Foundations: Prayer - SERMON NOTES

Below are Pastor Ben's sermon notes from this past Sunday, in case they may be helpful for further study. To listen to the sermon, click the link above.

Intro: (1) series recap (2) prayer service (3) prayer connected to Christ (4) five ways to pray

All the time: (1) references in Acts, 1 Thess. 5:17 (2) set times of prayer vs. ongoing posture (cf. Brother Lawrence) (3) praying through calendar, praying through ups and downs (cf. James 5:13-14)

In the Spirit: (1) previous verse (2) Rom. 8:26-27 -- Spirit provides guidance, energy (3) guidance through connecting scripture to circumstance (4) energy when we can do little else (cf. airport friend, aging saints)

In many ways: (1) 1 Timothy 2:1 (cf. ACTS) -- applying this to Bible reading (2) double emphasis here suggests praying expectantly (cf. Philipp. 4:6-7) (3) what causes doubts for you (past disappointment, prolonged waiting, etc. (4) tendencies to pray only too big or only too small (5) stations

With alert perseverance: (1) Luke 18:1-5 -- often connected to Christ’s return (2) we lose heart due to unanswered prayer, life discouragement, distraction (cf. Donne in 1626) (4) overcome by remembering imminent danger of spiritual opposition (cf. Eph. 6, 1 Peter 5:8), praying with others, simple/honest/going

For other people: (1) importance of praying for others -- Paul’s personal request in v.19 (2) prayer for each other a key practice for biblical community -- grumbling vs. praying, only know how to pray by knowing one another (3) people in our path -- pastor vs. plumber

Conclusion: prayer cards