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Reasons Local Churches Dwindle Away

February 11, 2013 in Church, Prayer with 3 Comments

Number three is the one that really got my attention. You will have to click through to read it. But I think #3 is absolutely a central reason why many churches dwindle away.

Chuck Lawless writes:

I love the local church. It’s God’s church, despite its flaws. For ten years, I’ve had the privilege of consulting with churches seeking to grow. Here are my reflections of those years – one reflection for each year.

If you’re a pastor in a struggling church, be sure to read to the end.  I think you’ll find hope there.

  1. Churches often wait too long to address decline. Some churches don’t do regular checkups, and thus they have no means of knowing they’re sick. Others recognize the symptoms but choose to ignore them. By the time they admit decline, the pattern is so entrenched that reversing the trend is not easy.
  2. Statistics really are helpful. I realize that numbers can become an idol—and that we must fight against—but numbers do tell us something. Most often, they tell us to ask more “why” questions. Why has the church declined in attendance for five years? Why did the church reach 50 people last year, but attendance grew by only fifteen? Why has worship attendance in the second service plateaued?

Read the rest here.

 

Kevin DeYoung: Why pastors and elders need your prayers

January 21, 2013 in Prayer with 0 Comments

Kevin DeYoung:

Your pastors and elders need your help to live out the calling of Acts 6:4: “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Because everything seems more important and seems more urgent than being in the word and prayer. Everything.

What happens if all the lights are burnt out and the heat doesn’t work and the pews are upside down and the sound is off? People will notice. People will say something. People will be upset.

But what if . . .

Read the rest here.

Jesus’s Example of Prayer in the Gospel of Luke

December 18, 2012 in Prayer, Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Each time I read the Gospel of Luke, I am struck by the Lord’s example in prayer. This list is not exhaustive. It does not include, for example, Jesus’s emphasis on prayer in his parables.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22

16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Luke 5:16

12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. Luke 6:12

18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” Luke 9:18

28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. Luke 9:28-29

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Luke 22:39-46

 See also Julian Kinkaid’s, The Theme of Prayer in Luke. I don’t know this author, but I appreciated his summary.

Pray Like a Drunk?

December 11, 2012 in 1 Samuel, Prayer with 0 Comments

When was the last time you prayed this urgently?

I’m preaching this Sunday on the birth of Samuel: the third in our series, Ways in the Manger.

In the beginning of the narrative, Hannah longs for a child. She prays so urgently for a son that the priest, Eli assumes she is drunk. But Hannah assures him that she is as sober as a judge.

12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

Lest, we get the wrong picture, notice the text says Hannah was “speaking in her heart” – - – only her lips moved. So she was not blathering like Otis on the Andy Griffith show. Still, she was pouring out her soul so urgently that Eli thought she was looped.

We ought  also to notice what will become clear as the narrative progresses. The God of Israel truly was central for Hannah. She did not want a child who would become a small idol for her. I’ll have much more to say about that in the sermon.

I wonder when was the last time I prayed as urgently as Hannah? Is there ever a time when we pray so urgently because we are so concerned for the cause of Christ?

 

What should I do if prompted to pray for a stranger?

August 7, 2012 in Prayer with 3 Comments

If you sensed the Holy Spirit prompting you to pray for a stranger, what should you do?

I caught a short question and answer recently on a Christian television show – - – and I don’t even know the name of the show – - – The host was answering viewer mail and one of the questions was, “What should I do if prompted to pray for a stranger?”

The host emphatically answered that you should go ahead and make supplication.

So far, so good. I agreed completely. If prompted to pray for a stranger, then by all means, do it. Seriously.

But the television host went on to explain that he thought you should approach the stranger and ask permission to pray. So the scene might be one of walking up to someone in a Hy-Vee grocery story (“where there’s a helpful smile, in every aisle”) to say, “The Lord just prompted me to pray for you and I wondered if that would be okay?”

The host stressed that he has never had someone reject such a request, implying that he has, on numerous occasions, approached a stranger and said, “God just put it on my hear to pray for you . . .”

Really?

We  ought to break this down into two questions.

  1. If I feel prompted to pray for a stranger, should I do so?
  2. If I feel prompted to pray for a stranger, should I approach him or her and ask permission to have a word of prayer?

As I have posted in the past, I am a firm believer in secret prayers. Not only do I think there is a place to pray for strangers, but I have done so on numerous occasions. I have a small dream that when I get to the other side, I’ll be able to read the files on how secret prayers have been answered. But I don’t have a biblical defense of my hope. I just think it would be kind of cool. But heaven will be wonderful either way.

Anyway, if we really believe in the power of prayer, is it necessary to tell the person we are praying for him or her? Wouldn’t it be better to just pray?

And how wise is it to approach a stranger and offer prayer?

Thoughts? Under what circumstances?

Maybe there is a third question, “Should I expect the Holy Spirit to prompt me to approach strangers and ask permission to pray for them?”

See also:

The Value of a Place to Pray

 

 

Eric McKiddie: 3 Steps to An Encouraging Hospital Visit

July 30, 2012 in Church, Prayer with 1 Comment

It is not just pastors that should make hospital visits. Nearly all Christians should make hospital visits when appropriate.

But the what to do when you get there? Eric McKiddie has a very helpful 3 point summary.

Eric’s  list includes prayer and reading Scripture. You might be inclined to say, “Well, I am not a pastor so it will be a bit of a surprise if I read Scripture and pray. That is all the more reason, then, you should read Scripture and pray. Doing the unexpected offers a special opportunity to encourage.

  • As for what to read, the list could include Psalm 23, 32, 46; Romans 8:28 ff, John 14:1-6, Revelation 22, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, James 1:2-4, 5:7-20, or many other passages.
  • Use wisdom about how long the visit should last. Some hospital visits should be over in 15 minutes.
  • Pray and read Scripture early on in the visit. At the hospital, you never know when the nurses or doctors will show up for an extended time. I often say, “I want to make sure we read the Word and pray before we get interrupted. Those are the most important things. The we can visit for a bit.”

You can read Eric McKiddie’s post here.

Teach me, O God, so to use all the circumstances of my life today

September 11, 2011 in Prayer with 0 Comments

Teach me, O God, so to use all the circumstances of my life today
that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.

Let me use disappointment as material for patience;
Let me use success as material for thankfulness;
Let me use suspense as material for perseverance;
Let me use danger as material for courage;
Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering;
Let me use praise as material for humility;
Let me use pleasures as material for temperance;
Let me use pains as material for endurance.

- John Baillie,  A Diary of Private Prayer

HT: Trevin Wax

Warren Wiersbe: “He Knew I Was Pretending to be a Christian”

August 19, 2011 in Prayer with 0 Comments

Oh for more Sunday School Teachers like Everett Ostrom who taught the great pastor and preacher Warren Wiersbe:

Everett Ostrom was the pastor when I was confirmed. There were only three of us in the class, but he was faithful to teach us and pray for us. I didn’t known until years later that every Saturday after Confirmation Class, Pastor Ostrom would fall on his face on the study floor and weep over me and pray for me. He kwew I was pretending to be a Christian and he yearned to see me make a true decision for Christ.

A year later, the Lord answered his prayers (Warren Wiersbe, Be Myself, Wheaton [Victor Press, 1994], 20).”

The Basic Meaning of Prayer

August 11, 2011 in Prayer with 1 Comment

John Piper:

God is not looking for people to work for him, so much as he is looking for people who will let him work for them. The gospel is not a Help Wanted ad. Neither is the call to Christian service. On the contrary, the gospel commands us to give up and hang out a Help Wanted sign (this is the basic meaning of prayer). Then the gospel promises that God will work for us if we do. He will not surrender the glory of being the Giver.

 

In Desiring God, page 146.

Pray for these Waves of Change

July 8, 2011 in Missions, Prayer with 0 Comments

Justin Taylor summarizes four waves of change for which John Piper is praying:

  1. Putting world evangelization into the passions of a new generation.
  2. Weaving the dark thread of hell back into the fabric of our compassion.
  3. Blowing away misperceptions about what is needed in missions.
  4. Persuading pastors that a passion for the global glory of God is good for the saints at home.

Read an explanation of each here.

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