Authentic Faith: Embracing Prayer and Community
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we celebrated the spirit of volunteerism in our church, recognizing Isaac Buchan for his first time playing the drums during our service. We also introduced a new initiative, the "space to pace" room, for those who find it easier to focus while moving around. This room is available for anyone who wants to listen to the service while walking.
We then delved into the topic of the "nones"—people who identify with no religious affiliation. Research shows that a significant number of people leave their faith by the age of 25, primarily due to religious hypocrisy, the irrelevance of religion, and religious bigotry. This led us to explore Jesus' teachings on avoiding hypocrisy, particularly in the context of prayer.
We examined Jesus' instructions on how to pray, focusing on the Lord's Prayer. This prayer serves as a model for various types of prayer, including adoration, petition, intercession, and confession. We discussed the importance of keeping prayer simple, real, and persistent. We also touched on the significance of stillness and contemplation in prayer, emphasizing the need to be present with God.
We explored the concept of unanswered prayers and how even Jesus experienced this. We discussed the importance of aligning our will with God's will and the role of intercession in loving others. We also talked about the power of lament, where we can be brutally honest with God while holding on to hope.
Finally, we encouraged everyone to engage in spiritual warfare through prayer, recognizing the battle between God's kingdom and the enemy's plans. We concluded with a call to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community, acting as agents of God's kingdom on earth.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Authenticity in Faith: Many people leave their faith due to perceived hypocrisy and irrelevance. Jesus teaches us to practice our righteousness authentically, not for show. Our actions and interactions should reflect genuine faith, as this can either draw people to or push them away from God. [40:03]
2. The Power of Simple, Persistent Prayer: Jesus' model of prayer emphasizes simplicity and persistence. Keeping our prayers simple, real, and consistent helps us stay connected to God. This approach demystifies prayer and makes it accessible to everyone, regardless of their spiritual maturity. [51:10]
3. The Role of Stillness and Contemplation: Before diving into prayer, it's crucial to pause and be still. This helps us center our scattered thoughts and prepare our hearts for communion with God. Stillness allows us to hear God's still, small voice and align our will with His. [52:07]
4. Handling Unanswered Prayers: Unanswered prayers can be one of the most challenging aspects of faith. Even Jesus experienced unanswered prayers. It's essential to recognize that God's will may differ from ours, and unanswered prayers do not mean God is not listening. We are in excellent company when we face this struggle. [58:19]
5. The Gift of Lament: Lament allows us to be brutally honest with God while holding on to hope. This form of prayer acknowledges our pain and frustration but also expresses our belief in God's ability to act. Lament is a powerful way to process our struggles and maintain our faith. [01:13:23]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[35:04] - Recognizing Volunteers
[35:48] - Introducing the "Space to Pace" Room
[37:06] - Understanding the "Nones"
[37:47] - Why People Leave Faith
[40:03] - Jesus on Hypocrisy
[40:48] - The Lord's Prayer
[42:42] - Interactive Survey on Prayer
[45:31] - Challenges in Prayer
[48:44] - Types of Prayer
[52:07] - The Importance of Stillness
[55:01] - Petition and Intercession
[58:19] - Unanswered Prayers
[01:02:02] - Contemplation and Presence
[01:03:37] - Confession and Reconciliation
[01:09:15] - Spiritual Warfare
[01:11:53] - The Power of "Amen"
[01:13:23] - The Gift of Lament
[01:17:42] - Keep It Simple, Keep It Real, Keep It Up
[01:20:21] - Reciting the Lord's Prayer
[01:25:56] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
[01:26:41] - Announcements and Fellowship Opportunities
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:1-13 (NIV)
> "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'"
### Observation Questions
1. What reasons did people give for leaving their faith according to the sermon? ([38:39])
2. How does Jesus instruct us to pray in Matthew 6:1-13 to avoid hypocrisy?
3. What are the different types of prayer mentioned in the sermon? ([48:44])
4. What does the sermon say about the importance of stillness before prayer? ([52:07])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus emphasizes praying in secret rather than in public? How does this relate to the issue of religious hypocrisy? ([40:48])
2. How can the simplicity and persistence in prayer, as taught by Jesus, help in maintaining a genuine connection with God? ([51:10])
3. What role does stillness play in preparing our hearts for prayer, and how can it help us hear God's voice? ([52:07])
4. How does the concept of unanswered prayers challenge our faith, and what can we learn from Jesus' experience with unanswered prayers? ([58:19])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own prayer life. Do you find it challenging to keep your prayers simple and persistent? What steps can you take to simplify and make your prayers more consistent? ([51:10])
2. Have you ever experienced unanswered prayers? How did you handle it, and what did you learn from that experience? ([58:19])
3. How can you incorporate stillness and contemplation into your daily prayer routine to better align your will with God's will? ([52:07])
4. Think about a time when you felt the need to lament. How did being brutally honest with God while holding on to hope help you process your struggles? ([01:13:23])
5. In what ways can you act as the hands and feet of Jesus in your community, especially in light of the call to engage in spiritual warfare through prayer? ([01:09:15])
6. How can you ensure that your actions and interactions reflect genuine faith and avoid religious hypocrisy? ([40:03])
7. Identify one person in your life who might be struggling with their faith. How can you support them through prayer and authentic interaction this week? ([57:32])
Devotional
Day 1: Authenticity in Faith
Many people leave their faith due to perceived hypocrisy and irrelevance. Jesus teaches us to practice our righteousness authentically, not for show. Our actions and interactions should reflect genuine faith, as this can either draw people to or push them away from God. Authenticity in faith means living out our beliefs in a way that is consistent and true, not just when others are watching but in every aspect of our lives. This authenticity can be a powerful witness to those who are skeptical or disillusioned with religion.
Jesus emphasized the importance of sincerity in our spiritual practices, particularly in prayer and acts of charity. He warned against doing these things for the sake of appearances, as this leads to hypocrisy. Instead, we are called to be genuine in our devotion, seeking to please God rather than people. This kind of authenticity can help bridge the gap for those who feel disconnected from the church due to perceived insincerity. [40:03]
Matthew 6:1-4 (ESV): "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you acted differently because you were concerned about others' opinions. How can you approach similar situations with authenticity and integrity in the future?
Day 2: The Power of Simple, Persistent Prayer
Jesus' model of prayer emphasizes simplicity and persistence. Keeping our prayers simple, real, and consistent helps us stay connected to God. This approach demystifies prayer and makes it accessible to everyone, regardless of their spiritual maturity. Simple prayers are not less powerful; in fact, they can be more profound because they come from the heart and are free from pretense.
Persistent prayer is about maintaining a continual dialogue with God, not giving up even when we don't see immediate results. Jesus taught that we should always pray and not lose heart. This kind of prayer life builds a deeper relationship with God and strengthens our faith. It reminds us that God is always listening and that our prayers matter to Him. [51:10]
Luke 18:1-8 (ESV): "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, 'In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, "Give me justice against my adversary." For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, "Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming."' And the Lord said, 'Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?'"
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you have given up praying because you haven't seen results. How can you reintroduce persistent prayer into this area today?
Day 3: The Role of Stillness and Contemplation
Before diving into prayer, it's crucial to pause and be still. This helps us center our scattered thoughts and prepare our hearts for communion with God. Stillness allows us to hear God's still, small voice and align our will with His. In our fast-paced world, taking time to be still can be challenging, but it is essential for a deep and meaningful prayer life.
Contemplation involves meditating on God's word and being present with Him. It is about creating space in our lives to listen and reflect, rather than just speaking to God. This practice can lead to greater spiritual insight and a stronger sense of God's presence in our daily lives. By incorporating stillness and contemplation into our prayer routine, we can experience a more profound connection with God. [52:07]
Psalm 46:10 (ESV): "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
Reflection: Set aside 10 minutes today to sit in stillness before God. What distractions or thoughts come to mind, and how can you surrender them to God during this time?
Day 4: Handling Unanswered Prayers
Unanswered prayers can be one of the most challenging aspects of faith. Even Jesus experienced unanswered prayers. It's essential to recognize that God's will may differ from ours, and unanswered prayers do not mean God is not listening. We are in excellent company when we face this struggle. Understanding that God's perspective is broader than ours can help us trust Him even when we don't understand His ways.
Unanswered prayers can also be an opportunity for growth and deeper faith. They challenge us to trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, even when we don't see immediate answers. This trust can lead to a more mature and resilient faith, as we learn to rely on God's wisdom rather than our own understanding. [58:19]
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESV): "Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Reflection: Think of a prayer that has gone unanswered in your life. How can you trust God's plan and timing in this situation, and what steps can you take to align your will with His?
Day 5: The Gift of Lament
Lament allows us to be brutally honest with God while holding on to hope. This form of prayer acknowledges our pain and frustration but also expresses our belief in God's ability to act. Lament is a powerful way to process our struggles and maintain our faith. It gives us permission to bring our deepest hurts and questions to God, knowing that He cares and understands.
Lament is not about complaining for the sake of it but about seeking God's presence and comfort in our pain. It is a way to express our trust in God, even when we don't have all the answers. By practicing lament, we can find healing and hope, knowing that God is with us in our suffering and that He will ultimately bring restoration. [01:13:23]
Lamentations 3:19-24 (ESV): "Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'"
Reflection: Write a lament to God about a current struggle or pain in your life. Be honest about your feelings and also express your hope and trust in His faithfulness.
Quotes
1. "So, this is interesting. Now, this whole topic of how we interact, that, I want you to come back next week. Next week, we're going to actually talk about this whole concept of Christian love that we talk about. What does that actually look like? What does true Christian love look like? Which would be how do we interact both with each other in this room, in this church, and with those who are the non? Those who are other religions, those who live in our community. So, that's next week. But this week, I want us to talk a little bit about this hypocrisy, specific in one area, specifically in one area, because Jesus actually talked about it." [40:03] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When the disciples asked Jesus, Lord, teach us to pray, his response to that simple, humble request was astonishingly generous. He didn't make the disciples feel small. He didn't say you really ought to know by now. Instead, he gave them the greatest prayer in world history. These men would go on to have extraordinary prayer lives. They would intercede until buildings shook. They would spring Peter from a high-security jail by the power of prayer. Their very shadows and handkerchiefs would sometimes heal the sick." [51:10] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you want to get better at hearing the one who speaks in a still, small voice, we need to become friends and become comfortable in silence. If you've read the Psalms, there is a phrase you will see. It translates in our English Bible, usually, as selah. Selah is this concept that the author is saying, pause and process. Whenever you see selah, you're supposed to pause and process whatever just happened, or whatever is about to happen. It's an invitation to pause. And so when we come to prayer, in fact, it shows up in the Psalms 71 times." [52:07] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If you're ever in need of material to hallow God's name, try the Psalms. It should never cease to amaze us that we have the same prayer book that Jesus had in the Psalms. And so many of them, we read several of them this morning in our responsive reading. Another word, just so you know, another word for hallow, if you're not familiar with that, is worship. And that was what we talked about all last week. You can go back to that and unpack different ways that people worship. And it's quite possibly specific to you. God made you." [53:39] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When we ask God for things, we ask for at least three reasons. First, asking is relational. It's different than just wishing for something. You've actually gone to a different step. It's vulnerable. It is admitting that you have a need. And that is, a step of vulnerability, which is a step of faith. And then the third is, it is intentional. It involves our will. You are actively asking. And we're encouraged and we're told to ask in the name of Jesus." [56:13] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "If you have prayers that remain unanswered, you are an excellent company. Every hero of the faith. I couldn't think of, I'm sure there's an exception, there's always an exception. But I was thinking through the entire Bible, trying to think, is there anybody who every prayer they prayed that we have recorded was answered? No. Okay, well there's always that exception named Jesus, right? It's always like, well, anybody but Jesus. No. Jesus prayed in the garden, Father, if it's possible, take this cup from me. So this is what I want. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done." [58:56] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Imagine you're very, very disciplined and you spend an entire hour every day in prayer. Wow. What one author was saying was what if you spent that entire hour instead of just bringing this list of prayers to God, you sat with God. You contemplated God. You entered into his presence so much so that at the end of that hour you have refocused on Jesus in such a way that you carry his presence with you into the other 23 hours. With a heightened awareness that he is with you, he is for you, he likes you, and he hears your thoughts." [01:00:27] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Forgiveness like true forgiveness of letting it go. Understanding that this person or this situation has a debt to you, understandably so and you decide not to hold it against them. Whether or not they ever confess. Whether or not they ever come. And you let it go. It is so hard. We often just think in the spiritual sense. Let me give you a really simple example. Most of you know because I've told this story a few times. 2016 October Joanna and I were driving back from a youth retreat I was speaking at and we were in a very bad car accident." [01:05:10] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "So this is what we do with spiritual warfare. This is another way for us to answer the prayer of your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And so wherever you live in this community in this world, spend more time speaking into what God is doing than cursing what Satan is doing. Be the truth. Which brings us almost to the end. Amen. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. So the Lord's prayer comes full circle stopping where it started with adoration, conclusion of prayer and praise. Amen literally means yes I agree so be it." [01:11:20] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Keep it simple, keep it real, keep it up. The simple sermon is God loves you he is for you he speaks to you and he invites you into conversation and relationship with him that is the gift of prayer and so for all of us and I'm saying us because I told you this is one of the hardest ones for me for all of us who find this to be one of the more challenging spiritual disciplines know that this challenge is actually boxed inside a gift of a relationship where we can speak to God and one of the biggest challenges to prayer is your view of God if you view God as mad at you as disappointed with you as always just like perpetually frustrated there's my kid yeah it's going to be difficult but if we start to see that God is for us he loves us he speaks to us and he invites us into a relationship well that's different." [01:17:42] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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