The Rev. Steve Bales, above left, pastor at First Congregational Church in McCook, reads the parables on prayer found in Luke 18:1-15, during the Friday Community Lenten service at Memorial United Methodist Church. (Dawn Cribbs/McCook Daily Gazette) [Click to enlarge]

Persistence and a healthy dose of humility are the key ingredients of acceptable prayer while arrogance and self-reliance are a recipe for disaster according to the Rev. Steve Bales, pastor at First Congregational Church in McCook.

Reading from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 18, verses 1-15, Bales made some key observations about people and the reasons they attend church Friday at the Community Lenten service at Memorial United Methodist Church.

"Some come to sing," he said, while others come to hear the preachers, which, he quickly noted, "we greatly appreciate."

Still others come to be with friends and others to attend a certain type of socially acceptable event.

"And some come to pray," he said, noting that prayer is the central purpose of the church, quoting Jesus, "My house shall be called a house of prayer." (Mark 11:17).

Focusing on the second parable in the reading of the Gospel of Luke, verses 9-14, Bales identified two specific individuals and their individual approach to prayer, reflected in their attitudes.

The first man reminded Bales of some of the self-made men he has encountered during his lifetime. "Those self-made men are in love with their 'maker'" stated Bales, "they nearly always exhibit an arrogant spirit." Such was the case with the first man who, rather than thanking God for the blessings of his life, spent his time in prayer detailing all of the good things he had done for God, saying "God, I thank you that I am not like other men -- robbers, evildoers, adulterers -- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." (verses 11, 12)

The man, in this case a Pharisee, condemned everyone around him and had nothing good to say about his brothers.

"The more we think of ourselves," warned Bales, "the less we think of others." Perhaps this Pharisee had fallen victim to the common thinking of an arrogant man, that the more another failed, the better he himself became, Bales observed.

"He was standing on two false foundations," said Bales. Foundations of self-trust and self-righteousness. His attitude was such that Bales opined that he really didn't care whether God heard him or not, he pleased himself with his prayer.

Comparing the arrogance of the Pharisee to the humility of the publican, the tax collector mentioned in Luke's Gospel, Bales noted that the Pharisee used five personal pronouns demonstrating his goodness while the tax collector used just one, revealing in seven short words his deepest need.

"God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

Isaiah had a similar experience in approaching God, Bales reminded the 138 people in attendance, when he came face to face with God's holiness as recorded in Isaiah 6:1-6 "'Woe to me!' I cried. 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'"

"We must be honest enough with ourselves to say we have sinned," said Bales, because forgiveness is only granted to those who are humble enough to be honest.

Which of the two men who left the assembly that day had gained anything from God? wondered Bales. One man walked away with nothing more than he entered with, his own self-importance still intact, while the other left, leaving behind guilt and shame, having found the glory of forgiveness in his simple honest prayer.

Recalling the persistent widow and the unrighteous judge from the first of the two parables in verses 1-8, Bales makes two closing points.

"The Lord urges us, in the message of these two parables, not only to be persistent in prayer," said Bales, "but also warns that if the prayer can't be lifted with humility, don't even bother."

The Rev. Jon Albrecht, pastor at McCook Harvest Church served as the worship leader and Evie Caldwell was the organist. Sisters Laura and Amanda McCarty combined musical talents to perform "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)." Amanda played the piano while Laura sang the arrangement by Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, John Newton, Edwin O. Excell and John P. Rees. The song incorporates the sacred message found in the verses of Newton's classic Amazing Grace, with a passionate praise chorus.

The women's ministry at First Congregational Church served a selection of soups, sandwiches and homemade pies at the luncheon following the homily.

The weekly community event, sponsored by the ministerial association, continues Friday at 12:05 p.m., at Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Eddie Wright, pastor at First Assembly of God, examining the parable of the talents.

Free will offerings are accepted at the entrances to the sanctuary to benefit the work of the Red Willow County Ministerial Association and in the Fellowship Hall to help offset the cost of the food.