek poneros can be translated as evil, but it can also carry with it a sense of calling someone a “good for nothing” with a wink.

And that makes more sense.

“All right then – if you good-for-nothings (wink) know how not to give scorpions to your children, how much more will God give the spirit to those who ask!"



OK -- a little clearer, and a little more confusing.

I have a taste for some eggs. Hold the scorpion.

That Prayer

This week's Bible study post (Rote) has grown into a series of mini-sermons for Sunday at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk, IL.
"That Prayer" text
"That Prayer" podcast

Rote

Here's this week's Bible study blog post:

“I’ve said the Lord’s prayer so many times it has lost all meaning for me.”

I’ve heard that and likely even said it a few times in my life. I’ve said the words of the Lord’s prayer so many times that I can say it without thinking at all.

But does that mean it has lost all meaning?

Ask the person who has lost so many memories that the familiar prayers and songs are the only things that bring comfort and recognition.

Ask the person who is in a time of fear or stress or confusion and the only words they remember to say or pray are the ones they have repeated so often that they come by rote.

Ask God, who understands our prayers no matter what the words – or whether the words match what is going on in the depths of our souls.

What does that Prayer Say?

Monday's entry (the last one I did -- it's called "Does this count?") got digested and nurtured into Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational Church. I'm not sure what changes it will undergo before Sunday morning, but if you read it now and then again a few times before Sunday you might find out!

What does that Prayer Say? text
What does that Prayer Say? podcast

Does this count?

Here's this week's "Opening the Bible" blog entry for i.ucc:

A few years back I asked a group of youth to express the Lord's prayer as they understand it. Here's what they came up with:

God, you are really, really great. You’re in charge, whatever you say – Everywhere. Fill our needs. Forgive us while we forgive others. Keep us on your path. Help us when we’re in trouble. You’re great – and you rule forever. Amen.

I love the freshness of the words -- but I don't want them to exist at the expense of what I've recited countless times over the years.

In this week's Bible reading from Luke 11:1-13, Jesus starts by telling the disciples how to pray. I've heard it often said that our recitation of the Lord's prayer becomes empty and meaningless when we simply repeat it without understanding it.

I think there is some merit to that thought, but I also think that "freshing up" the language isn't necessary for the prayer to have meaning. In our repetition of the Lord's prayer we put something so deep in our memory that when there are no words or thoughts that can express what we are feeling we can recite what is burned deep in our minds -- and God understands what our prayer really means.

What are your thoughts?