Untitled Sermon

Tonight’s Passage: Ephesians 6:18

Pedagogical Idea:

I. Intro

1.) Attacking the Why video.

2.) As we dive into this new series of Attacking the Why, we are desiring to understand why we do things in the church and our Christian life. Why does Scripture call us to be praying, be giving, be baptizing, be appointing elders and deacons, and more. [Attacking the Why Slide]

3.) Prayer is the lifeline of your journey with God. [Slide] [Note]

A.) Lifeline #1: Prayer provides perseverance. — Romans 12:12 [Slide] [Note]

a. Reword (Exegesis)

i.

b. Integrating Into Community (Put Into Practice)

i.

c. Recap Lifeline (Set-up Next Point)

i.

B.) Lifeline #2: Prayer provides personal guidance. — Romans 8:26-27 [Slide] [Note]

a. Reword (Exegesis)

i. 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

1. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

a. Sometimes we are not sure what to pray for that would be the best for us.

i. Ex. Storm in Ecuador where I prayed for it to pass, but God also taught me trusting Him.

b. We may be praying toward something that God doesn’t desire for our lives.

i. Praying that I would end up with Ally, but God meant for me to be w/Bri.

2. Hebrews 7:25 talks about how Jesus is also coming before the Father on our behalf.

a. 25Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.

i. God the Father is not foreign to our deepest desires and pains.

1. He is actually the best one for hearing your joys and hardship.

b. Integrating Into Community (Put Into Practice)

i. 1 minute to pray for personal guidance. [Music slide]

c. Question? (Set-up Next Point)

i. Prayer provides personal guidance.

C.) Lifeline #3: Prayer provides alertness. — Ephesians 6:18 [Slide] [Note]

a. Reword (Exegesis)

i. We live today in a world that is constantly telling us to:

1. Ignore the teachings of the Bible completely.

a. Easier to identify when we compare it to the Bible’s teachings.

2. Twisting the Bible to fit their personal views.

a. Harder to identify because it has partial truth and partial lie.

ii. 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alertwith all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

a. Stay alert!

i. We stay alert by…

1. Consistently reading God’s words.

2. Consistently having mentors in your life.

3. Consistently having communication with God in every situation through prayer.

a. Dedicated time to pause and pray.

b. In random moments, pray.

i. This allows you to constantly listen to the Spirit.

c. Ex. Randomly asking God to give me wisdom, peace, strength, love, etc.

b. Integrating Into Community (Put Into Practice)

i. 1 minute to pray for alertness. [Music slide]

c. Question? (Set-up Next Point)

i. Prayer provides alertness.

D.) Lifeline #4: Prayer provides care for others. — James 5:16 [Slide] [Note]

a. Reword (Exegesis)

i. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.

1. Prayer can feel like an easy way for us to communicate our desires and feelings to God.

2. However, prayer is not merely to be for our benefit.

a. It is also meant to be for the benefit of others!

b. We are called to pray on the behalf of others.

i. Praying for their joys.

ii. Praying for their hardships.

iii. Praying for their concerns.

iv. Praying for their development.

c. When we pray for others, we are able to participate in seeing God work even that much more!

b. Integrating Into Community (Put Into Practice)

i. 1 minute to pray for others. [Music slide]

c. Question? (Set-up Next Point)

i. Prayer provides care for others.

E.) Lifeline #5: Prayer provides boldness. — 1 Thess. 2:2 & 1 Jn. 5:14 [Slide] [Note]

a. Reword (Exegesis)

i. 2On the contrary, after we had previously suffered and were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition.

1. The reality is that we will face opposition or even persecution for why and what we believe.

2. We shouldn’t be surprised by this. Even Paul was saying that he experienced it here in 1 Thessalonians.

3. We will face opposition, but we can walk through it will confidence.

a. Prayer is the means by which we can receive boldness.

b. You are able to express to God your concerns or fear of man, and then ask for boldness to carry out your calling.

ii. 14 This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.

1. Once again, be reminded and take encouragement that God hears you especially when we pray according to his will.

a. How do we pray according to his will?

i. Listening to the Spirit.

ii. Being in conversation with God.

1. The more we are in communication; the more we will be attune to God’s desires.

2. Ex. More I get to know and love Bri; the more I am able to know what she longs for.

b. Integrating Into Community (Put Into Practice)

i. 1 minute to pray for boldness. [Music slide]

c. Recap Lifeline

i. Prayer provides boldness.

d. Now What? (Put into practice)

i. What prayer lifeline do you need to grow in right now? [Slide]

1. Perseverance?

2. Personal guidance?

3. Alertness?

4. Care for others?

5. Boldness?

ii. Think through how you could use prayer tonight. Ask! [Slide]

1. Ask your leaders for this tonight!

iii. Prayer is the lifeline of your journey with God. [Slide]