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Pray for Students
It is our custom to frequently invite people up to the front so that we can bless them with encouragement and support. We do this with our mission teams. We do it with newborns and their families. Every Sunday we invite people to ask for a prayer with our shepherds.
Why? Because it is encouraging. Because one of the greatest ministries of Gods people is prayer.
True prayer is one of the most powerful actions of the people of God. Jesus taught his disciples to pray that Gods will be done on heaven as it is on earth. James, the brother of the Lord, teaches us the fervent prayers of the righteous can accomplish much. Elijah prayed and the results were amazing
True prayer is also one of the most humble actions of the people of God. For in prayer, we bring nothing special into the activity. Our ability to pray, the quantity of our faith, our station and status none of these truly matter when we are addressing the creator of the universe. We are all the same in prayer. In fact, it is because of Jesus Christ and his Spirit in our hearts that we have a hearing with the Lord and Creator and may address him as Father. Grace gets our foot in the door, grace inclines the Fathers ear, and it is by his grace that he acts.
So we are inviting our children, teachers, and school workers to participate in and to be the focus of the powerful prayers spoken by humble hearts. Seek the blessing that is freely given and fully powered by Gods spirit. When Jesus was troubled on the night he was arrested and betrayed, he wanted his disciples to pray for him. (They did not). Paul the Apostle, a leader and builder of congregations a man of authority, frequently sought the prayers of saints. He asked those whom he baptized and taught to pray for him. Why shouldnt we ask for prayers from one another? Why would we refuse?
We pray for children because it is one of the commitments that we have made. West-Ark is a congregation that cares for Kids. We care about students also campus, kids, healing, and hope. We pray for healing, we pray for hope. We also pray for the campus and for kids.
Pray for College Students, Teachers, School Workers
We are inviting everyone to participate in the ministry of prayer this school year. Jesus taught his disciples to pray. The apostles devoted themselves to the ministry of the word and prayer. The fellowship of the first generation church included breaking bread and prayer.
To make it convenient for you we have assembled prayer cards with the names of the some of the people who were standing up here. Please take some of these cards home with you stick them to your fridge, stick them to your computer, inside your car just wherever it will remind you to pray for that person. Please collect at least one card on your way out today you can get more than one of course.
As I said earlier, every Sunday we invite people to ask for a prayer with our shepherds. We call this next song, the song for responses. We are inviting you to respond with your need for prayer or with a thanksgiving. Our shepherds are here or in Room 100. Just ask them to pray for you and they will be glad to do so.
Let me ask you to think about your response to what God has done for you in Jesus Christ. The greatest of all blessings is to know that you are redeemed in Christ. To know that your sins are forgiven and you have eternal life. We respond to Gods gracious redemption in baptism. Its not a work that we do to earn salvation it is the response of a repentant heart that trusts in what God has done in Jesus Christ. If you have never been baptized I want you to know that it is easy to respond to God in baptism. You can do that today.
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