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On Our Knees A Church on Her Knees

On Our Knees A Church on Her Knees. Acts 2:42; 4:24-31. The Priority & Practice of Prayer. How would you rate the current priority and practice of prayer in the life of ClearView Baptist Church?.

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On Our Knees A Church on Her Knees

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  1. On Our KneesA Church on Her Knees Acts 2:42; 4:24-31

  2. The Priority & Practiceof Prayer • How would you rate the current priority and practice of prayer in the life of ClearView Baptist Church? • What, in your opinion, needs to happen to strengthen the priority and practice of prayer at ClearView?

  3. Different Views on Prayer A wide range of thoughts and practices exist among believers and churches concerning prayer. • What are some things you have heard other people say about prayer? • In what ways have you seen prayer emphasized in small group Bible studies? • How have you seen churches emphasize the importance of prayer?

  4. A Church on Her Knees • Our goal today is to raise the level of the priority and practice of prayer at ClearView. • We begin today by looking at the prayer life of the early church. Acts 2:42; 4:24-31

  5. The Early ChurchPrayed Regularly 42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. • What was the priority of prayer among the early church? • What should the priority be for our class? • What should the priority be for our church? Acts 2:42

  6. The Early ChurchPrayed Instinctively The Book of Acts teaches us that prayer was the first instinct of the early church, not their last resort. • Is it important to pray for problems before they occur? Why? • Is it important to pray continuously for God’s will and direction? Why? “If we are more consistent in praying for issues when they are small we might not have to pray about them when they have been ignored and become HUGE. God would have answered earlier had we prayed earlier.” Mark Marshall (11/18/12)

  7. Lessons About Prayer 24When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, “Master, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. 25You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David Your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things? 26The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Messiah. 27“For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, 28to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had Acts 4:24-31

  8. Lessons About Prayer predestined to take place. 29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, 30while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness. Acts 4:24-31

  9. How Must Churches Pray The events in this passage took place after Peter and John had been arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin for their boldness in proclaiming salvation through Christ. This passage teaches us that: • Churches must pray with perspective by realizing who they are talking to (v. 24). • Churches must pray with balance by spending time in praise and adoration before getting to their petitions (v. 24). • Churches must pray specifically by asking for what they wanted – boldness (v. 29). • Churches must pray for results!

  10. A Church on Her Knees Hopefully today the Holy Spirit has prompted you with thoughts on how you can strength your own prayer life in light of the early church's teachings. As you spend time in prayer in the coming days, remember the lessons we have learned today from the early church: • Pray regularly • Pray instinctively • Pray with perspective • Pray with balance • Pray specifically • Pray for results

  11. Improvement Ideas The pastor has asked every small group to email him their top three suggestions for strengthening the priority and practice of prayer within ClearView. Reflecting upon our initial discussion and upon our study today, what shall I tell him are our top three suggestions?

  12. Prayer is a Privilege “Prayer is the privilege of those who already have God's favor.” Pastor Mark Marshall November 11, 2012 Let’s close today with a two-part prayer: 1) Praise, adoration, and gratitude for who God is, and 2) requests for strengthening the prayer priority and practice of our class and the church at large.

  13. On Our KneesA Church on Her Knees Acts 2:42; 4:24-31

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