Worship-based Prayer (Themes of Advent)

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Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace

Isaiah(2), Luke(1), Matthew(1) (Part of the Advent(1) series)
by Stuart Johns(25) on December 29, 2024 (Sunday Morning(32))

Hope(1), Joy(1), Love(2), Peace(3)

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5th Sunday, December 2024

Themes of Advent

(Isaiah 9:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:15-20; Luke 2:8-14)

 

INTRODUCTION

Today we are going to celebrate the final Sunday of the year by spending time in worship and prayer. ​​ Earlier this year we had a Transforming Prayer event that focused on Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, Worship-based prayer. ​​ We learned about seeking the face of God before seeking the hand of God. ​​ Daniel Henderson, founder of Strategic Renewal, believes that worship-based prayer is one of the greatest ways to revitalize the church. ​​ I agree with him. ​​ Worship-based prayer has four movements: Reverence (Who is God?), Response (How Should I Respond?), Request (What Should I Pray About?), and Readiness (Where Do I Go From Here?).

 

“The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.” ​​ [Andrew Murray]

 

“The people who mobilize the Christian church (local church) to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.” ​​ [Andrew Murray, emphasis by Daniel Henderson]

 

“There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer.” ​​ [A.T. Pierson]

 

Our service is going to focus on the four themes of Advent and the passages associated with them. ​​ The four passages will guide our time of prayer and worship. ​​ Our prayer time today will be corporate, individual, and small groups.

 

BODY

  • GOD

    • Hope (Isaiah 9:1-7)

        • SONG: ​​ Living Hope

        • Reverence [corporately]

          • “Jesus, thank You for coming, so I don’t have to walk in the darkness of . . .”

          • “God, I am grateful that you have increased my joy
            by . . .”

          • “Lord, I worship You for shattering the yoke of ________ in my life.”

        • Response [individually]

          • “Father, I confess that I have been walking in the darkness of _____________.”

        • Request [small groups]

          • “Savior, please help me to let Your light shine in _______ (area of darkness in your life).”

          • “Savior, please give _______ (name) peace as they are experiencing the darkness of . . .”

        • Readiness [corporately]

          • “Lord, I will remember that Your zeal has accomplished redemption for me as I face __________ this week.”

    • Love (Matthew 1:18-25)

        • SONG: ​​ Reckless Love

        • Reverence [corporately]

          • “Lord, I worship You, because You have spoken to me about . . .” (v. 20)

          • “Jesus, I am grateful that You came to save me from . . .” (v. 21)

          • “God, thank You that You are with me through . . .” (v. 23)

        • Response [individually]

          • “Father, I confess that I have had in mind to do _______. ​​ Help me to trust You to do what is right.”

        • Request [small groups]

          • “Lord, help me to listen to Your Holy Spirit about . . .”

          • “Father, please save _______ (name) from their sins.”

          • “God, please be with _______ (name) as they go through . . .”

        • Readiness [corporately]

          • “Lord, I will obey You concerning __________ this week.”

    • Joy (Luke 2:15-20)

        • SONG: ​​ House of the Lord

        • Reverence [corporately]

          • “Father, I worship You for speaking to me about . . .”

          • “God, thank You for sending Jesus, so that . . .”

          • “Lord, I glorify and praise You because . . .”

        • Response [individually]

          • “Father, please forgive me for not sharing Jesus with _________.”

          • “Lord, I confess that I have not treasured and pondered ​​ _____________ about Jesus’ birth.”

        • Request [small groups]

          • “Lord, help me to be excited to go to _________, so I can see Jesus.”

          • “Father, help me to share Jesus with _________ (name) this Christmas season.”

          • “God, please help _________ (name) to praise You even though they are going through . . .”

        • Readiness [corporately]

          • “Father, I will praise You this week as I prepare for/to ​​ _________.”

    • Peace (Luke 2:8-14)

        • SONG: ​​ Goodness of God

        • Reverence [corporately]

          • “Father, I worship You because Your glory is evident through . . .”

          • “God, thank You for sending Jesus to save me from . . .”

          • “Lord, I praise You for . . .”

        • Response [individually]

          • “Father, I confess my fear of _________ to You.”

        • Request [small groups]

          • “Lord, help me to share the good news of great joy with _________.”

          • “Father, please help _________ (name) to experience Your peace as they face . . .”

        • Readiness [corporately]

          • “God, I will glorify You this week even when . . .”

 

  • CLOSING

    • SONG: ​​ I Surrender

    • Prayer

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