First Christian Church, Owensville, IN
May 17, 2020
Quotes on prayer:
“We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth.”—Andrew Murray (1997). “Reaching Your World for Christ”, p.47, Whitaker House via azquotes.com
“The first rule for prayer, the most important first step, is not about how to do it, but to just do it; not to perfect and complete it but to begin it. Once the car is moving, it's easy to steer it in the right direction, but it's much harder to start it up when it's stalled. And prayer is stalled in our world.”—Peter Kreeft via azquotes.com
Adoration: Praise Sovereign God for His attributes, for who He is and what He is like in these passages:
Hebrews 13:15: Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. (NLT)
Hebrews 4:13-16: 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (ESV)
For ________________, Mighty God.
We give you praise! (Congregation)
Confession: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything in your life that is displeasing to Him and confess it to Him.
1 John 1:9: God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong. (GW)
Colossians 1:12b-14: He [God the Father] has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. (NLT)
I confess ______________, forgiving God. Hear our prayer. (If prayed aloud with others.)
Thanksgiving: Let us thank God for what He has done & does.
1 Peter 2:10: “Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.” (NLT)
For _______________, loving God.
We give you thanks. (Congregation)
Supplication (Humble Petitions) & Intercession:
1 Timothy 2:1-2: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. (NLT)
• Pray to our merciful God about anything/anyone the Spirit puts on your heart to pray.
For _____________, Merciful God.
Hear our prayer. (Congregation)
• After reading and thinking about the following passages, pray to our merciful God as the Spirit guides you.
1 John 3:1a: See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! (NLT)
1 Peter 2:4-5, 9: 4 As you come to him, … 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV)
For _____________, Merciful God.
Hear our prayer. (Congregation)
Benediction: The Lord’s Model Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13, KJV)