Prayer Pitfalls (9AM)

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Prayer Pitfalls (9AM)

August 8, 2021 • Matthew 6:5–15, Mark 12:38–40

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Prayer is a beautiful and mysterious event. How is it that we believe God wants us to pray (and in fact encourages us to pray), and that He listens to, and cares about, what we have to say? If you've prayed for many years, take a step back and consider the magnitude of what you are doing, what is actually happening, when you pray. Unless God is as Christian's believe prayer is either futile or questionable, and anything but certain.
But if Jesus is, as we believe, God among us, living, speaking, healing, teaching, then there is NOTHING futile or questionable about prayer. Jesus cares for us, loves us, and invites us to pray, and in fact He teaches us to pray. His teaching on prayer comes with divine authority.
Prayer is meant to be simple, natural, a conversation between us and our heavenly Father. Prayer does not require extensive training, or a seminary degree. Prayer is for amateurs.
This morning we will hear about the dangers and pitfalls of prayer. People with good intentions, myself included, often get confused, misguided, and make prayer into something it was not intended to be. Jesus is so patient. He not only teaches us how to pray, He also warns us what to avoid when we pray.
When a parent is a good parent they teach their children how to communicate with them and with the world. God is our good Father. He loves us so much that He even helps us learn the language, the rhythm, the heart of prayer.

The Prayer of a King (11AM)

September 5, 2021 • Curt McFarland, Alex Rule • 1 Kings 8:22–66

This morning brings us to a conclusion in our summer sermon series on prayer titled, “Lord, Teach Us to Pray.” Throughout this series we have asked the questions, “What is prayer? And How do we pray?” Prayer is both simple and profound. Prayer is conversation with our heavenly Father. Length of prayer and eloquence is not the priority, instead honesty spoken for the heart is. Prayer does not require special training or a degree, it is, and always has been, an amateur event. We pray because we trust the lovingkindness and steadfast love of God. Our prayer this morning is from 1 Kings chapter 8. Solomon, the son of King David, built the temple in Jerusalem. At the dedication ceremony Solomon offered a public prayer. The prayer is beautiful, expansive, pleading, and an affirmation of God’s commitment to His people. In this prayer Solomon remembers the promises of God and God’s desire for His people to love, serve, and welcome others (even foreigners). In our prayers may we recall the goodness of God and the opportunities we have at Grace to love, serve and welcome all in His name.

The Prayer of a King (9AM)

September 5, 2021 • Curt McFarland, Alex Rule • 1 Kings 8:22–66

A Prayer For Help (11AM)

August 29, 2021 • Curt McFarland • Psalm 13, Matthew 14:22–33

I’ve often heard people discount the honesty of a prayer uttered in desperation, a foxhole prayer. And yet, is it possible that just such a prayer may be the most honest of all prayers? In a moment of hopelessness, when we have nowhere else we can possibly turn, the reality of our situation and our deepest sense of what we believe is revealed. No posturing. No negotiation. Few attempts to save face. We find ourselves hanging in the balance between life and death without the luxury, the comfort, of keeping what we believe about God at a comfortable philosophical distance. The crisis we are in demands immediate action. We need help! In this morning’s passage a strange miracle takes place … Jesus walking across the water. The water is deep, the boat is struggling against the wind, those in the boat (many accomplished fishermen) sense the growing danger. And then they see Him, un-boated, walking towards them. They panic. A ghost! He has to reassure them. And then good, impulsive, passionate Peter asks a daring question and responds boldly. He steps out of the boat! For a moment all seems fine. Suddenly, the wind, the waves, the noise, the craziness of what he’s done sinks in, and so does he. There is a cry for help, a strong hand, a beautiful rescue. As we spend time in this incredible and true story may we find courage to cry out for help when we are in a desperate place, and a greater confidence in the One we cry out to.