Although other basic values (worship, Bible Study, Scriptural meditation, journaling, fellowship, witnessing, giving, etc.) will be commented on in my blog in the future, I would like to first highlight the discipline of prayer and thereby also introduce our 242 Prayer and Worship Service which begins on Monday, September 11 (9.11) at 6:30 PM.
It’s been said that if you want to find out where you are spiritually, ask yourself this question: What is the level of my commitment to a life of prayer? Maybe you’ve also heard it said that no believer’s spiritual life will rise to stay above the level of his praying. As we read the Bible, there is no getting around the fact that God has ordained to work through prayer.
One of the basic values and core tenets of biblical, early Christianity, was the emphasis on corporate prayer. Early in the Book of Acts we read in Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (See also Acts 4:31; 6:6; 12:12; 16:25; 20:36; 21:5, as additional examples.) I believe that our church does a good job at teaching and preaching the whole of God’s Word, and the “apostle’s teaching.” We offer the Lord’s Supper – “the breaking of bread” – almost every weekend. Our TLC’s provide an excellent opportunity for studying the Bible and fellowship, and for prayer for that group. But what about a regular opportunity for corporate prayer as a whole church … beside the 3-4 minutes on a Sunday morning?
Is that enough? Better stated, “Is that what brings joy to God’s heart? Is that what God intended? Is that what there is to corporate prayer or can there be more? Is this a way that we could humble ourselves before God and look forward to receiving His blessing?”
What can be done?
