Prayer: June Study Series

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

We will spend the entire month of June studying and reflecting on the topic of prayer. The children’s ministry will have a specially tailored program for kids on prayer, and Adult Ministries will do a five-week study on the topic entitled, “If My People Will Pray.” We will follow the guidelines given in that study to also lead our reflection on Scripture each week during worship, followed by a Sunday Adult Bible Study in the chapel from 10:20am to 10:50am. We will also have regular volunteers who will be at the church on Wednesday mornings at 10:30am and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the chapel to bring us together to pray as a community. We are excited about this program and look forward to the ways God will use it to bless our community. 

The new series uses of the A.C.T.S. model. ACTS stands for adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. In essence, for those who might be unsure what prayer should be in our daily lives, or for those who are looking to refresh this part of their life as disciples, the ACTS model gives us a guide that faithfully models prayer for everyone. We hope all will consider taking part in the study, the prayer session, and reflect on all this during our worship services. 

Prayer is inextricably tied to joy. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul commands the community to rejoice always and pray continually. Prayer isn’t treating God like a cosmic vending machine who will give us what we want when we want it. Prayer, first and foremost, roots us in what God is doing and gives us the place to come to grips with God’s will for our lives. In light of God’s sovereignty, we can rejoice in all circumstances, good or bad, through prayer because we are asking that God give us the strength to persevere. This makes complete sense of how Paul then goes on to tell the community to “give thanks in all circumstances.” 

Prayer, grounded in adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, not only allows us to grow in trust, allows us to see our part in what God is doing in Jesus. We know well that God’s intention in Christ is to reconcile the world to God’s self (2 Corinthians 5:19). Here, prayer teaches us not only to trust God in Christ in all circumstances, but that through us, through our suffering or our triumphs, God will be glorified, and we will be taken up into this work of reconciliation. 

Please plan to join us in June for this study. We pray you will be blessed.