Why Should We Pray?

This Sunday we will begin a new teaching series at the church. In this series we will be walking through "The Lord's Prayer" - a powerful model of a prayer given by Jesus, first to His disciples, and passed on to us through the Gospel message.

Yesterday, as we were concluding our worship service I gave a brief promotion about this series and closed with the question; "why should we pray?"

Last night as I struggled to drift of to sleep and then this morning, as soon as I woke up this question flooded my mind like a scrolling marquee


WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?   WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?   WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

This Sunday morning I plan to take off from this exact point - from this question. It is not that I struggle to answer this question - the Bible is flooded with reasons why we should pray - it is that I struggle to come to a brief and concise list of why we should pray.

Perhaps then, the question should be asked; "Why do YOU pray?"

What is the number one reason that YOU pray?

Do you always say what needs to be said?

Sunday, as I was preparing to leave for church, I stopped in the living room to pick up my Bible and my sermon notes. My daughter pointed to my notes and asked me; "What is that?" "These are my sermon notes", I responded, "this is what I think needs to be said in the sermon this morning".
She then asked;

 

"Do you always say what needs to be said?"

 

This question of hers has been on my mind all day. Do I always say what needs to be said?

• Do I always say what needs to be said in the sermon?
• Do I always say what needs to be said in life?

So, I will pose this same question to you today.

• Do you always say what needs to be said when someone is in need?
• Do you always say what needs to be said when someone is hurting?
• Do you always say what needs to be said when someone is fighting?

Jesus Christ is our answer. He is our hope, He is our salvation, He is our joy. He is everything!
 

 

"Do you always say what needs to be said?"


Questions from Jesus

A couple weeks ago we were in the middle of our sermon series "Evangelism Jesus' Way" with the focus on questions that Jesus asked in His evangelism efforts. what we found was that there were three questions posed by Jesus that really strike the heart, and these three simple questions sum up all His evangelism efforts.

Not only are these questions beneficial to us as we strive to fulfill the calling that Jesus left us with, that is to make disciples in His name, these questions must be asked to keep each of us on the straight path to becoming Christ's disciples.

For the first question we look to John chapter 1:

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

What do you want?

Jesus asks us, first and foremost; “What do you want?”

When we approach Him, He asks;

What are are your goals?

What are your aspirations?

What are your desires?

And if we respond that we desire Him, Jesus says “come, and you will see”.

Then, after we have seen, after we have witnessed His power and His glory,

He strikes us with another question.  

And for this question we look to Matthew chapter 22:

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Christ?

What do you think?

After we have seen Jesus,

after we have encountered His Spirit,

after we have experienced His love, peace, and joy,

Jesus asks; “What do you think?”

What do you think about Christ?

What do you think about Christ’s Truth?

What do you think about Christ’s will and my ways?

And, if you answer in the same way that Simon Peter did in Matthew 16,
“you are the Christ, the Son of the living God”,

Jesus will follow up in the same way He followed up with Peter, with a question.

For this final question we look to John chapter 21:

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” "Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Do you love me?

This is the heart of Jesus’ questions,

this is the goal of His evangelism efforts;

a deep love for Him.

So, Jesus asks us, “do you love me?”

Do you love me more than these?

Do you love Jesus more than your family?

Do you love Jesus more than your hobbies?

Do you love Jesus more than your addictions?

Does your love for Jesus exceed everything else?

Jesus’ evangelism came down to three simple questions:

What do you want?
What do you think?
Do you love me?

And for us, it comes down to three simple questions:

Do you desire Jesus?

Do you believe Jesus?

Do you love Jesus?

Ask yourself, and others, these questions today!

Some Questions

I love a good questions. Jesus taught a lot through well-constructed, well-timed questions.

Questions have the power to help us evaluate our behavior, motives, attitudes, and actions. Questions have the power to change lives and redirect futures. The other night I was up very late, unable to sleep, and I began writing pages of questions as they cam to my mind. Here are a few of those questions.

What is most important to you?

Where do you spend the majority of your time?

What do you spend most of your energy doing?

Who do you spend most of your time with?

What thoughts consume your mind?

What is your greatest talent or ability?

What do you hope to achieve with your life?

Why does God love you?

Who do you love?

Why do you love others?

What do others do that earns your love?

What Bible verse speaks to you the most?

What Bible verse comforts you the most?

What Bible verse encourages you the most?

What do you love about Jesus?

What does Jesus call you to do?

Who has God created you to be?

Who has God created you to love?

What does judgment mean?

How should God judge you?

How should others judge you?

How should you judge others?

What is your deepest secret?

Does God have secrets?

Should friends have secrets?

Should marriages have secrets?

What do you idolize?

What do you desire?

What inspires you?

What image are you keeping?

What keeps you from doing God’s work?

What is your stumbling block?

What breaks your heart?

Do you hate evil?

What are you addicted to?

Have you surpassed temptation?

Why are you tempted?

How are you tempted?

What is the process of temptation?

Who does your temptation hurt?

How are you overcoming temptation?

How are you fleeing from Satan?

How far is Satan from you?

What do your kids think of you?

What do you want your kids to think of you?

Do you want your kids to be just like you?

How can you better lead your kids?

Who do you want your kids to be?

What do you want your kids to become?

What are you tired of?

What are you tired from?

Why do you fall for the same trap time after time?

How can you overcome the trap before you?

What race are you running?

Who are you committed to?

Who are you aiming to please?

What influences are in your life?

Who do you surround yourself with?

What do you need to do away with in your life?

What do you need to do away with in your world?

Who do you need to do away with in your life?

GOD QUESTions

Our new teaching series at the Robinson Free Methodist Church is called GOD QUESTions. If you're in the Robinson, Illinois area between September and October 2010, stop by a join a loving, Christ-focused church family.

Through this series we will take an onest look at many of the questions that we all deal with. Questions about God on our quest for God.

Not only will this be a great teaching series for those unfamiliar with God and the church, it will give the more mature believers to gain a deeper insight.

Sunday September 12th - WHO is God?
Sunday September 19th  - Why do I need God?
Sunday September 26 - What can God offer?
Sunday October 3 - When I need God?
Sunday October 10 - Where can I find God?
Sunday October 17 - How do I walk with God?