Growing in Prayer

Thesis: Praying up new servants

For kids: Mr. Potato Head Prayer

For kids: Mr. Potato Head Prayer

I want to be your hands

I want to be your feet

I'll go where you send me

I'll go where you send me

Prayer and Me

Prayer request brings a sense of security

Prayers requested for Grandma Betty

Telling her encouraging stories about Jewell Squires

Our short history of Prayer

Our short history of Prayer

1. Karen Fisher- Leadership Retreat 2015 - Challenge to Prayer

2. Glenda getting prayer chain / texts started again

3. Several major health concerns in congregation whose recipients became very active in sending in prayer requests for others

God didn't stop there

4. At least one small group that meets here in part to pray for our church and others

God didn't stop there

5. Group decided to pray with worship leaders before each Sunday Service

God didn't stop there

6. Meet team wants to take this on the road and do some prayer walks in our neighborhoods - if God has been tugging on your heart, speak with David McMahan about that.

That doesn't count the praying you all do outside of more official church functions

We have always been a praying congregation, and we have gone through seasons of prayer

Sometimes looking at our history of prayer might look like driving around some important landmarks

- focusing on Thanksgiving

- praying for others,

- praying for ourselves,

- spending time listening to God...

Going around these in a big circle

Through it all, God has wanted to grow our prayer and help us share it.

Where do we go from here?

What part does prayer play in our mission of making disciples?

Psalm 8 NRSV

To the leader: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; 4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? 5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Winepress song

Ancient winepress was a large vat of stomping people

human machine used to separate the good from the bad, the wine to be served in celebrations from the pods to be fed to cattle

Praise of infants - quoted by Jesus on Palm Sunday, the entry to Jerusalem

Praise as strength against enemies and avengers

This is a prayer of the vulnerable and the guilty

"What is man that you think of him?"

My study Bible points out that Job uses a similar phrase but with a different emphasis. Instead of wondering at God’s care, Job—in the midst of his suffering—wishes God would leave him alone ().

But God does care

As much as we care about and are responsible for the world, God cares more

This is a prayer submitting to God in our time of service and strength.

We have much to pray about, many requests, many needs, and we take prayer requests from anyone (at least I will)

What about God?

What are God's prayer requests?

"The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few."

Matthew 28:16–20 NRSV

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

When the church is growing by 7,000 new believers a week, we need more servants, more disciples.

When the church is dying by 7,000 new believers a week, we need more servants, more disciples.

We are not growing as United Methodists or as Christians in America

Fewer people have Christian funerals

Fewer people attend funerals

If nothing changes, 80% of pastors will retire from our conference in 5 years and most of them will not be replaced.

This year and almost 40 are retiring and we are bringing in about 10 new pastors.

Instead of raising up new disciples to lead the church, we have discovered it is easier to just close then.

At the going rate more than half our churches will close in the next 15-20 years.

Seasonal Challenges

Are you working for God this summer or are you taking time off?

It's okay to do different things in different seasons, but don't let the season, squeeze God out of your life.

Greatest commandment: Give God 10% of m my heart, soul, mind, and strength? No! All.

We are working for God, pressing one another in the wine press.

The good and bad will be separated in us.

The good can only grow if the bad is let go.

Do you want to just be 10% saved?

After you are gone, will people call you an "almost Christian"?

There are disciples to be made today and you are one of them.

The Spirit of God is ready to go. Are you?

Prayer

We want to be your hands

We want to be your feet

We'll go where you send us

We'll go where you send us