Prayer and Bible Reading Guide

 

Prayer  and  Bible  Reading  Guide   January  20-­‐26,  2013   Day  1  

Day  2  

Day  3  

Day  4  

Day  5  

Day  6  

Luke  19:1-­‐10  

Matthew  5:1-­‐8  

Matthew  5:9-­‐11  

Matthew  5:13-­‐16  

Matthew  5:17-­‐20  

Matthew  5:21-­‐26  

            We     began  the  year  with  teaching  on  prayer  and  missional  living.  We  will  now  return  to  the  series  through  the  Sermon  on  the   Mount  in  Matthew  5-­‐7.  The  beatitudes  showed  us  a  picture  of  a  kingdom  citizen,  someone  with  a  radically  different  value  system   from  the  rest  of  the  world.  Our  next  series,  entitled  “Right  on  the  Inside,”  keeps  up  this  theme  as  Jesus  repeatedly  calls  citizens  of   his  kingdom  to  be  more  concerned  with  their  hearts  than  their  works.  He  wants  his  followers  to  be  right  on  the  inside.       Jan  27-­‐Matt  5:17-­‐20,  Fulfilling  the  Law        Feb  3-­‐Matt  5:21-­‐26,  The  Danger  of  Anger        Feb  10-­‐Matt  5:27-­‐30,  Lust  and  the  Heart   PRAYING  FOR  GOD’S  GLORY   Pray   that   we   will   be   a   community   of   people   who   are   deeply   grateful   that   Jesus   came   to   seek   and   to   save   the   lost,   knowing  that  we  were  at  one  time  without  God  and  without  hope  in  the  world.  Pray  that  in  our  joy  over  this  salvation,   we  would  go  make  disciples,  reflecting  the  mission  of  Jesus  in  all  of  our  relationships  with  those  who  don’t  know  him.  

PRAYING  FOR  GOD’S  PEOPLE  

PRAYING  FOR  GOD’S  WORLD  

This  week  we  will  be  praying  for  St.  M atthew  Baptist  Church   and  their  pastor,  Ronald  Avery.  Please  pray  for  these  brothers   and  sisters  throughout  the  week.  Also  pray  for  the  following:  

This  week  we  are  praying  for  the  advancement  of  the  gospel   among  the  people  in  Mauritania,  a  m ostly  desert  nation  in  West   Africa.  Please  use  this  information  to  inform  your  prayers,  taken   from  Operation  World  (available  in  the  bookstore):     Religion                                   Pop  %   Ann  Gr   Christians   8,414   0.25   2.4   Evangelicals   2,081   0.1   6.7   Muslim   3,357,261   99.75         Challenges  for  Prayer:     Political  issues  are  historical  and  highly  charged,  although  the   elected  government  is  widely  seen  as  progressing  forward.   Despite  slavery  being  illegal,  allegations  of  slavery  persist,  and   thousands  are  thought  to  live  in  such  circumstances.  Interethnic   and  intertribal  tensions  remain  from  past  violence  over  the   White  Moor-­‐dominated  government  seizing  Black  African  lands   and  livestock.  Pray  for  justice  for  all  who  have  been  oppressed.     Expatriate  Christians  in  Mauritania  are  few.  Most  are  from   various  W est  African  countries  working  at  menial  jobs,  although   some  work  as  professionals.  Others  work  in  diplomatic  services,   development  and  commerce.  Expatriate  Protestants  are   petitioning  the  government  for  legal  protection  from  sporadic   police  harassment  in  certain  precincts.  Expatriates  suspected  of   proselytizing  Mauritanians  are  subject  to  harassment,   interrogation,  brief  imprisonment,  expulsion  and  even  murder.   The  m urder  of  a  foreign  Christian  by  Islamic  terrorists  in  2009,   as  well  as  extremist  activities,  have  led  to  many  expatriate   believers  leaving  the  country.  Pray  that  the  lives  of  Christians   might  clearly  demonstrate  the  love  of  Jesus.  Pray  also  that  the   Lord  might  grant  them  wisdom,  protection  and  make  them   powerful  witnesses  for  His  name.  

Day  1:  Pray  for  pastors/members  of  St.  Matthew,  that  their   gospel  love  would  stand  in  stark  contrast  to  the  darkness  of   sin.  Pray  that  they  would  be  a  blessing  to  their  downtown   community  as  they  reflect  Christ’s  love.  Pray  that  the  Word  of   God  would  be  taught  faithfully  in  the  church  each  week.   Day  2:  Join  this  week  with  churches  across  the  nation  in   praying  for  the  value  and  sanctity  of  life  in  America  during  the   month  of  January.  Pray  in  particular  for  local  ministries  whose   focus  is  saving  the  lives  of  the  unborn.  Pray  for  First  Choice   Pregnancy  Solutions  in  Wake  Forest  as  they  minister  to  women   in  need.   Day  3:  Pray  for  those  who  work  in  abortion  clinics  who  do  not   know  Christ  and  do  not  understand  the  value  of  life  that  God   has  created.  Pray  that  they  would  come  to  understand  and   embrace  the  gospel.   Day  4:  Pray  for  Tom  Mercer  as  he  p repares  to  teach  this   coming  Sunday  from  Luke  19:1-­‐10.  Pray  that  the  Spirit  would   give  insight  and  direction  in  his  study  (1  Cor.  2:12-­‐13).   Day  5:  Pray  for  the  leaders  in  the  United  States  government  to   make  wise  choices  that  will  protect  the  sanctity  of  life  in  our   country.  Pray  that  the  annual  March  for  Life  on  Fri,  Jan  25   would  bring  appropriate  attention  to  this  matter.   Day  6:  Pray  that  God  would  give  CCC  members  a  heart  and   mind  toward  being  salt  and  light  in  Raleigh.  That  we  would  be   careful  to  think  of  how  we  might  demonstrate  the  gospel  in   the  ways  that  we  serve  and  improve  our  community.