Parables of Jesus © International Media Ministries www.imm.edu The Midnight Visitor Luke 11:5-10 other passages: Matthew 7:7-11, Revelation 3:20, John 14:13-14 Prepared by Ed and Margreet van Ouwerkerk Today’s theme is: God is more generous than we think. When we pray He answers out of His love for us, not just from a sense of duty.

Opening questions What’s the best gift you’ve ever given to somebody? What made you to give that gift and what was the reaction of the recipient? If you give a gift, is that out of duty (as a return of gifts you got) or out of love? When you’ve selected and presented a “good gift,” one that is appreciated and valued by the recipient, how does it feel to you? What types of things usually are on your birthday or new year’s wish list? Do you prefer more practical or more special gifts? If people ask to pray for you on your behalf, are your requests more focused on needs or on desires?

Read aloud together: Luke 11:5-10 5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-11 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you (sinful people), then . . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

路 加 福 音 11:5-10 5 耶 稣 又 说 ： 你 们 中 间 谁 有 一 个 朋 友 半 夜 到 他 那 里 去 ， 说 ： 朋 友 ！ 请 借 给 我 三 个 饼 ；6 因 为 我 有 一 个 朋 友 行 路 ， 来 到 我 这 里 ， 我 没 有 甚 麽 给 他 摆 上 。7 那 人 在 里 面 回 答 说 ： 不 要 搅 扰 我 ， 门 已 经 关 闭 ， 孩 子 们 也 同 我 在 床 上 了 ， 我 不 能 起 来 给 你 。8 我 告 诉 你 们 ， 虽 不 因 他 是 朋 友 起 来 给 他 ， 但 因 他 情 词 迫 切 的 直 求 ， 就 必 起 来 照 他 所 需 用 的 给 他 。9 我 又 告 诉 你 们 ， 你 们 祈 求 ， 就 给 你 们 ； 寻 找 ， 就 寻 见 ； 叩 门 ， 就 给 你 们 开 门 。10 因 为 ， 凡 祈 求 的 ， 就 得 着 ； 寻 找 的 ， 就 寻 见 ； 叩 门 的 ， 就 给 他 开 门 。 馬 太 福 音 7:7-11 7 你 们 祈 求 ， 就 给 你 们 ； 寻 找 ， 就 寻 见 ； 叩 门 ， 就 给 你 们 开 门 。8 因 为 凡 祈 求 的 ， 就 得 着 ； 寻 找 的 ， 就 寻 见 ； 叩 门 的 ， 就 给 他 开 门 。9 你 们 中 间 谁 有 儿 子 求 饼 ， 反 给 他 石 头 呢 ？10 求 鱼 ， 反 给 他 蛇 呢 ？11 你 们 虽 然 不 好 ， 尚 且 知 道 拿 好 东 西 给 儿 女 ， 何 况 你 们 在 天 上 的 父 ， 岂 不 更 把 好 东 西 给 求 他 的 人 麽 ？

In your culture, how do you treat an unexpected guest?

Questions Can somebody tell the story in own words? Which people play a role in this story? In Jesus’ time the rules of hospitality were expected to be followed without fail, no excuses. What was expected of the family having the visitor? If a friend dropped by your home for an unexpected overnight stay, what things may be expected of you in your home country? And would that be different in the U.S.? If you found yourself unable to meet the expectations, whom would you ask? Why did the neighbor in the parable finally give the bread?

Would you give up comfort to help a neighbor or friend Would you give up comfort to help a neighbor or friend? How about to help somebody you don’t know? Read again Matthew 7:9-11 9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you (sinful people), then, . . . . , know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Compare your willingness to give with God’s willingness to give? What do you learn from this parable about human nature? Do you learn something of God’s character?

What does ‘the door’ represent? And what is the promise? Let’s read Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me”. 看 哪 ， 我 站 在 门 外 叩 门 ， 若 有 听 见 我 声 音 就 开 门 的 ， 我 要 进 到 他 那 里 去 ， 我 与 他 他 与 我 一 同 坐 席 。 Who is knocking? What does ‘the door’ represent? And what is the promise?

Jesus said: “13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14) 13 你 们 奉 我 的 名 无 论 求 甚 麽 ， 我 必 成 就 ， 叫 父 因 儿 子 得 荣 耀 。 14 你 们 若 奉 我 的 名 求 甚 麽 ， 我 必 成 就 。” (約 翰 福 音 14:13-14)