September 21, 2014
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series on “All My Day: A Summer of
Prayer”
Inspired by Marcia McFee
Sermon 12 of series-
“The Empty Cross”
Luke 11:1-13 The Disciples Literal NT
Philippians 4:4-9 The Disciples Literal NT
“Jesus’
Prayer”
Let us pray. . . (Pray for God’s illumination. . . )
I was talking with Terry
Pettengill after our book study a couple of weeks ago I think , and we were
talking about the Lord’s Prayer. She
was telling me that she was reading that at noon time, there are Christians all
around the world that have made a commitment to recite the this pray. There are
people all around the world that come into agreement with each other and rise
up their voices so that God’s Kingdom
will come on earth as it is in Heaven. . . We are talking Protestants, Catholics,
Baptist. . . and the like. I have decided that it is something I want to agree
with and I have begun to pray that prayer with all those other voices. It has
been awe-inspiring to think that I am agreeing with not only God but with God’s
children. . . my brothers and sisters in Christ. . . all around the world. What miracles happen
when God’s children come together for His glory. . . ?
This summer, we have been
working though the prayer beads that were made as a way to helps remind us what
we should be praying for. I can’t believe we have reached the end of our
strings of beads. It really has been a summer of prayer. Our beads have lead us
through many twists and turns but it has been wonderful traversing the road
with each of you this summer. Let’s recap. . . the Gold Bead. . . which reminds
us to begin with adoration . . . .the bumpy beady. . . .that is to remind us to
let go and let God. . . .the embrace of silence with the “holey Bead” . . . the steeping
stone bead. . . our journey of faith. . . The next one. . . the black...the black and
white...the gray bead...reminds us to bring our spiritual struggles to God. . .
.and the green bead, represents concern. . . not worries but concerns.
How about that red bead.
. . the one that lets us know that we
need to pray for the lovable and not so lovable people in our lives. . . even
those who do us harm. Then there is the three purple beads on the
string...the ones that remind us to pray for those “who are standing in the
need of prayer.” And we are
not just limited to the three beads. . . they are there to remind us that there
are those who are needing...waiting...for our prayers for and about them. The green bead from last week is
all about praying for those around the world. . . praying for the worlds
situations. . . praying down God’s “kingdom
come on earth as it is in Heaven”. . . The
next bead is the fiery red bead from last week. This bead is the one that we
ask God to work through the Holy Spirit in us so that we will use our gifts and
talents to and for His glory. . . to “step out of our comfort zone” and use the
Spirit within us to “go forth
and make disciples of all nations.”
So.
. . we have finally reached the last bead. . . the empty cross. This bead
brings it all together. With this bead we are agreeing with God’s plan for the
world and are trying to bring about change. As we end our time in “bead
Prayer” this cross is where we pray the Lord’s Prayer. As we pray
this prayer we are rededicating ourselves to be the hands and feet of Christ
and pray for God’s reign over all the earth as it was in the beginning.
So why is it called the Lord’s Prayer you may ask. It is called
this because it is the one that He taught His first disciples as well as those
who have come after them. From the Scripture from Luke this morning shows us,
when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He answered them with this prayer.
But not only did He answer them, He told them that if they know how to do good
and give good gifts to their own, being sinful and all, how much more will God
give to His own. And we not only pray once for something, we need to keep
asking until it is answered. . . and it
will be answered. . . We have talked
about how we need to keep praying throughout this whole sermon series this
summer. We are to trust that God hears and will answer. Even when we don’t see
God at work, we know and believe “that
all things are working-together for good for the ones loving God, the ones
being called ones according to His purpose.”
In the letter to the people
of Philippi, Paul talks about this praying without ceasing. . . The scripture is found in Chapter 4 verses 4-9.
Listen to the Good News about our prayers. . .
Philippians 4:4-9 Disciples’
Literal New Testament (DLNT)
Be Rejoicing In The Lord,
Kind To All, And Praying To God
4
Be rejoicing in the Lord always; again I will say, be rejoicing. 5 Let your
kindness[a] be known to all people. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious-about
nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgivings, let your
requests be made-known to God. 7 And the peace of God surpassing all
understanding will guard[b] your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Be Considering And
Practicing All That Is True And Commendable
8
Finally, brothers, be considering these things— whatever things are true,
whatever things are honorable, whatever things are right, whatever things are
pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are commendable, if there is
any virtue, and if there is any praise. 9 Be practicing these things which you
indeed learned and received and heard and saw in me, and the God of peace will
be with you.
WE know. . . trust. . . believe.
. . have faith in the fact that God is for us so who can be against us. As we
“agree” with God’s purposes we will see miracles happening around us. . . and
even if we don’t “physically see it” we know by faith that it is happening. But.
. . but. . . we need to come into
agreement with God and with each other. As we pray in faith, as we come together as
one, God’s glory and purpose is released upon the world and we will see His
mighty acts in Christ Jesus. If we would but
just believe. . . believe in the power of the prayers of the called. . . .the
prayers of “a righteous man.” And we are
all made righteous not by our works but by the work of God that was done one a
cross on Golgotha’s Hill. . . Marcia
McFee states. . . and I come into agreement with her statement. . . An empty cross at the end of the strand is
the final word. . . the Risen Christ
lives in us as we move through the world as his Body. We sing and pray the
Lord’s Prayer together in worship today as we have prayed it separately
throughout the summer in our personal prayer devotions. This is the exclamation
point on this Summer series and we celebrate God’s presence in “All My Days!” (by
Marcia McFee)
People of Christ’s church. . . my people. . . can we agree on
this. . . can I get a witness here? Maybe. . . jut maybe. . . as we pray the Lord’s Prayer and rededicate ourselves
to God’s vision of the world, we can affect a change. As we pray “Thy
Kingdom come, Thy will be done” we will be changed and empowered by our own
words and the words of those who come into agreement with us. Perhaps if we. .
. as we. . . surrender our wills to Gods will and pray this Disciples Prayer we
will be transformed from the inside out. "Ask
and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be
opened to you.” As we pray “all our days” just imagine the fear
that will be felt by the “evil one” who is in and of this world. Imagine the chorus that will ring down from
heaven as God ushers in a new heaven and a new earth..
Its the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
Its the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain.
The song of Asian believers
Filled with Gods holy fire
Its every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir
(x2)
Its all Gods children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
Let it rise about the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered on the ground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this
(x2)
Its all Gods children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they've just heard
Cause all the powers of darkness
Can't drown out a single word
When all Gods children sing out
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
All Gods children Singing
Glory, glory, Hallelujah
He reigns. . .
Let us pray. . . pray
to rededicate ourselves to pray ending in the Lord’s Prayer...
Amen
====
September 21, 2014
Luke 11:1-13 The Disciples Literal NT
Philippians 4:4-9 The Disciples Literal NT
&
Sermon 12 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
The Empty Cross
children’s message
- Mystery Box –
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “Jesus Prayer”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
September 21, 2014
& Joel 2:23-29
Common English Bible
Romans 8:22-28 Gods Word Translation
Matthew 28:16-20 (“The Great Commission)
&
Sermon 11 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
The Fiery Red Bead – The Holy Spirit of God
children’s message
- Mystery Box –
a soccer ball, a partially deflated soccer ball, and
a deflated beach ball
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “The
Power-Filled Gift from God . . . “
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
September 14, 2014
&
Isaiah 56:4-8 (NIV)
Psalm 67 (NIV)
Communion
&
Sermon 10 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Blue Green Bead – The World
children’s message
- Mystery Box –
a bolt, a nut, and a washer
- they are not useful for their
intended purpose alone
- we
need all three to hold things together strongly
-
the church is like that – each of us has gifts
-
named some of the gifts of individuals – song, smile, faith, joy,
encouragement, laughter, prayer warriors
-
the church needs all of us nuts to be bolted together
-
Jesus is the washer . . . He washes us
clean
- we
need all of us together
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “Virally Going
Global”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
September 7, 2014
&
Luke 18:1-8 NIV Bible
Ephesians 6:10-18 Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Sermon 9 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Three Purple Bead – People You Love
children’s message
- Mystery Box –
a bag of purple beads
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “Standing in
the Need of Prayer”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
August 31, 2014
&
1 John 3:11-18
“More on Love and Hatred” (NIV)
Luke 6:27-36
“Love for Enemies” (NIV)
Hymn – “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”
Sermon 8 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Red Bead – People You Love
children’s message
- Mystery Box –
a stone with the word “unforgiveness” on it. . .
(from exercise from book study, Having
a Mary Heart in a Martha World)
- God wants us to forgive; God has forgiven us;
- ask for forgiveness; forgive even if they
haven’t asked
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “The Loveable
UnLovable”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
August 24, 2014
&
John 17:6-19
Christ’s prayer for his disciples
John 17:20-25
Christ’s prayer for all believers
Sermon 7 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Green Bead – Your Special Concern
children’s message
- Mystery Box –
picture of our cat Moe sleeping
- God
wants us to be at rest, at peace
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “A Weight Upon
the Heart”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
August 17, 2014
&
prayer of the people printed in the bulletin,
including the following prayer:
“For our church that it may be safe for all people
and an active witness to the truth of Jesus Christ.”
Genesis 32:22-28 Common English Bible
Psalm 139:1-14 NIV Bible
Sermon 6 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Grey, Black and White, Day and Night Bead – Spiritual
Struggles
children’s message
- Mystery Box – dog
treats and squeaky ball
- God
gives us treats
- God
wants us to play
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “G.W.E.” (God
Wrestling Entertainment)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
August 3, 2014
&
Romans 10:12-15 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
Luke 12:12-15
Luke 12:1-6 Common English Bible
“The Long and Winding Road” The Beatles
Sermon 5 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Stepping Stone Bead – Journey of Faith
children’s message by Ellen Alward Dickinson
reading story – A Black Bear and Four Boys
and sermon, “A Long And
Winding Road”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
July 27, 2014
&
Psalm 37:5-7 (Common English Bible)
1 Kings 19:9-23 (NIV Bible)
Sermon 4 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Bead with a Hole - Silence
children’s message by Pastor Ruth Foss
- Mystery Box - a
blank space
- God starts with a blank canvas,
God fills in the picture
until a masterpiece
is created and we come
home
and sermon, “Is Silence
Really Golden?”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
July 20, 2014
&
Psalm 33:30-22
Psalm 25:1-3
Romans 8:30-32
Matthew 11:28-30
Sermon 3 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
Bumpy Bead – Letting Go
children’s message by Pastor Ruth Foss
- Mystery Box – a
broken set of prayer beads
- God
can make something beautiful of all the broken pieces:
- Dad
can you fix this? Yes I can. . .
and sermon, “In the
Letting Go We Find”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
July 13, 2014
&
June 29, 2014
Psalm 105:1-6 Common English Bible
Exodus 15:1-3 The Living Bible
Psalm 89:1-18 The Message Bible
Closing Hymn – “As the Deer”
Sermon 2 of “All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
children’s message by Pastor Ruth Foss
- Mystery Box –
- Sabbath
rest, time with God outdoors, in nature
and sermon, “All My
Adoration. . . !”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
June 29, 2014
&
June 22, 2014
Matthew 6:5-14
“Jesus Teaches About Prayer” (NCV)
(including Lord’s Prayer)
Romans 12:12
Ephesians 6:11-18
Sermon 1 of “All My
Days: A Summer of Prayer”
Summer Sermon Series on Prayer
children’s message by Ray Foss
- God
fills in the words we pray
based on Upper Room Daily Devotional for June 9, 2014
Romans 8:26 (NRSV)
Romans 8:22-27
Upper Room Daily Devotional
“Guided by the Spirit”
by Milly Ibanda
for March and April 2014
- spontaneous
prayer, wait for God’s answer
(based on Shanequa’s prayer for a puppy July 21, 2006)
opening and welcome by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon, “Stop, Look
and Listen”
by Sally Drew
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
June 22, 2014
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