Podcasts about persistent widow

A verse by verse study through the book of Luke with Pastor Kevin Edwards of Calvary Chapel Clayton, NC. https://www.calvaryclayton.com

Luke 18:1-8, The Parable of the Persistent Widow, Pastor Steve

Luke 18:1-8 presents a parable, alternately named the parable of the Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow. Jesus deliberately parodies the reality of God as a faithful judge. While we might doubt earthly authority, God has always been faithful and remains faithful. Nonetheless, we often lose hope. We look at the world and don't see justice, righteousness, or faithfulness or we forget that God is faithful and so we do whatever is right in our own eyes. Until the day of the Lord comes, we must not lose hope and become faithless.

When life feels stuck and prayers seem to go nowhere, it's easy to wonder what God is up to. In Jesus' story of the Persistent Widow, we're reminded that God is on the move—and that our greatest purpose is to keep praying, hoping, and joining in God's work until all things are made right.

‘Just keep going.' Like Jacob who wrestled with the Lord for blessing (Genesis 32). Like Paul and Timothy who proclaimed the Gospel of Christ in good times and bad times (2 Timothy 3). Like the Persistent Widow in the story Jesus told to encourage us to pray always and not lose heart (Luke 18). Scripture rings with the encouragement to demonstrate grit.Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:15am and 11:15am.Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email office@stjohnslutheran.church and request to be added!If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at pastor@stjohnslutheran.church or Pastor Emily at am@stjohnslutheran.church.We are deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John's community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”Thank you!Ways you can Give: • Online stjohnslutheran.church • Text "Give" to 760-330-2326 • Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John's, please email the Church Office at office@stjohnslutheran.church or call us at 760-345-2122CCLI Streaming & Podcast License # CSPL129016

Luke 18:1-8Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.' For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” “We don't take no for an answer.” That was the motto of Sisters of Mercy JoAnn Persch and Pat Murphy — the two women I affectionately call my nuns. I've talked about these holy troublemakers before, you may remember, but with today's story of a persistent widow, I can't help returning to the two most persistent people I've ever met. In 2007, on a cold, rainy Friday — the day buses rolled out of the Broadview Deportation Center bound for the airport — the sisters stood on the sidewalk and prayed. They prayed for the men being deported and the families left behind, for the judges who signed the orders, the ICE agents who carried them out, and the lawmakers who wrote the policies. Then they went home.But the next Friday, they came back. And the next. Rain or shine, they kept showing up. When they asked to go inside and accompany the families as they said goodbye, the answer was no. When they asked again, the answer was still no. Finally, the top ICE official in Chicago — who knew them by name at this point — said, “You can't come in here. But you might try McHenry County Jail. They could use some pastoral care.” So they called. Again the answer was no. So they lobbied, wrote letters, met with legislators — and got a new law passed that allowed spiritual care in detention centers. Eventually they were even permitted to board the buses and offer a final blessing as they pulled away.Sister Pat used to tell me: “You see, Cogan, we get told no all the time. People, especially those in power, underestimate us because of how old we are and what we look like. But we don't get discouraged. We work peacefully and persistently. We do what needs doing. And we don't take no for an answer.”The sisters remind me that we've had the wrong image of widows all along: in Scripture and in this parable. When we hear the word widow, all the old stereotypes rush in: a poor, frail, vulnerable woman begging for help. But that's not the picture the Bible paints, and it's not the woman Jesus describes today. Think of Tamar, who risked everything to secure justice when others denied it to her. Or Ruth, who crossed borders and broke norms to provide for herself and Naomi. The widow of Zarephath, who spoke truth to the prophet and demanded that God make good on divine promises. The widow of Nain, whose grief moved Jesus to act and whose life was restored along with her son's. As one scholar put it, Biblical widows aren't weak. “They move mountains; they're expected to be poor, but prove savvy stewards; expected to be exploited, they take advantage where they find it.” Truth be told, most churches today run not because of pastors but because of faithful women, on the front lines and behind the scenes, who keep showing up, praying, organizing, and holding it all together.Most of us have heard this parable preached the same way: if even an unjust judge will finally give in to a widow's cry, how much more will God hear and answer when we cry out? In that reading, God is the opposite of the judge — fair, responsive, merciful. And that's a good and faithful way to read it.But lately I've wondered: what if the story turns the other way? What if God isn't the opposite of the unjust judge, but rather the persistent, justice-demanding widow herself? What if we are the ones sitting in the judge's seat, reluctant, distracted, slow to listen, until finally, through prayer, through people, through grace, we give in?Because that's how I've come to recognize God's work in Scripture and in my own life. God calls, nudges, insists, pushes people to do what God wants done — until we finally yield. Think of Abraham and Moses, Jonah and Jeremiah, Paul and even Pharaoh. God persists, sometimes pesters, always prevails.In this moment, I think we look a lot more like the judge. With all the division and distrust around us, it's easy to say, I've lost all respect for those people. I've lost respect for those who vote differently than me. For those protesting and for those who don't. For Democrats. For Republicans.For anyone who dares to enjoy the Super Bowl halftime show.We laugh, but it's true. Like the judge, we've grown tired and cynical. We've lost trust — not only in one another, but sometimes in God's work and timing in the world. And I don't say that to shame anyone. I understand it. Things feel difficult, dangerous, and disheartening. War still rages in Ukraine. A ceasefire hangs by a thread in Gaza. Inequality deepens across the globe. And closer to home, many of us are still waiting: for healing that doesn't come, for a relationship to mend, for a prayer to be answered but only seems to echo in the abyss.After enough of that, you start praying less, not because you've stopped believing, but because you're tired of being disappointed. Eventually, no prayer feels safer than another unanswered one. And before long, like the judge, you stop looking for God altogether. You decide it's up to you to figure it out.Maybe that's how the judge became who he was — not heartless, but hardened. Not evil, just exhausted.But the story doesn't end there, because, like my nuns, God doesn't give up that easily. When we least expect it, God, like the widow, starts pursuing us. And that's what happens in prayer. Often we think prayer is us pursuing God. But what if it's the opposite. What if prayer isn't just our words reaching to heaven; it's God reaching toward us. In the quiet moments of our days, in the stillness when we try to rest, God is there: tugging at our hearts, stirring us awake, urging us not to give up hope, to forgive and seek forgiveness, to hold on to the relationships that matter, to see the dignity and humanity in every person.As the great Danish theologian Søren Kierkegaard once said, “Prayer does not change God, but it changes the one who offers it.”The judge finally relents, but not out of compassion. The text says he does it “so she won't bother me.” That's the polite, cleaned-up translation. A truer rendering of the Greek is something like, “so she doesn't give me a black eye,” or, as one commentator puts it, “so she doesn't slap me in the face.” Now that's a granny with some grit!And before we get too quick to dismiss that image, the idea that God might wrestle or wear us down, remember Jacob. He wrestled with God all night long until daybreak, refusing to let go until he received a blessing. He didn't walk away untouched; he limped for the rest of his life. Because that's what real encounters with God do, they leave a mark.Richard Foster once wrote, “Our prayer efforts are a genuine give-and-take, a true dialogue with God, and a true struggle.” Prayer, at its deepest, isn't about soothing words or easy answers. It's a holy struggle; one that leaves us changed: sometimes limping, sometimes bruised, but always blessed and better because of it. Pat Murphy passed away this past July at the young age of ninety-six. At her bedside, the last thing JoAnn said to her was, “Pat, remember, we don't take no for an answer. When you get to heaven, you go to God, and you don't take no for an answer. We need help down here — help for our immigrants, help for our country.”Prayer is the process by which God makes us less like the judge and more like Sister Pat: one whose whole life is a prayer, offering respect for all people, trusting that God is at work in the world and through her, and demanding justice and peace in a world that needs so much of both.So, in the words of Jesus, pray always. Don't lose heart. And, in the words of the Nuns, don't take no for an answer. If we do that, God will indeed find faith: the faith of a widow. Amen.

The sermon for the Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity, Luke 18:1-8, by the Rev. Bo Ubbens. Support the show

What can the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge teach us about prayer? Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy highlight why the widow's actions are so shocking, how times of opposition call for bold prayers, and why the message of this story isn't just "pray harder".Want to have your question or comment featured on the podcast? Leave a voicemail on our Rev'd Up hotline! Call (203) 442-5002.Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

City of Hope Presbyterian Church Sunday Worship   October 5, 2025   Sermon Series Parables of Jesus: Parable of the Persistent Widow, Guest Speaker, Rev. Trip Beans   Text: Matthew 17:20-18:8   Guest Speaker: Rev. Trip Beans, Campus Minister, UMBC RUF   www.cityofhopechurch.net

God's kingdom is unobservable now, but its coming will be unmistakable and unexpected. In the meantime, how should we seek His kingdom?

Join Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Matt Skinner for this episode of Sermon Brainwave as they explore the lectionary readings for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost (October 19, 2025). The conversation gets particularly rich around themes of persistence in prayer, wrestling with God and Scripture, and what discipleship really looks like in Luke's gospel. The hosts offer practical homiletical directions and insights that will help preachers prepare meaningful sermons for this Sunday. This is essential listening for pastors, preachers, and anyone interested in deep biblical interpretation and thoughtful homiletics. Commentaries for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost can be found on the Working Preacher website at https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-29-3/commentary-on-luke-181-8-6. *  *  * Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share to stay connected with more insightful lectionary discussions! Reminder: We have commentaries for the Revised Common Lectionary, the Narrative Lectionary, and Evangelio (Spanish-language Gospel). We're here for you, working preachers! ABOUT SERMON BRAINWAVE: Sermon Brainwave is a production of Luther Seminary's Working Preacher, which has been providing trusted biblical interpretation and preaching inspiration since 2007. Find more episodes and resources by visiting https://www.workingpreacher.org/. Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/G5dmhjNpOg0.

Have you ever struggled with the concept of prayer? Have you wondered if prayer actually moves the hand of God or if it's just a religious practice to get our hearts right? Let's dive into an often overlooked and misunderstood parable - the Persistent Widow. This is a story about a wicked judge who refuses to hear the pleas of this one widow. This story shows us the power of annoyance and pestering but also reveals a contrast to God's character. Go to JesusPodcast.com and receive daily devotionals about Jesus.Today's Bible verse is Mark 16:6 from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost preached at the campus ministry service for the St. Thomas Aquinas Episcopal Campus Ministry at West Virginia UniversityFocus Text: Luke 16:1-13The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (or is it the dishonest steward or the unjust steward?) is considered among the most perplexing of Jesus' parables. Many preachers grumble and groan when it comes up once every three years on the Sunday Lectionary shared by many denominations (What a lovely day to preach on the Collect of the Day!). It's hard to know what to make of Jesus' story here and the connection between it and the sayings directly connected to it. Some commentators try to shield Jesus, and our sensibilities, from the scandal of it all by saying, “He never said that.” But that just doesn't add up, does it?Why would we hide the offense? Why do we blanche at scandal in the Gospel narratives? Is that not the direct context in the chapter preceding this? The Pharisees are scandalized that Jesus would publicly eat with tax collectors and sinners. Then we receive a progression of thematically connected parables (with some unrelated ones in between today's and what follows on this list):​ The Parable of the Lost Sheep​ The Parable of the Lost Coin​ The Parable of the Prodigal Son​ The Parable of the Shrewd Manager​ The Parable of the Persistent Widow (and the Unjust Judge)​ The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax CollectorJesus doesn't balk at scandal. The truth is that the Gospel is scandalous. That the Son of God would become man and die for us “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8) is scandalous. And, after, what could possibly be more scandalous than the way Christ died on the cross, a mode of Roman execution reserved for runaway slaves and violent criminals — Jesus, the Son of God, nailed naked to a cross for all who passed by to see.The means of our salvation were and are inherently scandalous. The shrewd manager in our parable cuts what the debtors owe in half. Jesus abolishes our debts entirely. Grace is dishonest wealth and heavenly glorification with Christ is true riches received when we are faithful with the grace given us. Jesus was killed like a crook for crooks — you and me. Is it fair? By no means. Is it just? Absolutely not! But that's the promise of the Gospel — we don't get what we deserve. How fortunate we are that Christ isn't fair. How “lucky for us that we don't have to deal with a just steward,” (Robert Farrar Capon, Kingdom, Grace, Judgment: Paradox, Outrage, and Vindication in the Parables of Jesus, p. 309).

Message from Dr. Jeremy Morton on September 21, 2025

Join Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina as he explores the Mass Readings for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.Mass Readings:Exodus 17;8-13Psalm 121Luke 18;1-8"A Walk in The Word" podcast is a weekly bible study and reflection on the Sunday Mass readings led by International Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina.PODCAST HOMEPAGE: https://awalkintheword.buzzsprout.comYOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/hectormolinacatholicevangelistSupport: Are you enjoying these videos? Become a Patron and partner with me in spreading the Good News! www.patreon.com/hectormolina/You can also show your support for the podcast by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hectormolina#twentyninthsundayinordinarytime #29thsundayinordinarytime #parableofthepersistentwidow #thepersistenwidow #parableoftheunjustjudge #persistenprayer #praywithoutceasing #sundaymassreadings #catholiclectionary #catholic #sundaygospel #sundaygospelreflection #catholicbiblestudy #awalkintheword#catholicpodcast #bibleinayear #wordonfire #sundayhomily #hectormolina

Get It From The Greek | Bible Study | Parables Series | The Parable of the Persistent Widow by Father's House SA

Luke 18:1-8 The post A Persistent Widow and an Unjust Judge appeared first on Pillar Baptist Church.

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Sermon by Rev. Sam McGlothlinFor our current sermon series - ParablesScripture Reading: Luke 18:1-8

Welcome to Wellspring Church!How do we live faithfully when the world pushes back? In this message, Pastor Billy Waters continues our Parables of Jesus series with the story of the persistent widow from Luke 18:1–8.This parable calls us to persevere when we experience resistance—whether social, spiritual, or personal—not by striving harder, but by crying out to our Father in prayer. Pastor Billy reminds us that God is not like the unjust judge; He is just, loving, merciful, and near. The question is not whether God is faithful—but whether we will remain faithful.

Pastor Jeff Watts teaching on Luke 18:1-8.

Worship - August 17, 2025 “The Persistent Widow: Livin' on a Prayer” - Luke 18:2-8Reverend Ruth Anne Sawyer

Today we'll look at Jesus's parable on prayer, and how we should not grow weary in prayer!

Have you ever asked, “Why doesn't God answer me when I pray?” Learn how you can begin to pray “smart prayers,” hang on until God answers, and get in touch with just how much He is waiting to hear you when you cry out to him.

Sermon July 27 The Persistent Widow by Sunnybrook Christian Church

In this passage we see Jesus telling a story about an unrighteous judge and a persistent widow. What can we learn about our relationship to God our Father? (Preached by Rick Eby)

Ben Peterson // THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW

Ben Peterson // THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW

Thank you for listening to today's message. Stay Connected With Us Using The Links Below: Stay in the know: nebc.ch/weekly Give: nebc.ch/give Need Prayer?: nebc.ch/prayer Made A Decision For Christ?: nebc.ch/decision Mobile App: nebc.ch/mobile Website: nebc.ch #YouBelongHere

Ben Peterson // THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW

Ben Peterson // THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW

As we explore Luke 18, we delve into two of Jesus' parables that challenge us to examine our prayer life and our humility before God.

Stories That Read Us – Part 4 Seyi Aberefa shares a powerful message on "The Parable of the Persistent Widow," the fourth installment of our Stories That Read Us series! In a fast-paced world, discover why prayer isn't always a “microwave” experience—but often a “crockpot” journey. Learn how persistence in prayer can transform your heart, align you with God's perfect timing, and deepen your faith.

As we explore Luke 18, we delve into two of Jesus' parables that challenge us to examine our prayer life and our humility before God.

Please enjoy this message from our Guest Speaker Shelly Jata. If you are interested in attending a service or finding out more, please visit us on the web at www.wearebrave.church.

Gabe McGinness, our Student Ministries Director, shares a message covering the Coming of the Kingdom of Heaven and the Parable of the Persistent Widow. May this message encourage us to remain faithfully obedient, at peace, and focused on the Mission; and may it remind us to continually pray without ceasing (in constant relations with Him), understanding and believing with true faith that the nature of God is unchanging - He is always good and the source of love.

Gabe McGinness, our Student Ministries Director, shares a message covering the Coming of the Kingdom of Heaven and the Parable of the Persistent Widow. May this message encourage us to remain faithfully obedient, at peace, and focused on the Mission; and may it remind us to continually pray without ceasing (in constant relations with Him), understanding and believing with true faith that the nature of God is unchanging - He is always good and the source of love.

Luke 18:1-8 // The Persistent Widow // Ryan King Sermon Video // https://youtu.be/szzSUIEFu2g Find out more about River City Church at rivercitydbq.org

Persistent Prayer - Always to pray and not lose heart

This week Becca Jupp continues our New Way with Stories series. This is a faith-building podcast exploring how persistent prayer and everyday perseverance unlock breakthrough, inspired by Jesus' story of the widow in Luke 18.Join us on Sundays in-person, 10:30am at The Littlehampton Academy, UKGet in contactVisit our website at arunchurch.com@arunchurch on Facebook, Instagram and YouTubeEmail us on hello@arunchurch.comPlease note, while we aim for clear teaching on the Christian faith, the views, information and opinions expressed by individuals on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views held by Arun Church or its representatives.

Join Pastor Abby as she explores "The Parable of the Persistent Widow," a powerful message on why we should always pray and never give up. Discover how persistent faith can overcome discouragement, even in the face of life's toughest challenges. Learn from real-life examples and be encouraged to pray big, kingdom-focused prayers.

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On Sunday we had the privilege of hearing from our friend, Pete Donor on the Parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke 18v1-8.  In this string of parables in Luke, Jesus is preparing people for how to live in light of His return. The Parable of the Persistent Widow highlights how necessary it is for us to pray at all times and trust God to keep His promises. We must stay aware of our need for God and continually receive His merciful provision through Jesus. Lord, increase our faith as we prepare for Your return. Find us praying always, with courage and confidence in who You are.    Link to Sermon Guide & Activations: 03.30.25 Sermon Guide