This week, we will finish our nine-week series, 'Praying Together,' exploring the great power of communal prayer. Based loosely upon Mike Betts' book and course, 'The Prayers of Many,' our series aims to deepen our understanding and practice of praying together as a community.
‘On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”? But you have made it “a den of robbers”. (Mark 11:15-17)
Summary: God wants us to build His house after His design - a house of prayer for all nations
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The television channels, it seems, are packed with programs about changing homes or doing them up for people who believe that if they had the right view their lives would be complete.
Most of us have an opinion about our ideal home. It would be In the city. It would be in the countryside. It would be Modern or old-fashioned. the ideal home is Small or large. We also have strong opinions on how we would like it to be decorated. The homes we live in reflect us. Our personality and values will be revealed in our homes. Likewise, God has a very strong opinion about His house. In the Old Testament God gave very specific direction about how He wanted the Tabernacle and then the temple to be built and He raised up people with the skill to achieve this. Likewise, in the New Covenant era, God has strong opinions about how He wants His house to be built.
It’s vital that we don’t just build the church according to our taste. It’s important that we read God's word as to God’s design. Today, I simply want to say that He wants us to build a house of prayer for all nations.
RESPONSE
God wants us to build His house after His design - a house of prayer for all nations
Is prayer something that is important to you when you consider the kind of church you attend? Recently we had a ‘painting party’ in our church building because ‘more hands make light work’ as they say; likewise, have you joined your heart and gifts toward building a house of prayer for all nations?
COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY
1. NOTICES
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. ICEBREAKER
What has God been speaking to you about from His Word this week and how has this helped you / affected your life?
3. STUDY AND PRAY TOGETHER
Please read Mark 11:15-17
What have you been most inspired or challenged about during this Praying Together series?
What would it look like for a local church to be a house of prayer for all nations?
How can we each play our part in building a church community that has prayer at the heart of all that we do?
SIV - Pray together as we seek to be witnesses in the communities that God has put us into.
Pray together - Spend some time in prayer together. Ask the Spirit to guide you and pray and you feel led.