Idol-Worship Prayers

Is Prayer Worth It?

When you pray, what do you hope the outcome is? Maybe you’re praying for something specific, or about something that is happening soon. When you do, what do you hope happens next? Prayer is an interesting part of the Christian walk because regardless of what happens regarding what you prayed for, prayer is still worth doing. In the New Testament epistles, we are given some great examples of prayer, both how to do it and its purpose. And more often than not, the Bible isn’t too concerned with the outcome of prayer. Instead, Scripture points us towards the fruit of being a prayerful person, or, in other words, what comes out of a prayer filled life.

In this series, we’ll use the epistles to help us better understand how and why we pray. Whether or not what you pray for ends up how you wanted, it is worth to be a person who can’t help but pray.

2. Idol-Worship Prayers

Verse: Colossians 3 (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–19)

Big Idea:

Introduction

ICEQ | …

Series Summary

When you pray, what do you hope the outcome is? More often than not, the Bible isn’t too concerned with the outcome of prayer. Instead, Scripture points us towards the fruit of being a prayerful person, or, in other words, what comes out of a prayer filled life.

In this series, we’ll use the epistles to help us better understand how and why we pray. Whether or not what you pray for ends up how you wanted, it is worth to be a person who can’t help but pray.

Where We’re Going

Last week, we started back studying through Saul/Paul’s conversion. Prior to Acts 9, Paul knew what God wanted, but he didn’t know what he needed from God. Instead of just praying for what we want, Paul and his letters to the churches are examples of what prayer is supposed to be.

To help us learn that, we’re going to study through the NT epistles concerning prayer, and talk about a common way the people mis-use their ability to pray to God.

Introductory Questions

Before we do that, let’s talk about idols!

Q | …

Think Over Activity

{trying to capture the idea that idols are everywhere}

White Board Time: Idol Activity (~4 Minutes)

Q | What might it look like?

Q | What would it do?

Q | How would someone offer to it?

Q | How would it respond?

Getting Into The Text(s)

Idolatry is a real concern for the early Church because many of them are coming out of idol-worshipping communities, with tangible idols. But here’s the thing:

The problem with idol worship isn’t the tangible statue or image, it is the reliance on and expectation that life revolves around meeting your Earthly needs.

In other words, the things that I need, I need someone or something to take care of those.

In the OT world, that meant looking for other idols or gods to do that.

But the problem can persist even if you’re talking to God.

Let’s see what that looks like in Colossians.

Paul wrote to the church in Colossae to fortify it against false teachers who might try to impose strict rules about eating and drinking and religious festivals. Paul shows the superiority of Christ over all human philosophies and traditions. He writes of Christ’s deity (“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” [1:15]) and of the reconciliation he accomplished with his blood. He explains that the right way of living in this world is to focus on heavenly rather than earthly things. God’s chosen people must leave their sinful lives behind and live in a godly way, looking to Christ as the head of the church (1:18). Paul wrote while in prison, probably about the same time as he wrote to the Ephesians.

Read Colossians 3:1–4 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Think About It | …

Q | …

…

Q | …

 Read Colossians 3:5–8 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”

Wait A Second | These things he wants them to put away, those are sins.

Q | What does sinful actions have to do with idol worship?

We talked about sin over the Spring semester. Sin begins when your actions are influenced by your desires, not by what God has designed for you to do.

Idol worship is exactly that, structuring your life around the fulfillment of your desires. Yes, even desires that seem good.

Q | How could something good be idol worship?

Read Colossians 3:15–17 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Did You Catch That? | Instead of following your desires with your heart, Paul says take action to be thankful in your heart.

Prayer shouldn’t only be, God I need. It should be, God you give me everything I need.

…

… Sometimes when it comes to prayer, we can spend so much time on the thing that we’re asking for that we forget that asking for things is not why we pray.

In Colossians 3, Paul puts it this way (we’ll explore this together in a couple weeks). Paul says, when it comes to …

If you think your life hinges upon a need, you're missing the point.

All of that is worthless in comparison to knowing Christ Jesus his Lord.

Conclusion

Prayer is worth doing not because you get something out of it, but because your life depends on it.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–19 ESV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.

Q | Why does Paul say you should pray?

Two to three sentence re-statement of the conclusion statement.

What should we walk away from these readings having understood?

How does it fit into our series?

How can we contemplate this throughout the week?