Prayer in Acts, Part 9

Tonight is Part 9 of our study on prayer in the book of Acts.  The next two instances of prayer in the book of Acts occur as bookends to Paul’s first missionary journey.  At the beginning of chapter 13, the prophets and teachers in Antioch are fasting and praying (“ministering to the Lord and fasting,” it says), and the Holy Spirit calls out Barnabas and Saul.  The disciples obey through more fasting, praying, and sending them out, and the Holy Spirit does glorious things through them on that missionary journey.

At the end of chapter 14, Barnabas and Saul pray in each church that they have established, having appointed elders and committed these new believers to the Lord in Whom they had believed.  They return to Antioch and report all that God has done.  Clearly, this was His plan, and all for His glory.

 

Prayer in Acts, Part 9 – Prayer Meeting 03022016

 

Tags: Prayer, Prayer Meeting, Acts, Acts 13, Acts 14, Barnabas, Saul, Paul, Holy Spirit, Missions

Prayer in Acts, Part 5

Tonight we are walking through Part 5 of our study on prayer in the book of Acts.  We are doing this study at our church’s Wednesday night prayer meeting – letting each instance of prayer in Acts guide our own prayer time.

Tonight’s entire study is from Paul’s (Saul’s) conversion story in Acts 9.  Both Paul’s and Ananias’s conversations with God are prayers, and they illustrate the importance of listening during our times as prayer.  The prayer guide is attached below.  God bless you!

Prayer in Acts, Part 5 – Prayer Meeting 02032016

Tags: Prayer, Prayer Meeting, Acts, Acts 9, Paul, Saul, Ananias, Gospel, Conversion

Finishing Well

Here’s the link for a video and article that are very ripe for illustrative purposes – both for finishing well and for the value of Christian accountability in discipleship.

http://www.runnersworld.com/world-championships/infeld-euphoric-huddle-devastated-after-world-champs-10k

I won’t summarize the whole story because you can read about and watch it at the link.  Clearly, this could illustrate passages about running well, finishing our race, fighting the good fight, and more.  Don’t forget about narrative contexts that this could fit with – like the lives of Saul, Solomon, Uzziah, Judas Iscariot, or Ananias and Sapphira.

But on top of that, notice what Molly Huddle said after losing: “I thought there was no one battling me down the home stretch…”  Do you think she would have taken third place if she knew that Emily Infeld was right behind her?  I’m sure of it.  So, this story could also illustrate the Scriptural principle that we must “stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).  Molly’s awareness of someone “battling” her down the stretch would actually have caused her to win a medal!  That’s a good kind of battle, like iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17).

 

Tags: Saul, Solomon, Uzziah, Judas Iscariot, Paul, Ananias and Sapphira, Finishing Well, Discipleship, Accountability, Faithfulness, 1 Samuel 13, 1 Samuel 15, 1 Kings 11, 2 Chronicles 26, Proverbs 27, Matthew 26, Matthew 27, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 13, John 18, Acts 5, Philippians 1, 2 Timothy 4, Hebrews 4, Hebrews 10, Hebrews 11, Hebrews 12