Lesson 9: The Church Rarely Prayed Together

Intro:

Traits noticed in autopsying deceased churches.

a. Slow Erosion

b. The Past became the Hero

c. The Church refused to look like their community

d. The budget moved inwardly

e. The great commission became the great omission

f. They became a preference driven church

g. Pastoral Tenure decreases

or if they stayed, the pastor did a hospice ministry of feeling good till the end.

Tonight, we examine the prayer lives of the churches.

rd 64, 65 & 66

Prayer and health go hand in hand.

there cannot be one without the other.

A New Testament Example

Jerusalem Church

Acts 2:42 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

What is the role and place of prayer in the early Jerusalem church in the context of ?

Acts 2:41–47 ESV

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

rd pg 67

What does it mean to be devoted?

ans: Oxford

Concise Oxford English Dictionary Devotion

love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person or activity.

They were faithfully committed to some disciplines:

apostles teaching

the word of God

the gospel message

Fellowship

living in relationships with each other

the bond of love

breaking bread

Lord’s Supper

Meals

prayers

Praying with and for each other

Not the Deceased Churches

read pg 68

Notice:

Fear replaced faith

Hope was lost

Most churches have times of prayer. w?hat is the difference between those churches that have meaningful prayer and those churches that do not.

Prayers which remained were more ritual than passion

Had the scheduled times

in services

before meals

Lacked passion

Lacked spontaneity

Why would a church’s failure to engage in meaningful prayer lead to its demise?

Ritual replaces relationship

No prayer leads to no power

We lack God’s leadership and replace it with substitutes

Prayerful Commitment

Lord, teach me to pray. Teach me to pray consistently. Teach me to be a leader in prayer in my church. And teach me to keep passionate and believing prayer as the lifeblood of this church.

Teach me

to pray

Make me person of prayer

Make prayer a vital part of my life

let me be

to pray consistently

Let prayer be regular in my life

Let me be consistent and faithful

be a leader in prayer

Lead others to prayer

Disciple them

Model prayer for them

Call others to prayer

keep passionate prayer as lifeblood

Insist we pray

Insist we have prayer in all we do

Conclusion:

Pray