I'm beginning a sermons series called Christianity 101. Here are the topics for the seven weeks:
SEPTEMBER 16
1. Prayer – Part One: What is it and what does it do?
This sermon will help us answer the question, ‘Why do we pray?’
SEPTEMBER 23
2. Compassion: Acting on God’s Behalf
This sermon would be the one that relates to active ministry we all can do.
SEPTEMBER 3
3. Prayer – Part Two: How to Pray
This sermon helps answer the question, ‘How do we pray?’
OCTOBER 7
4. Bible Reading: Listening for God
This sermon will help us focus in on simply reading the Bible to hear God’s voice.
OCTOBER 14
5. Giving: Showing Allegiance
This sermon will be about how giving allows us to put God’s values before our own and thus learn to be on God’s side.
OCTOBER 21
6. Witness: Representing God
This sermon will present witness as listening for other’s need and then speaking of God.
OCTOBER 28
7. Worship: Touching God
This sermon will explain why corporate worship is important and what it is all about (1st God, then us).
So this Sunday's sermon is about prayer, in a general sense. I don't have scripture passages picked out, but I've got three very basic, but not easy, questions for you to think about. These questions are at the heart of faith and this is one of those weeks where I could really use your input. I'd love to hear how you might answer the questions after you've thought about them. Or maybe they've just created more questions in your mind that you'd like me to address in the sermon. So please leave a comment this week. As usual, you're welcome to keep it anonymous, but I'd like it even more if you'd sign your name and we could become more of a community discussion. Thanks, here are the questions:
- What is prayer?
- Why do we pray?
- What does prayer do?
4 comments:
WHAT: Prayer is a direct line of communication with God. It is a personal conversation with Him. Some people think that prayer has to be so formal or complicated but I feel that I can talk to God anytime, anywhere, about anything. Prayer is like talking to a very dear friend. You know that whatever you say will be listened to in an unconditional loving manner.
WHY: I pray to build a real and personal relationship with God. I know that I can talk to Him about anything. And the more I talk to Him the stronger the bond becomes. I can tell Him my worries, my needs, my sins. I thank Him for sending His son to die for me! God knows all my temptations as he was also tempted while on earth. I pray to get to the heart of God. I pray to build my confidence in myself and to learn patience. I have learned that what God answers with is not always the same thing that I had in mind.
WHAT PRAYER DOES: Prayer has built my faith. I have seen the way that God does answer prayers and am in awe of how powerful prayer can be.
I know that prayer is answered to help, forgive, encourage, build and renew. Each day at the hospital a prayer is read over the intercom. I am proud to be a part of a facility that is able to display their faith with so many different faiths represented.
WHAT: Prayer to me is personal time I take to talk, listen, reflect, and feel God. I connect with Him at all times and places in my day...the lines of communication are always open and He is always there to guide me and for me to talk to. Usually, even if I am not fully listening...His voice prevails! It has to...otherwise sin would overtake me! I am sure there are times in my prayer life when I could be quieted and slowed down to experience prayer more.
WHY: I pray because I depend and rely on God. Because He has authority in my life and I trust Him. I pray because He is my Counselor. I pray to praise Him and thank Him. I pray because He cares. I pray because He overwhelms me with love a lot of times!
WHAT PRAYER DOES: It reassures, it allows you to turn things over to an awesome, loving Father. God does answer prayers, in time, and not always the way we would expect. I like the saying that goes something like..."Stop telling your God how big your problems are and start telling your problems how big your God is."
WHAT: It is my time to connect with God. It can be done anywhere at any time. It can last a few seconds or hours.
WHY: I pray to reconnect with my faith. I can so easily fall into sin and be consumed by my stress and problems, but by taking it to God, those feelings are weakened. In a selfish perspective, maybe some pray to get what they want. God doesn't work like that. He may listen, but doesn't grant your wishes. In a world that is so caught up with "stuff", it's easy to loose sight of our true purpose in this world. To be a disiple to God.
WHAT: It calms me. It brings me back to reality and what is truly important. I may not get what I want, but I more clearly see the 'big picture' of life on Earth.
WHAT: Prayer to me is an attempt to communicate with God. Although I have never had communication with God and I can't really say I have ever felt his true presence within me, my faith lets me believe that someday I will. Prayer gives me the opportunity to help others. Lastly, prayer gives me inner peace.
WHY: I pray to God to someday hope that I can feel his presence. I also pray for guidance and to help live my life the way God had intended me to. Again, I pray for others, hoping someone will benefit from my prayer.
WHAT PRAYER DOES: I get a calming effect when I pray. All the stresses I encounter seem to go away when I pray. I hope prayer does so much more. I pray to God to help those truly in need. There's no way to be sure that my request is granted, but the thought that someone desperately in need of God's help is getting it because of my prayer is somewhat satisfying.
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