Sermons

“I guess all we can do is pray.”  This phrase has come to mean essentially “Hope for the Best”.  Has prayer dropped to such a place of last resort “he doesn’t have a prayer” kind of thinking? When this happens we tend to stop praying.  The bible has a different idea about prayer. It is powerful and essential.  It is of the first order, not just the last resort.  It is to be conscious and constant. In the closet alone and in the congregation with many.   You get the idea from the bible that prayer is to be central and powerful.

James 5:16-18 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

If prayer is so important where do we learn to pray and where do we practice?  That is WHY CHURCH MATTERS!  This Sunday you will learn some things about Christ that will jump-start your prayer life. You will also see why being a part of a praying community is so important for you. Please plan to come to one of the preaching services and bring someone with you.

Remember, we will be celebrating the Lord supper service this Sunday as we learn How the cross makes prayer possible.

I can’t wait to see you.
Blessings,
Joe

Small Group Questions

PRAYERFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES AND BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

Mat 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

1 Th 5:17 pray without ceasing;

• WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO PRAY?
• HOW BIG A PART IS PRAYER IS YOUR FAMILY CULTURE AND SCHEDULE?
• CAN SOME ONE FOLLOW JESUS AND NEGLECT PRAYER?
  

  Mar 1:35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.  Mar 6:46 After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

• WHAT GETS IN THE WAY OF PRAYING?
• WHAT HINDERS YOU FROM PRAYING WITH OTHERS?
• WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CORPERATE PRAYER AND GODS POWERFUL WORK?
  

  James 5:16-18  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.  Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

• WHAT DAY COULD YOU AS A GROUP GATHER FOR A HOUR FOR THE EASTER PRAYER EVENT?
• HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU NOW?