Prayer, Evangelism and Worship

The two emphases of Ephesians 4:1-6 are: (1) Take care of your spiritual life (v.1-2)  (2) and take care of church life (v.3-6).     To take care of your spiritual life,   you have to allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate humility , gentleness , patience , and forbearance .   This week, make a choice to pay attention to these characters.  The Lord promises great rewards to those who follow this path.    God grants these characters for the benefit of the church - so that the church is united.  In a symphony, all instruments have to be tuned.  Each instrument tunes to a tuning fork.  Coming together as a church and even for small groups allow us to be fine-tuned together in one direction.  This is despite our differences .   May you have an opportunity this week to share with your small groups about the transformation in your life and how God is uniting his church.  

You are probably reading this thinking, 'finally, a way to get me going in my prayer life."   I hate to disappoint you, but there's no silver bullet in praying.   No novena, Tajima hall, beads or program can enhance your prayer life but your determination to be with God.   John Piper 's observation of how to pray is this:  "I get in trouble sharing to people how I pray - where the solution to their prayer life is their love relationship with God."  The truth is that's where it all begins.    Prayer is your love relationship with God .  "Father, I'm so excited about today.  I want to look out for how you will reveal yourself to me through my situation, the people I meet, and the struggles I face. Help me not to forget you especially when it becomes busy.  I love you."     Prayer is introducing others to have a love relationship with God .  What essential prayers can you do for people?  Is it money, healt...

"Believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem...Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks."  John 4:21,23 Zoom Worship can pose a great challenge.  I hope that this article can help ease your preparation for Online worship.    Host, Co-Host, Participant Survey who can and cannot connect.  In the age of smartphones - there really is no excuse for any grandma or child not connect to engage worship.   Open room early.   There are members who need help to connect, opening the room early can give them peace of mind.    Make sure you are wired connect.  Wi-fi is ok but if you are a host, co-host, or have a role in the program, the last thing you want is a lag because of your connection.  Remove possible audio and video distractions.  Rooste...

Updated:  08/20/2020.  After reading the declaration, this article should have been titled, "Alternatives To (no) Singing At Church"  Singers on the stage can sing with restrictions and it does not update former restrictions for the congregation, for which I assume that masked congregants can sing.  What's your take.   Article:  08/19/2020 Oahu Hawaii is the latest city that has  received restrictions  of mandatory masks, no singing, or wind instruments  for in-person spiritual services.  Read the actual mayor's declaration taken from pages 23 - 24.  It is helpful for you to interpret this on your own and come up with your alternatives.   ...Any person(s) singing and/or playing a wind instrument, etc. shall maintain physical distancing of at least ten (10) feet from any other person(s) while singing and/or playing a wind instrument. etc. Members of the same performing group singing and/or playing a wind i...

Theologians in the " total depravity of man " “To teach men that they possess the ability to turn from sin when they choose to do so is to hide the true extent of their need.” ―  Iain H. Murray,  The Life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones - 1899-1981 “So then, let "Deserved" be written on the door of hell, but on the door of Heaven and life, "The free gift" (68).” ―  Richard Baxter

Introduction:  From the past weeks, we have been looking at Paul's overwhelming prayers for the church of Ephesus.  There were two reasons that drove Paul to pray for the church.  He wrote, " This is why, since I heard about your faith the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers."   (Eph. 1:15).  Here are the two things that is Paul's prayer focus:  faith in the Lord Jesus (salvation of people) your love for all the saints (growth of the church) Last Wednesday, we focused on evangelistic praying.  Today, we focus on Discipleship Praying and we ask the questions, what are the things that I can pray for the church.  Below are ten scriptures that dictates what you and I can pray for the church.   At the end of this session, we will go to small groups and actually pray.  Here are the 10 things to pray for the church:     1....