We have just finished the first sermon series of “Praying the Lord’s Prayer” to share a vision of a “Praying Church.” I could have begun my preaching ministry here at CUMC with another topic, but I chose this one intentionally. The simple reason is because I would love to see our church become a house of prayer. That’s it. I am sure you would too.
One of today’s great spiritual leaders, Richard Foster wrote “All too often, however, our churches are places for everything and anything except prayer. I say this with sorrow, for I believe it saddens the heart of God. True, we need to have our business meetings and our committee Letter from Esther Ruth meetings and our Bible studies and our self-help groups and our worship services, but if the fire is not hot at the center, these things are only ashes in our hands.” It is a sad statement, but how true it is.
Isaiah 56:7 says, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Being a “house of prayer” is more than simply saying “I agree.” It involves much more than just having an interest in prayer. It reminds us of our identity as a church and as Christians.
Why should I put the emphasis on this while we have so many other issues, such as financial difficulties, concerns about growth, etc? Because it is spending time with God, having a relationship with God that creates the loving relationship we need with God and with others, even with ourselves. I believe that’s why Richard Foster describes ‘the fire at the center.” When it comes to an issue of relationship with God, many of us think it is exclusively an individual exercise rather than an exercise that could also be done in unity. And, why prayer? God commands us to pray and Jesus himself modeled prayer in many places of Scripture. I am sure you have many reasons to pray.As I finished the first sermon series about “Prayer” I hope people take it not as one of many series only, but as a culture that we, as Christians should have. So that many continue to experience the power of the Holy Spirit who enables them to do God’s work through prayer.
And as a practice of prayer, during the month of October each week you will go home with a scripture passage: “Prayer the Scriptures” (which is printed either on a pumpkin or a fall leaf). Here are some guidelines for your Prayer the Scriptures:
1) First, read the selected passage of Scripture – reading it out loud allows you to both vocalize and listen to the passage.
2) Next, return to the beginning and re-read the Scripture – pausing to turn the passage into a prayer, applying it to your life and circumstances.
3) Then, if you don’t already have a prayer journal, begin one and record your discoveries.
4) Finally, on the backside of your Prayer the Scriptures (pumpkin or fall leaf) write down your prayer request, or joy, or thanks. And then bring them back to church the following week to hang on the Baobab Tree.
So this fall, our Baobab Tree will be born again as a Prayer Tree, as CUMC grows as a house of prayer