Prayer – Face to Face with God

Sunday teaching series in February

This series explores the delights and the difficulties of prayer. During prayer, we are face to face with God. God is the only person from whom we can hide nothing. Before him, we will unavoidably come to see ourselves in a new, unique light. Prayer, therefore, leads to self-knowledge that is impossible to achieve any other way.

Date Scripture  Sermon Theme Listen Notes
February 6 Ephesians 3:14-20 Friendship with God Podcast Prayer, for some, seems to be a waste of time. For others, it seems to be a wellspring of life and come as easily as breathing. How do we know with certainty that God hears our prayers? If God hears our prayer, why are some prayers answered and others ignored?
February 13 Lamentations 3:1-3 & 22-26. Prayer in a Minor Key Podcast Guest Preacher Rev. Dan McNerney. Praying is vital even when God seems silent in the face of suffering and pain.
February 20 Ephesians 6:10-20 Intercession: The Greatness of Prayer Podcast One of the most loving things we can do for others is to pray for them.
February 27 Luke 11:1-10 Persevere in Prayer The operative word in this parable on prayers is “persistence”— literally “shamelessness.”

The ACTS Prayer Model

On January 30, 2022, Rev. Dr. Raymond Hylton spelled out the ACTS prayer model during his Sunday sermon. Here is a reminder of how that works:

A – Adoration: We bring glory and praise to God, acknowledging his greatness in each of his three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

C – Confession: Acknowledging where we have failed in walking in the ways we are called, we confess our sins, trusting completely in his desire to forgive them, and in the completeness of that forgiveness through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

T – Thanksgiving: We recall God’s specific goodness to us as individuals, as members of families, groups, and institutions, and as part of the local and universal body of Christ. We give thanks for the provision we have received and for the blessing of God’s presence in our lives.

S – Supplication: Knowing that God loves us, we bring our cares and concerns, desires, dreams, and needs, as well of those we know, love, work with, and are part of community with. We pray for our leaders at all levels of responsibility, from small group leaders to heads of state.