The local church should be one of the most exciting places around town. Seeing God change lives week after week never gets old! But it’s easy overlook the transformation taking place when we get caught up in the mechanics of church. We have been fasting for salvations and miracles over the last few weeks. Let’s take some time and celebrate the incredible God moments in our church this weekend. Share your feedback below and be sure to include your church name and location.
Also, don’t forget that we are fasting and praying for our countries and world leaders this Tuesday!
Join the conversation
One Prayer Daily Devotional
By Benny Perez, Pastor, The Church at South Las Vegas
Make us ONE body not multiple members
Romans 15:5-7
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
The apostle Paul commissions the church to be of one mind, one voice, and one heart! He compels the Christians in Rome, who are predominately comprised of Jew and Gentile converts, to stop contending, competing, and clashing with one another. Much like today’s church body, the early church wrestled with jealousy, pride, strife, and yes, factions. The result was a disabled body that was crippled of Christ’s power. Believers focused too much on trivialities with each other rather than the incredible glory of God, and as a result some lost focus spiritually. Paul graciously restores their sight by focusing on Christ, and encourages believers to be truly unified as one body, to be in “one mind” with others of the faith and not in strife over things that have no eternal value. The apostle compels us to be in “one accord,” so that we can speak glory with “one voice” to God the Father.
Our spiritual walk should be Christ-centered and not self-centered. We must learn to die so that He can live through us. This can only come through a consistent relationship with God. The absence of intimacy will find us presenting personal agendas before the throne that are self centered. Much like the Jews and Gentiles in Paul’s day, we lose sight of what the focus should be—Christ, not us! To be like Jesus is to truly desire nothing for ourselves outside of Him.
Join the conversation
Thank you for joining us as we fast together each Tuesday during the One Prayer series. We hope these fasts are strengthening your spiritual growth as you transform your cravings for food into a hunger for God and seek a deeper relationship with him.
Today we’re focusing our prayers on our nations and world leaders. Whether you’re wired into multiple news outlets or you just catch the morning headlines, it’s hard to miss that our world is in a state of unrest. We are in serious need of the love and peace that only Christ can offer.
As we pray today, let’s lift up our leaders and pray that God would appoint them according to His purposes. Ask Him to bless them with the wisdom of Solomon. Pray that God would use His Church as an agent of peace and hope in every nation across the globe. These prayers surpass mere politics…there’s only one agenda we want achieved, and that’s God’s plan for our world.
How are you praying for your nation and your leaders?
Join the conversation
Daily Devotional by Stovall Weems
One Prayer Daily Devotional
By Stovall Weems, Lead Pastor, Celebration Church
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
God gives us spiritual gifts not for ourselves, but for others. It’s good to have an ambition to see the kingdom of God thrive and expand. However, Godly ambition expresses itself through servanthood, not through selfish promotion. Many people believe that the church is given to them as a platform to find expression for their gifts, when really God has given them their gifts to build and enrich the church. Christ gives us spiritual gifts so that we can labor alongside Him as He builds His church, bringing her to full maturity.
Not that we will ever fully agree on every fine point of doctrine. I Corinthians 13:12 (http://www.youversion.com/niv/1Cor.13.12) says, “Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am known.” As long as we see only part of the picture, we will tend to fill in the gaps with our own idea of what the whole picture should look like—and that will inevitably lead to disagreement. But I do believe that as the church continues to grow in her knowledge of Christ, we will learn to move together in that rhythm of grace and servanthood which characterizes spiritual maturity.
How can you promote unity, even when you don’t see things the same way? How can you build an attitude of servanthood in your life and in the lives of those you influence? Share some of your ideas below!
Join the conversation
When we invite friends to church, whether or not they are believers, it’s great to have a “because” to back it up. Why should they want to attend? “Because here’s what my church has meant in my life…” It’s not a sales pitch, rather our personal experience—just like we’d recommend a restaurant, movie, or book to a friend.
Here’s an opportunity to tell that story, perhaps for the first time. What has your church done in your life? Please include the name and location of your church as well.
Join the conversation
Daily Devotional by Tim Stevens
One Prayer Daily Devotional
By Tim Stevens, Executive Pastor, Granger Community Church
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Wow. That is a huge statement. Do not be anxious about anything. With war and sickness, tornadoes and flooding, high gas prices and economic uncertainty in the headlines every day, how is it possible not to be anxious? Even small things can trip me up, like how many emails I still haven’t answered—or how I’m going to get through the pile on my desk so I can get to my kids track meet.
Is this an unrealistic expectation? How in the world are we supposed to never be anxious about anything?
It’s pretty cool that God gives us the answer in the same verse. I think He is acknowledging that there will be plenty to be anxious about. We can carry the load if we want, but He wants us to talk to Him about it. There is an unexplainable peace that comes when we lay our requests at the feet of Jesus. The problems don’t go away, but we have the strength to face them, and Jesus protects our hearts and minds from an overwhelming anxiety.
Could it be that God is binding our churches together to show the world a different way to respond to the problems around us? Perhaps our One Prayer today could be, “God, give me the grace to rely on you every minute today, whatever happens or doesn’t happen, that I will experience your incomprehensible peace.”
What are you turning over to God today?
Join the conversation
You are not alone.
When we give our lives to Christ, we’re welcomed into a family of believers. We have brothers and sisters to walk through life with us—celebrating victories and supporting each other during difficult seasons. One of the best ways we can carry each other’s burdens is through prayer. And as we lift up the needs of others before our loving God, we find that we not only enjoy a closer connection with them, but our Creator as well.
Today, let’s continue what we’ve been doing for the past few Thursdays by praying for each other. Please add your requests below and then take some time to pray by name for others on the list.
Join the conversation
Every person who walks through the doors of your church represents a life precious to God. He knows what each individual needs most at that precise moment, whether it’s forgiveness, hope, encouragement, or salvation. As we pray for our churches this weekend, let’s ask God to use us in meeting those needs. Pray that He would make us aware of how we can show his love to each person we meet. Pray that God would guide the efforts of the staff and volunteers who are serving. Lift up the individuals who attend and ask that they would feel God’s presence powerfully, and that they would be changed in some way by their experience there.
How are you praying for your church this weekend?
Join the conversation
Daily Devotional by John Siebeling
One Prayer Daily Devotional
By John Siebeling, Lead Pastor, The Life Church of Memphis
The “Anothers”
When you hear the word “commandment”, you usually think Old Testament. But the New Testament is full of commandments. More than mere suggestions, these one-line directives contain the word “another”—and they can only be fulfilled within the context of relationships. I’m sure you know that we’re supposed to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) love one another (1 John 4:7). But there are many other great ones.
When you have time, do a word search in the Bible for that word, “another.” You’ll quickly see that relationships play a key role in our spiritual maturity. The truth is, many people view their faith as a personal and private matter. It’s personal because you are personally responsible for growing, but if we’re going to live the life God has called us to live, it will only happen within the context of relationships. That’s why the local church should be such a HUGE part of our spiritual life.
Let’s take it to the next level because one of those “another” verses has the potential to change our lives immediately.
James 5:16 ”Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed…”
Sounds a little intense. But when we build those key relationships into our life, those powerful “anothers”, then we’re safe opening up our life, and James promises that we will be healed!
Could it be that the freedom and healing for that specific area of your life might just come as you expose that struggle to someone else?
Take the risk and watch God begin to move in your life!
What are some practical ways we can open up our lives each other? Please share your thoughts below.
Join the conversation
Daily Devotional by Clark Mitchell
One Prayer Daily Devotional
By Clark Mitchell, Senior Pastor, Journey Church
Ephesians 4:2-6 (NIV)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
As you read the writings of Paul, you see the balance that we should all strive for between doctrine and duty. I have found that it is easy in our everyday lives to lean towards one or the other based on our personality, but the challenge is that you have to have both to live an effective life as a follower of Christ. I love what Paul does in this passage as he scripts out for us how to walk in unity and what to base our unity on.
As we live out our faith in our everyday lives, our goal is that people will see Christ in us. Christ was the perfect model of a person who made every effort to build us up.
As Paul continues, he paints the picture of what the common ground of unity is. He lays out the essentials, encouraging us to focus on them rather than all the little things that we might see differently.
Question: Who is it in your life that you need to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit with today? Are you focusing on the essentials that Christ has called us to or are you allowing the non-essentials to distract you?
Join the conversation