Reflecting on a week of prayer
Posted on June 23, 2011 by Pastor Tom
“That was great. Why don’t we do that more often?” I heard that among other comments as we came together last night after a week in prayer. Nearly 40 believers gave an hour and a half on a beautiful summer evening to pray together, share and write. I will be looking over and reflecting on what was shared as we continue to seek God’s wisdom for us as a church family. Already, I see the fruit of people discovering afresh or anew that they can find time to pray just by shutting down some time wasters.
But more than that, I sensed an engagement and anticipation to what the Lord might show us next. If you’re an SVBCer who participated in prayer week but couldn’t come last night, please forward me your answers to these questions:
What did God impress upon you this week?
What Scriptures spoke most to you?
For those of you outside of our church who prayed for us through this week, thank you! I pray you can lead or initiate something similar in your fellowship.
In the meantime, here’s a couple of quotes from the week:
“I need to seek the Lord’s wisdom more and more through prayer and Bible reading. I often find myself trying to work out things before praying.”
“I yearn for signs of unity and love between believers.”
A week of prayer for SVBC - Coming Together
Posted on June 22, 2011 by Pastor Tom
Join us tonight in the Fireside Room at 7:30 PM
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 – 7:30 PM – Fireside Room
• Coming together to pray and share.
o Opening Prayer – Thanking the Lord for prayer; fellowship with Him and each other.
o Sharing Together – Did God impress anything upon you during this time?
o Continuing Prayer – Seeking the Lord for His wisdom and next steps.
A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 7
Posted on June 21, 2011 by Pastor Tom
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 – Seeking the Lord’s Wisdom
• As we seek God’s next steps for us, many ideas have been put forward. We need His wisdom for His priorities and direction for us.
• So reflect on the wisdom of God described in 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:16.
• Then ask for the Lord’s wisdom for us as a body.
A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 6
Posted on June 20, 2011 by Pastor Tom
Monday, June 20, 2011 – Lifting up our Unity
• One mark of the true church is its unity under Christ. God has the ability and power to bring people from incredibly diverse backgrounds together and make them one because of Christ.
• Jesus declared that our unity is testimony to the world about His coming.
• Read John 17:20–23; Ephesians 4:1–6.
• Pray for the unity of SVBC.
A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 5
Posted on June 19, 2011 by Pastor Tom
Sunday, June 19, 2011 – Lifting up our worship
• If there is one thing our enemy does not want us to do, it’s worship the Triune God. Yet when we engage in true worship of the Lord together, there are few things more beautiful.
• Daniel 7:13–14 gives us a picture of God in front of His messengers while the Son of Man takes a seat beside Him. This is who we worship. In John 4:21–24, Jesus describes worship. True worship is giving God glory with our minds and hearts.
• Spend some time in these passages. Then lift up our worship to the Lord.
A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 4
Posted on June 18, 2011 by Pastor Tom
Saturday, June 18, 2011 – Lifting up the people
• God draws people into His family from all different walks of life. We may have little in common with others in the church. Yet, we all have Christ in common. He has a role for each one of us to play.
• So spend some time in Romans 12:1–13
• Then lift up Christ’s Body, the people of SVBC.
A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 3
Posted on June 17, 2011 by Pastor Tom
Friday, June 17, 2011 – Lifting up the Leaders
• Christian leadership is a high calling and high responsibility. One way the enemy wages war against the Lord is by attacking church leaders and their families.
• Spend some reflecting on 1 Timothy 3:1–13; Hebrews 13:17
• Then lift up our Pastors, Elders, Servant Team and Staff.
A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 2
Posted on June 16, 2011 by Pastor Tom
Thursday, June 16, 2011 – Reflecting on the church
• What is the church all about? Why does it exist?
• Spend some time in Matthew 28:16–20; Acts 2:42–47; 4:32–37.
• Then ask the Lord to continue to make us into the church He desires.
• Ask Him to expose any spiritual stagnation and buoy up any who might be discouraged.
A week of prayer for SVBC - Day 1
Posted on June 15, 2011 by Pastor Tom
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 – Confessing our prayerlessness
• We are in a spiritual battle. The enemy does not want SVBC to be a church the Lord can use to advance His kingdom. He does not want us to pray.
• Read Ephesians 6:10–20 to be reminded of this reality.
• Then come clean before God – Confess any prayerlessness in your own life – Ask for strength to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”