Mike Tilley 8/30/16 Mike Tilley 8/30/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 30

In Paul’s farewell words to the Ephesian church in Acts 20, he knew of the demands that would surely press in upon them, to wear down their faith and steal their joy. So he commended them to God, and to the “word of his grace,” which would be able to build them up and strengthen them. The word of grace is one of the means by which God floods our hearts with his favor.

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

“This is grace gone wonderfully wild. This is the flood of God’s favor in which we discover the power and practice of the means of grace.”

— David Mathis, from "Habits of Grace"

"The Word of His Grace"

As we take on the demands of life in a fallen world, we sometimes feel that we are “running on empty.” Those demands can come from outside of us, from difficult people or stressful circumstances. They can also come from our own hearts, where we struggle against the downward pull of sin, or the lies and schemes of our “ancient foe.” To meet the demands of reality, we need for God’s grace to replenish our capacity. Beyond saving grace, we need strengthening grace.

In Paul’s farewell words to the Ephesian church in Acts 20, he knew of the demands that would surely press in upon them, to wear down their faith and steal their joy. So he commended them to God, and to the “word of his grace,” which would be able to build them up and strengthen them. The word of grace is one of the means by which God floods our hearts with his favor.

It seems Paul had something similar in mind in Colossians 3:16: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing songs and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Jesus is the bread of life, and we feast upon him through the Word of God (Matthew 4:4) and spiritually as we commune with Him in the Lord’s Supper. When life drains us of energy and strength, when we are running on empty, let us draw upon the word of God’s grace for sustenance.

How to pray...

Give thanks for “the word of his grace” which strengthens us for the demands of life.
Pray for the preaching of the “word of Christ” in all of our sermons this fall, right up through Advent. Pray for the next 3 sermons in the DNA series; and pray for the fall series on Philippians, which begins the last Sunday in September. Especially pray that the grace of the gospel would be expressed in each sermon, capturing our hearts for the life and work to which God has called us.
Pray that the word of Christ would dwell richly in all of our community groups. Pray that we would all encounter Christ through his word in our “circles” of community.
Pray also for our SPLASH kids and our LBC Youth, as a foundation is being laid for a lifetime of loving and following Jesus.

For the Family

Do you ever feel really tired? After you have a busy day at school or spend an afternoon swimming in the pool your body might feel tired, which makes you want to lie down or take a nap.

But what does it feel like when your heart is tired? Have you ever felt down when your feelings were hurt, or overwhelmed in a big, noisy crowd of people, or weary when things were really busy? Everyone feels this way sometimes, and the bible has good news about it.

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He wasn’t really talking about rest for our bodies, like taking a nap; he was offering rest for our souls. When we know Jesus, our tired hearts are filled with God’s grace, which gives us strength when we feel overwhelmed or hopeless.

Talk about ways that you need God’s grace in your everyday lives. Pray that God will give you strength, peace, and hope when your soul feels weary.

Listen to this song at bedtime, and memorize Matthew 11:28 as a family.

CONTRIBUTORS

"The Word of His Grace" - Mike Tilley

Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.

"For the Family" - Katie Pollard

Katie is the administrator and communications director for LBC. Katie and her husband, Joel, moved to Orlando from Nashville, TN in 2014, when Joel became the Director of Worship at LBC. They both grew up in Carrollton, GA and have been leading worship together since their youth group days. They were married in 2011 and have two children, Sam and Evie.

Mike Tilley 8/29/16 Mike Tilley 8/29/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 29

The same King who answers our prayers for the advance of the gospel is also attentive to our personal needs. Even today we are all in a “time of need.” How encouraging that we can receive mercy and grace from the throne of grace!

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

“Thou art coming to a King,
large petitions with thee bring,
for his grace and power are such,
none can ever ask too much”

— John Newton

"The Throne of Grace"

This month you’ve probably learned again that prayer is hard work! Often we are like the disciples when Jesus asked them to “watch and pray” in the garden. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. On the flip side, you may have also discovered that prayer is a source of fresh grace and mercy for our times of need.

We often think of grace as undeserved favor, our acceptance with God because of the work of Christ, apart from our works. This rich truth frees us from works righteousness and from performing to earn acceptance with God and others.

But grace is also a source of God’s strength and power. So we speak of prayer and other things as “means of grace.” In his book Salvation Belongs to the Lord, John Frame describes the means of grace as “channels by which God gives spiritual power” to his people.

This month, as a church family, we have prayed “large petitions” on behalf of the lost, the found, the city, and the world. We have been praying that his kingdom would come, that his will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let us give thanks that he hears even our feeble prayers!

How to pray...

How would you describe your “time of need” today? Take some moments to honestly talk with God about your needs, and offer prayers for fresh mercy and grace.
The grace of God is also a source of strength and power for our congregation, as we pursue the vision that God has for us. Pray that his grace would shape and transform all of our hearts through prayer, through worship, through community, and through the Word of his grace.
Ask God for the fruit of grace in each of our lives: a growing love for God and neighbor.

For the Family

Lately we’ve prayed for lots of BIG things, like countries on the other side of the world! God made the entire universe and he is in control of it all, which is why we can pray for BIG things. Nothing is too big for God!

But did you know that God also cares about you and your personal needs? Nothing is too small for God!

Here’s what the bible says about God caring for small things: “Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)

Click HERE to download a coloring sheet with this verse!

This verse describes how God is paying attention to two very small things. First it says that he knows every time a sparrow falls to the ground. So if a nest falls out of a tree, God cares about those baby birds!

But then it says God knows how many hairs are on your head. Can you imagine trying to count how many hairs you have? That would take forever! But God loves you so much that he knows and cares about every detail about your life.

So if you’re worried about a spelling test or upset because a friend hurt your feelings, God is not too busy to hear about it. God also loves it when we take time to thank him for things that make us happy. The bible says that “every good and perfect gift” comes from God. Whether it’s a new friend or a delicious ice cream cone, we can thank God for every good thing in our lives.

Talk as a family, then pray together:

What are some “small” things that you can thank God for today? Praise him for “every good and perfect gift” when you pray.
What are some things that you’re worried about or that make you sad? Talk to God about those things. Ask him to comfort you when you’re worried or upset.

Contributors

"The Throne of Grace" - Mike Tilley

"For the Family" - Katie Pollard

Alison Epps 8/28/16 Alison Epps 8/28/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 28

When Jesus says in Revelation 21:5, “Behold I am making all things new,” He’s not talking about the kind of "new" that replaces the old. Bible scholars have pointed out that every time the writer of Revelation, John, uses that word "new", he’s not referring to something fundamentally different, but to the restoration of something that has fallen apart.

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end." (Revelation 21:6)

“Biblical salvation lies not in an escape from this world but in the transformation of this world.… No faith holds out a promise of eternal salvation for the world—the ordinary world—that the cross and resurrection of Jesus do.”

— Vinoth Ramachandra

"Because It's Done, We Can Do It"

Revelation 21 gives us a picture of the end of the story—a new heavens and new earth, every tear wiped away, God’s dwelling place here fully, the nations walking in the light. As we think about the good news of Christ for the whole world, it’s good to keep Revelation 21 in front of us.

The word for hope in the New Testament means “expectant of a guarantee.” So the promise of Revelation 21 is not something we wish for; it’s something we bet on. “It is done,” Jesus says. “I am the Alpha and the Omega.” Which means no one gets the last letter, let alone the last word, but Jesus.

What is this glorious ending that we can bank on?

Well if you were hoping for harps and clouds and baby cherubs, you’ll be disappointed. (If that’s what you were hoping for, we should probably talk.)

When Jesus says in Revelation 21:5, “Behold I am making all things new,” He’s not talking about the kind of "new" that replaces the old. Bible scholars have pointed out that every time the writer of Revelation, John, uses that word "new", he’s not referring to something fundamentally different, but to the restoration of something that has fallen apart.

The end of the story is THIS place. Only it’s THIS place restored. THIS place without sadness, without loss, without those knots in your stomach, without abuse, without abandonment, without hunger, without human-trafficking, without greed or cruelty or envy or idolatry or addiction or death. THIS place, made NEW.

Vinoth Ramachandra writes: “Biblical salvation lies not in an escape from this world but in the transformation of this world.… No faith holds out a promise of eternal salvation for the world — the ordinary world — that the cross and resurrection of Jesus do.”

So Revelation 21 isn’t wishful thinking; it’s a guiding reality. This gives us great confidence as we bring the good news to the world, because the end is already written, and it’s glorious.

In the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Shaun White (everyone’s favorite red-headed snowboarder) dominated the half pipe event. Such was his domination that he had the gold medal locked up before his final run! As he lined up for his last ride down the half pipe, the commentators wondered if he would just cruise down the middle without doing any tricks. After all, the competition was over. He was already the gold medalist. But Shaun White did more than cruise. He upped his game completely. For his last trick, he busted out and landed a Double McTwist 1260, which had never before been landed in Olympic competition, and is arguably the best trick to be landed in the history of Olympic snowboarding. And he did it when he already had the gold medal lined up.

I have a theory here: The reason that last run was his best ever was because he knew the end of the story. The gold was already promised. He was free. And free from the pressure to succeed, joy became his engine. And in joy, Shaun White took snowboarding farther than it had ever gone.

Revelation 21 is our guiding promise. We can move out into the world in joy because we know the end of the story. Even more, we know the Author of it—the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Let’s go serve Him today.

How to pray...

Praise God for the hope of the gospel, that one day God will make all things new.
Africa is a continent where many find it difficult to have hope. Pray for the work of Christians throughout Africa, meeting both physical and spiritual needs.
Pray for Greg and Amy Justice, serving with International Justice Mission (IJM) in Accra, Ghana. They are working to address issues of justice related to children. Pray for physical safety as well as their work in the area of communications.
Pray for the strengthening of churches and the power of the gospel of Christ in the face of radical Islamic terrorism.

For the Family

When we read books or watch movies, we never want someone to tell us how it ends, because part of the fun of reading a book or watching a movie is being surprised by the ending. But that’s not how Jesus wants us to live out our lives.

Jesus tells us how the story of this lifetime ends, not because he wants to spoil the ending for us, but because the end is SO much better than what happens in the middle. It makes the stuff that’s happening in our stories more exciting and more fulfilling.

Because we know that the end will be so good, it also makes the bad things that happen now more bearable.

As a family, talk about the hard parts of this life that you are excited to see “made new” when Jesus comes back. Parents, share with your kids some things that are hard for you now, like work, or sickness, or death, and how you look forward to those things being either restored or gone forever!

Then talk about how you can live, even now, with hope that Jesus will fix everything, and how that hope is something we can share with everyone!

Contributors

"Because It's Done, We Can Do It" - Joe White

Joe White serves as Assistant Pastor and part of the Sunday teaching team at Lake Baldwin Church. Joe and Tiffany (along with their children, Taylor, Lydia, and Jeremiah) recently moved back to Orlando after 6 years in Los Angeles, where Joe served as the Reformed University Fellowship pastor at UCLA. From 2005-2009, Joe did his graduate work at Reformed Theological Seminary, where he completed a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Counseling.

"For the Family" - Joel Pollard

Joel Pollard is the Director of Worship at LBC. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary and intends to pursue pastoral ordination in the PCA after graduation. Joel and his wife, Katie, have been married since 2011 and have two children, Sam and Evie.

Alison Epps 8/27/16 Alison Epps 8/27/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 27

So our belief in God’s sovereignty actually invigorates our evangelism as we cling to God’s promises: He has sheep from other pastures and his sheep will know his voice and will follow Him (John 10). God is the giver of Life! He has promised that there will be a great multitude from every tribe and tongue and people (Revelation 7). Trusting in these promises, we, his disciples, can step into seemingly hopeless lands with bold hope and with confidence that our labor is not in vain.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14 )

"Christ’s Last Words and the Least Reached"

by Jill K, missionary to Asia

We hold dear the truth that God is sovereign over all things, including the gift of salvation. Does this mean that we shouldn’t care about missions or evangelism, since it is God who changes hearts? Absolutely not!

The truth of the matter is that Christ commands us to teach others everything he has revealed to us. Sharing the good news of the gospel is absolutely our job and our joy… We just know that giving light, life, and saving faith to dead hearts is the work of the Spirit.

For some of us, this passion for global missions might be something new. Life is crazy-busy here in Orlando, and our connection to the world might be only as often as the next natural disaster or terrorist attack. For others of us, our passion and urgency about global missions can easily slide. We can become jaded, or the task can seem too big.

Scripture is clear, though, and we are challenged to think beyond ourselves. If we allow our hearts to be pierced by the truth of Scripture, we would be opened up to the need for the gospel among all peoples.

Christ is the only way to salvation, to forgiveness, to right standing with God (John 14:6). All the peoples who have come into our land need to hear of Christ and most can hear or have access when the church shines bright and beautiful right here at home. May we never lose our zeal to be Christ’s ambassadors, imploring people right here to be reconciled to God.

But there are entire people groups for whom there are no known Christian witnesses. No Scripture. No churches. Jesus commanded us to make disciples of every nation. We still need to go to ends and edges of the earth, to the millions who have never heard. “And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?”

So our belief in God’s sovereignty actually invigorates our evangelism as we cling to God’s promises: He has sheep from other pastures and his sheep will know his voice and will follow Him (John 10). God is the giver of Life! He has promised that there will be a great multitude from every tribe and tongue and people (Revelation 7). Trusting in these promises, we, his disciples, can step into seemingly hopeless lands with bold hope and with confidence that our labor is not in vain.

As believers in Christ, let us live as boldly as these truths deserve. Let’s pray for the church to be built among Tribal peoples, Hindus, Unbelieving, Muslims and Buddhists. (THUMB: easy to remember and pray for, right?). Let’s pray for missionaries to be sent into the unreached harvest fields (Luke 10:2) and for receptive soil in these hard places (Matthew 13:5). Please pray for the strengthening and effectiveness of the servants who are sent out and ask “that the Word of God may speed ahead and be honored as happened among you” (2 Thess 3:1). And let’s pray for disciples far away and for those of us right here, that we may live lives “worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work” (Col 1:10).

Come quickly Lord Jesus, and by your grace, enable us to live for the eternal gladness and glory ahead when we stand before you. “May the Lamb receive the full reward of His suffering.*”

*For the story of this quote, please see thereward.org

How to pray...

Pray for Matt and Jill K. and their family. Pray for their work in Asia, for creative outreach, partnering with new church planters, and reaching unreached peoples.
Pray for John Hutchings and Emily Walker serving in East Asia. They are part of our church family, and they are teaching English and building relationships in their country.
Pray for Japan, a nation that is historically resistant to the gospel. LBC has partnered with Mission to the World to do disaster relief. Thank God for the years of fruitful service of the missionaries there.
Pray for those affected by the recent earthquake in central Italy. The death toll has risen to 278.

For the Family

Today our prayers are focused on God’s work on the continent of Asia. Look at Asia on a world map… what a huge place! Over 4 BILLION people live in Asia, and they all need to hear about Jesus. Talk as a family:

Have you had Chinese food before? What is it like? How is it different from American food?
Can you imagine what it might be like to live in China as a missionary? Besides eating Chinese food every day, what do you think might be different about living there?
Talk about how brave and creative missionaries are, and pray for them.

Alison Epps 8/26/16 Alison Epps 8/26/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 26

I think Jesus is talking about more than geography in this final charge to his disciples. In the book of Acts we read about Jesus’ followers living as witnesses—not only across geographic boundaries, but across social and cultural boundaries. When you read this verse in that light, it becomes incredibly relevant.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

“We fear people because they can expose and humiliate us. We fear people because they can reject, ridicule, or despise us. We fear people because they can attack, oppress, or threaten us. These three reasons have one thing in common: they see people as ‘bigger’ than God, and out of the fear that creates in us, we give other people the power and right to tell us what to feel, think, and do.”

— Ed Welch

"Witnesses"
part 2

Yesterday we talked about what Jesus has called us to do: be his witnesses. Today we’re looking at where Jesus has called us to do that: Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

So I guess we need to pack our bags?

Perhaps. God may very well be calling you to move to the other side of the world right now. If He is, you should probably go do that.

But I think Jesus is talking about more than geography in this final charge to his disciples. In the book of Acts we read about Jesus’ followers living as witnesses—not only across geographic boundaries, but across social and cultural boundaries. When you read this verse in that light, it becomes incredibly relevant.

1. We’re called to be witnesses to our PEEPS.

Jesus sends his disciples to Jerusalem and Judea. That’s where they lived. That’s the sphere in which God had placed them. Go and witness to people in your spheres, Jesus was saying. Talk about me with your peeps.

Our peeps are the people who are like us. We have similar passions and hobbies. We’re in a similar life stage. We brush shoulders regularly. Jesus is sending us as his witnesses into the spheres we already occupy.

But there’s a real challenge to being a witness to your peeps: these are the people whose opinions matter most to you. The risk of being rejected or misunderstood feels powerful precisely because these are the people who accept and understand us.

Jesus is always calling us to get uncomfortable for the sake of others.

Jesus wants our peeps to know Him.

2. We’re called to be witnesses to our PAINS.

Jesus sends his disciples to Samaria. That was a place they would never go, let alone live. That was a sphere they wanted nothing to do with. Jews and Samaritans had a rich history of not getting along. To the Jews, the Samaritans were a pain to be around, and vice versa. But Jesus challenges them: Go and witness, even to the people you don’t like, even to the people who are a pain to be around.

Like our peeps, our pains present real challenges to our being a witness. These are people who rub you the wrong way. Their values feel incompatible with yours. The things they say and do are offensive to you.

Jesus is always calling us to get uncomfortable for the sake of others.

Jesus wants our pains to know Him.

3. We're called to be witnesses to our PERIPHERY.

Jesus sends his disciples to the ends of the earth. The news of what Jesus had done was to extend through and beyond the regions and cultures with which they were most familiar. The disciples were called to push out into the periphery of their known world, to minister to people they knew very little about.

So I guess we need to pack our bags? Again, perhaps.

But right here in Orlando we are surrounded by people who are very different from us. The challenges are obvious: These are people you don’t really understand. There are very real cultural barriers. Sensitivity and humility are required to make room at the table for people on the periphery of your world.

Jesus is always calling us to get uncomfortable for the sake of others.

Jesus wants people on our periphery to know Him.

Acts 1:8 is about more than geography. It’s about showing and telling the love of Christ with those like us (peeps), those not like us (periphery), and even those we don’t like (pains). Why? Jesus likes them all. A lot.

How to pray...

Pray for God to show you ways you can be “uncomfortable for the sake of others”.
It’s hard to hate someone and pray for them at the same time: Pray for specific “Pains” in your life.
Pray for humility to better understand people who are very different from you. Pray specifically for opportunities to build bridges with Muslims in our communities.
Pray for the witnesses all over the globe who, relying on the power of the Spirit, are sharing the love of Christ with people on the “periphery”.
Pray for the restoration of the Christian church in war-ravaged areas such as Syria and Iraq.

For the Family

A good way for us to put this lesson into practice is in a place most kids visit on a daily basis: the school cafeteria!

I remember the school cafeteria as a place where I enjoyed great times with my best friends and got annoyed with the people I didn’t like so much. I also realize now that the room had many people who I knew almost nothing about.

Talk with your kids: Think about the cafeteria at school. Do you sit with your best friends, your “peeps”? How are you showing them the love of Jesus on a daily basis? What about the people who really annoy you in the lunchroom… the “pains”... How could you show them the love of Jesus?

And finally, what about the kids who sit alone on the edge of the room, at the end of the table, or those kids who are ashamed to eat with others because they don’t feel like they fit in… How can you show those people the love of Jesus?

As a family, talk about these things:

Think about your closest friends. Which of your “peeps” needs to be shown the love of Jesus? Pray for them.
Think of someone who really annoys you. Remember that God loves that person, and pray that God will change your attitude so that you can be loving and kind.
Think of someone who doesn’t fit in. Ask God for the courage to talk to that person and learn more about who they are.

"Witnesses" - Joe White

"For the Family" - Joel Pollard

Alison Epps 8/25/16 Alison Epps 8/25/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 25

Lawyers argue. Witnesses testify. They testify to what they have seen, what they have experienced. Certainly good arguments have their place (see 1 Peter 3:15); we need to be ready to defend what we believe. But the job title Jesus gives us before he ascends to Heaven is that of Witness.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses… (Acts 1:8)

“The changed person, who knows that he or she is a child of God and has received the ‘downpayment of the Holy Spirit,’ is the continuing evidence of God at work in our history.”

— Darrell Guder

"Witnesses"
Part 1

During my junior year of high school, I went through evangelism training at my church. I think they called it, “How to Convince Someone They’re Wrong About Everything in 2 Minutes or Less”. That’s not what they called it. But that’s essentially what it was.

Equipped with the tools to argue and annoy, we jumped in a bus, headed to a crowded area, spread ourselves out so as to cover the most ground, and started asking people where they would go if they happened to die that night. Here’s how you can know you’ll be in heaven: repeat after me…

I want to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Bathwater is gross, but babies are pretty awesome. Jesus has called us to go out, and He has called us to take his message (the most beautiful message the world has encountered, or ever will), but notice in Acts 1:8 Jesus doesn’t call us lawyers. He calls us witnesses.

Lawyers argue. Witnesses testify. They testify to what they have seen, what they have experienced. Certainly good arguments have their place (see 1 Peter 3:15); we need to be ready to defend what we believe. But the job title Jesus gives us before he ascends to Heaven is that of Witness.

Three things about being a Witness for Jesus:

1.   Witnesses POINT TO...

We point to Jesus, not to ourselves. The Christian faith is not good advice on how to be a good person. It’s good news about how a good God comes to save us from ourselves. This means your life can be a wreck and you can still bear witness. In fact, you’ll probably be more effective for it.

Whatever you’ve got going on in your junk drawer, Peter and Paul were bigger messes, I assure you. But they knew their own brokenness, and they knew that Jesus’ death and resurrection was holding them together. That’s what they talked about. They pointed to Him.

2.   Witnesses RELY ON…

Jesus is clear about whose power is behind our witnessing: the power of the Holy Spirit of God. Without that, we’re toast.

Think about it: The disciples, as a start-up team, were embarrassing—poor, uneducated, and cowardly. These powerless anti-heroes were sent as witnesses into a world governed by an empire that was diametrically opposed to their mission. The only way this start-up was ever going to get off the ground was by God’s power. And it did. Because the same power that raised Jesus from the dead was at work within the disciples.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you have that same power of the Spirit of God within you. Let that sink in for a moment. If death was no match for God’s power, then we know God can use even our feeblest attempts at faith-conversations to plant the seeds of life in someone’s heart. God can bring awesome out of your awkward.

3.   Witnesses WELCOME IN…

We must not overlook the fact that the words in Acts 1:8 were addressed to a group. The early church was a communal witness. The way in which they did life together pointed to the one who had given His Life for them.

Acts 2:42-43 says, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul…” Pastor and theologian Sinclair Ferguson says it was really in response to the dynamic way this new community lived in Jerusalem that great awe came upon the people.

Bearing witness is not just about you going out. It’s about creating a culture of the gospel so people are invited in. Hospitality is evangelism spelled backwards. (Not really, but you get the point.) Most people aren’t argued or even preached into the kingdom of God; most people are welcomed into the kingdom of God.

Point to, Rely on, Welcome in. Be a witness today.

How to pray...

Pray for courage among our community to take the risk and live as witnesses for Jesus in our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, etc.
Pray for 3 people by name in your life who do not yet know the love of Christ.
Thank God for the gospel going to the ends of the earth to reach your heart.
Pray for the witnesses all over the globe who, relying on the power of the Spirit are pointing to and welcoming in. Pray specifically for gospel-centered churches in Europe, that they would be radiating centers of light on a dark continent.
Pray for the pastors of international churches in Europe affiliated with International Christian Community (ICC). Pray for the annual Pastors and Families retreat in Nice, France in late October. Several from LBC will be serving at this retreat.

For the Family

Have you ever seen a movie or TV show where someone is on trial in a courtroom? The “witness” is a person who comes to the trial to tell the judge what they saw or experienced.

For example, if someone is on trial for robbing a bank, maybe the witness saw the robber run out of a bank and drive away in a car. The witness might tell the judge and jury what time of day it was, what color the car was, and which direction he went. The judge might ask the witness if the person on trial for the crime is the same person he saw run out of the bank, to make sure they have the right guy.

At a trial, witnesses help the judge and jury understand what really happened and who is telling the truth.

In the Bible, Jesus tells his disciples to be “witnesses” for Him. He challenged them to go all over the world and tell people what they had seen and experienced while Jesus was with them.

Just like the disciples, God wants us to tell people about Jesus and share what God has done for us. Just like a witness at a trial, our job is to tell the truth and help people understand what really happened when Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. We want them to believe the truth that God loves them!

Talk as a family:

What are some good things God has done in your life that you could tell your friends about to point them to Jesus?
Name a few friends who you could talk to about Jesus, and pray for them.

Contributors

"Witnesses" - Joe White

"For the Family" - Katie Pollard

Alison Epps 8/24/16 Alison Epps 8/24/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 24

God’s blessing was never meant to be only for a few. In His promise to Abraham in Genesis 12, God said, “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” God did not intend his message of salvation to be only for Israel or Judea. He intended His salvation to reach the ends of the earth: to Spain, to England, even to the “New World.”

It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6-7)

"God's Heart for the Nations"

One need not drive very far in Orlando to see the need for God all around us. Only one or two miles away from our homes and workplaces we can vividly see brokenness. All around us are broken family relationships, cycles of poverty, and people who seem happy but are empty inside.

So why pursue foreign missions? Since the beginning of the human story God has always sought for an intimate relationship with those who are made in his image, man and woman. He knows that we are made for Him and we can only be truly satisfied in Him.

God’s blessing was never meant to be only for a few. In His promise to Abraham in Genesis 12, God said, “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” God did not intend his message of salvation to be only for Israel or Judea. He intended His salvation to reach the ends of the earth: to Spain, to England, even to the “New World.” And therein sits Orlando, home of the “Magic Kingdom.” But as magical as the City Beautiful is, even if the gospel were to transform every single person here in Orlando, God’s work would still not be done.

God is about the business of Acts 1, bringing His salvation and making disciples in “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” We are to act justly, love mercy and share the good news with our Orlando neighbors. But then, as John Piper notes, what we do well here for local evangelism and mercy ministries, we can then “export” to serve the nations.

When we see God moving in other parts of the world (as Hannah Rader testified to at church last Sunday) we are encouraged to live faithfully here. There is no necessary tension between local missions and global missions; they form a reciprocal relationship.

Therefore we go, send, and pray for foreign missions because God’s heart is for all the nations. And when we offer an account of our lives before the Lord, we don’t want to have pursued “too small a thing.”

How to pray...

Pray for the long-term missionaries that Lake Baldwin Church supports, Ross and Lindsay Stowers in Florence, Italy. Besides working with Cru administration (Agape) in Italy they are also reaching out to Italians through sports ministry and networking with other young families.
Pray for the Syrian refugees in Greece that Hannah Rader spoke of last Sunday and that God would use these new Christians to spread the good news in those formal and informal refugee camps.
Pray that God would show all of us at Lake Baldwin Church how to pray for, send others, and go ourselves to all nations with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Pray for Davidson and Katie Jean-Rejouis, who visited us during the missions conference, as they prepare for their ministry in France. Pray for completion of their support, for their team in Toulouse, and for their work with worship and youth.

For the Family

Ross and Lindsay Stowers are missionaries in Italy, supported by Lake Baldwin Church. They and their children were part of our church family when they lived in Orlando.

Take a moment to find Italy on the map. Explain that most of the people in Italy do not have a church family, and need to hear about Jesus.

Invite your children to write a note to Ross and Lindsay Stowers and their children, Weston, Tessa, and Colton. Thank them for serving God in Italy. Then bring the note to church this Sunday and give it to Joy McGill. Joy and her family will be visiting the Stowers family in Italy in just a few weeks, and they would be happy to take notes to the Stowers family!

Contributors

"God's Heart for the Nations" - Ravi Jain

Ravi Jain is a member of LBC and serves as the head of the Global Missions Team. He has been a calculus and physics teacher at The Geneva School since 2003 and has devoted his work to understanding the role of math and science in a Christian classical curriculum. Ravi enjoys reading, being outdoors, and traveling abroad. He spends most of his free hours enjoying time with his wife Kelley and their two sons, Judah and Xavier.

"For the Family" - Mike Tilley

Alison Epps 8/23/16 Alison Epps 8/23/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 23

So what will make the nations glad? The scriptures are clear that the nations (all people) will be joyful and fulfilled when we worship the creator. It is for our good that God wants us to delight in the One who can bring us true joy. We were created for his glory, and when we reject the idols around us and embrace him, we will be glad.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. (Psalm 67:4)

"Let the Nations Be Glad"

I remember reading this verse for the first time, and thinking, "Yes, I want the nations to be glad! How can that happen?" There have been times in my life when I have believed (or acted as if I believed) that many things could make the nations glad. Maybe we can provide food, clothing, shelter or quality healthcare to make the nations glad. Or maybe if everyone was at peace the nations would be glad...

The reality is that it's possible to do or have those things (which are all good things) and not be truly “glad” in the way God’s word describes. While it may seem that success, security, health or peace will make us glad, God has something much better for us.

As C.S. Lewis wrote in The Weight of Glory, "It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

So what will make the nations glad? The scriptures are clear that the nations (all people) will be joyful and fulfilled when we worship the creator. It is for our good that God wants us to delight in the One who can bring us true joy. We were created for his glory, and when we reject the idols around us and embrace him, we will be glad. Psalm 40:16 says, “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the Lord!”

The best way we can engage in making the nations glad is by making God king of our individual lives. When we do that, we will buy into his plans, which include redeeming people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. We will share his glory with the nations, and his Spirit will cause them to worship him and be eternally glad.

How to pray...

That we won't be pleased with the fleeting joys of this world, but that we will treasure Christ above all. Pray that the love of Christ would fuel our hearts for the glory of God being proclaimed among the nations.
For Peter and Jenny Boling, missionaries and church planters in La Paz, Mexico. The Bolings serve with Mission to the World, and they hosted the LBC mission trip to Cabo in 2015. Peter also spoke at our first Missions Festival in January. Pray for fruitful work as the Bolings team up with a Mexican church planter in La Paz.
Pray for the advance of the gospel throughout Latin America: in Brazil, host of the Olympics; and in Venezuela, a nation in crisis.
Pray for church planting among the growing Puerto Rican population right here in Orlando. LBC and our partners look to God in faith for gospel work among the Latino population in coming years.

For the Family

Look at a map of the world as a family and talk about the different nations of the world. For the younger kids, help them find where you live on the map and talk about how long it might take by boat or plane to get to different places around the world.

Download a world map coloring page here

Have your child name all the different languages that they have heard about.

The world that God created is so big and there are so many people. God is so amazing—he not only created everyone uniquely but he loves each person unconditionally and hears all the voices of all the nations.

Have your children point to a random place on the map and pray for that nation together.

Contributors

"Let the Nations Be Glad" - Andrew Balducci

Andrew Balducci and his wife, Ellen, moved to Orlando from Oxford, MS in 2011 to work with the General Counsel Office at the Cru headquarters. Andrew and Ellen are members of LBC and co-lead a community group for young adults, along with TJ and Anna Sellers. Andrew is a member of the Global Missions Team and participated in an LBC missions trip to Cabo, Mexico in the summer of 2015.

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Michelle Crouse has served as the director of LBC's children's ministry—SPLASH Kids—since the end of 2011. She and her husband Joshua were married in 2002 and have 2 children. Michelle grew up outside of Boston and graduated from James Madison University in Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She loves being with kids and loves the opportunity to be a part of teaching children how much they are loved by God, and helping them grow in their understanding of what that means.

Mike Tilley 8/22/16 Mike Tilley 8/22/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 22

This gospel story would be “preached among the nations” and Jesus would be “believed on in the world.” Our lives in Orlando might feel small, and we might even feel helpless in a chaotic world. But our story has a meaningful place in God’s plan.

He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)

"God's Larger Story"

The Bible opens our eyes to God’s larger story, and his plan for the nations. Our Scripture verse for today reminds us of the life of Jesus: his incarnation, his resurrection, his ascension, and his exaltation. This gospel story would be “preached among the nations” and Jesus would be “believed on in the world.” Our lives in Orlando might feel small, and we might even feel helpless in a chaotic world. But our story has a meaningful place in God’s plan.

How does our story, individually and as a church, fit into God’s larger story for the nations?

With Christians around the world, we share the mission that Jesus gave to his disciples: “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19)
The world has grown smaller, and we are in a new world of missions. We can be global citizens, connected to the world with transportation, technology, and even the global language of English. Think of how short-term missionaries from LBC have been able to make a difference as we partner with churches and organizations around the world.
God has blessed Lake Baldwin Church with a remarkably high number of people who are connected globally.
A world in crisis is seeing Christians go to the front lines of social justice, aiding the needy and advancing the gospel.

This week, as a church uniting in prayer, let us offer up fervent prayers for a broken world, and for the people among us who stand ready to “proclaim him among the nations.”

How to pray...

Pray that the good news of Jesus would shape our vision for a world in need of the gospel.
Thank God for the many members of our church who are engaged in global work for the advancement of the gospel. Think of one you know, and pray for that person.
Thank God for our Global Missions Team: Ravi Jain, TJ Sellers, Andrew Balducci, Sarah Madsen, Matt Watts, and Bart Johnson. Pray for them as they serve the church and refine their vision and plans for the coming years.
Pray for a world in crisis: global terrorism, untold numbers of refugee families, human trafficking, and corruption.

For the Family

There are many ways that people learn about God but often the time and voice of another person is very powerful in our understanding who God is and what he did to show his love for us.

Sometimes we take it for granted that we are surrounded by people who can help us grow in our understanding and relationship with God and so it is hard to comprehend that there are people in the world that haven’t had this same privilege.

Share with each other how each of you first heard and learned about Jesus.
Talk as a family about what it means to be a missionary. What are missions trips?
Do you know someone that has gone on a missions trip recently? Would it be possible as a family to connect with this person so they can share with you about their trip and for your kids to ask questions about it?

CONTRIBUTORS

"God's Larger Story" - Mike Tilley

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Scott Crocker 8/21/16 Scott Crocker 8/21/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 21

As followers of Christ, we believe that it is only the Great Physician that can bring ultimate healing to the people of Orlando and to our great city. Let’s pray to that end.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

“Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.”

— Hippocrates

"The Healing of Orlando"

The weekend of June 10, 2016 was a difficult one for Orlando. On that Friday night, singer Christina Grimmie was killed after a concert at The Plaza Live. The following night, 49 people were murdered at the Pulse nightclub. A couple days later, two-year-old Lane Graves was killed by an alligator while on property with his family at a Disney resort.

In the days and weeks following these tragic events, the family of LBC gathered in prayer, moved forward in generosity and sought to serve those affected by these deaths. But the grief remains for the family and friends of those whose lives were lost and the road to recovery still exists for many of those injured.

Sadly, the aftermath of the Pulse shootings displayed a fractured relationship between our churches and the LGBTQ community, not only in Orlando but throughout our country. As a church, we have sought to reach out in love and compassion to those affected by these shootings. I believe that God is calling us to continue to live out the belief that the gospel is “good news for our city.”

As followers of Christ, we believe that it is only the Great Physician that can bring ultimate healing to the people of Orlando and to our great city. Let’s pray to that end.

How to pray...

Pray that we will “weep with those who weep” and “mourn with those who mourn.” Pray that we would allow ourselves to grieve these senseless tragedies.
Pray that we would look for opportunities to provide a listening ear and non-judgmental conversation for those who have had negative experiences with the Church.
Pray that LBC would continue to be a church marked by an Outward Focus and a Gospel Culture. Pray that we would be welcoming to all those that God might allow to cross our paths.
Pray that God would heal our city through the power of the gospel. Ask God to open the hearts of people to the gospel. Pray that Christians would represent Christ well to those who appear to be without hope.

For the Family

Share with each other a time when you were really hurt or upset. Did you learn anything during that time?
We live in a beautiful world but it is full of pain and challenges. What does injustice mean? Are there things that seem unjust to you in our world?
Do you know someone who is going through a hard time? Maybe a friend at school or church or a neighbor? Pray for them and brainstorm ways that you can be beside them in their pain.

Contributors

"The Healing of Orlando" - Scott Crocker

Scott Crocker is the Chief of Staff for Ethnic Field Ministry, a ministry of Cru committed to seeing spiritual movements launched among ethnic minority students and faculty throughout the world. His family attends Lake Baldwin Church, where Scott serves as a deacon and leads the church’s mercy ministry to those in need. In his free time, he is a diehard fan of the Michigan Wolverines & Detroit Tigers and has coached youth basketball and football since high school. An avid reader, he particularly enjoys biographies and books about culture and American history. Scott and his wife, Lori, have four children and live in Orlando, Florida

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/20/16 Alison Epps 8/20/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 20

Our idols are not made of marble, but we are just as guilty of placing created things on the thrones of our hearts. What idols does your heart hold dearly? We cannot expect restoration in the city, full of folks who do not know Him, until our own hearts yearn for the Father.

You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)

"Justice and Restoration"

Reflecting upon a recent trip to India, what strikes me deeply and definitively is how similar Orlando is to Kolkata is in its worship of gods. As believers, what do we hold most dear? Is it living a Spirit-filled life to reflect Christ and begin a grassroots path to actual restoration in our city? Or are we clinging to an ideal of what life ‘should’ look like, expecting a problem-free, comfortable, ‘American dream’ experience? The latter may be the first and greatest obstacle to seeing communities restored.

India was a mind-blowing, eye-popping, heartbreaking assault on the senses. It is a beautiful, delicious, culturally rich place. The infrastructure is rigid, yet lawless; creative, yet frayed. Each person is employed for one specific role in each process. There was a young man who came for the trash and also cleaned the toilets on Saturdays. There was a woman who came every day to sweep, wash the dishes and floors, and wash the clothes—She didn’t touch the toilet. There was another guy who delivered water and a gentleman who picked up and delivered the ironing. With so many daily visitors it’s easy to be worn out by mid morning, despite having done nothing.

Another aspect to the unusual adventure was the in-your-face exposure to over 3000 gods and the rituals, festivals, habits and demands that accompany Hinduism. I visited a temple with two students and with a straight face, one explained to me the significance of a particular god and the dispersing of her body parts all over the country to develop the varying parts of India.

I passed by small shrines daily. In each case, I prayed aloud, and verbalized scripture because it felt like I was front and center, face-to-face with the enemy, reminding him and myself who is really in charge. I felt very alone with the Lord in those circumstances. The number of the ‘lost’ becomes much more profound and pronounced when you’re surrounded by marble idols.

I think of the Orlando community and see that our need for restoration is no different. The sin may look different but it breaks the heart of our Father in precisely the same ways. Our idols are not made of marble, but we are just as guilty of placing created things on the thrones of our hearts. What idols does your heart hold dearly? We cannot expect restoration in the city, full of folks who do not know Him, until our own hearts yearn for the Father.

How to pray...

Today’s Prayer Focus is for partner organizations that are seeking justice and restoration. You can learn more about these organizations HERE.

Pray for Elevate Orlando and their partnership with businesses and local schools to provide character training for urban youth. A separate ministry provides scholarships for urban youth to attend Young Life camp, and LBC helps with funding. Be praying for Jack and Sheri McGill, and their board, as they lead Elevate Orlando.
Pray for 306 Foundation as they serve women in need, many of whom have gained fresh hope through the “Toobox4Life” training. Pray for John and Jane Hursh as they provide leadership.
Pray for Grace Medical Clinic as they offer needed medical care to those who cannot afford it. A number of folks at LBC will be involved in the upcoming “Let’s Say Grace” benefit for this ministry, so pray for God’s blessing on that event.
Pray for our ongoing relationship with Habitat for Humanity and David Runnels as he coordinates this partnership. Ask God to give each of us a heart to serve our city through Habitat work days.
Pray for a possible collaboration with Jobs Partnership of Florida as they seek to provide job training and life skills to those seeking employment.

For the Family

What does it mean to have other "gods" in our life?

Share with each other some of the idols in your own life or in your family.
What are ways that you would like to connect with others in the community that don’t know the grace of our Lord?
Brainstorm ways that as a family you would like to try to engage in sharing the gospel with others around you.

Contributors

"Justice and Restoration" - Jane Hursh

Jane and her family have been attending LBC for nearly ten years. She and John are empty nesting this year, as Caroline heads to FSU. John Falknor and Ben attend UF. She owns jane’s short & sweet LLC and together with John, is working to enhance our community through the work of the 306 Foundation.

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Scott Crocker 8/19/16 Scott Crocker 8/19/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 19

When we look at the world around us, imagine the difference a generation of Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, and gospel-driven young people could make in our city, nation, and world. God is at work among these future leaders and we have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives through our prayers.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ… (Colossians 4:2-3)

“The university is a clear-cut fulcrum with which to move the world. Change the university and you change the world.”

— Charles Malik

"Local Campus Ministries"

I was as a college student when God grabbed ahold of my heart and changed the course of my life. An impressionable nineteen-year-old sophomore, I met Jesus in a life-altering way and committed to serve Him the best I knew how. In His graciousness, God provided a group of other students who loved God and loved me well.

Through a ministry on my campus, I learned how to pray, how to study the Bible, and how to live a life empowered by God’s Spirit. I received training on how to share my faith with others. My experience through a collegiate ministry impacted me so profoundly that upon graduation, I wanted to spend the best hours of my day helping college students who were coming into a relationship with Christ. Now over twenty years later, I’m still committed to this same mission.

The college experience is a critical time for those in their late teens and early twenties. It is during this season of life that so many of the future leaders of our world are wrestling with many potentially transformative questions: What kind of work will I do? Where will I live? Who will I marry? What will I believe? What will I live for?

In the midst of all the learning, searching and questioning, we are grateful that there are a number of campus ministries that reach out to the college students of central Florida and beyond. When we look at the world around us, imagine the difference a generation of Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, and gospel-driven young people could make in our city, nation, and world. God is at work among these future leaders and we have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives through our prayers.

How to pray...

For Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at Rollins College, and for Zack Baldwin as he leads the ministry. Pray for “open doors” for the gospel to go forth.
For Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at UCF, and for Lee Wright as he directs the work. Pray for students to be grounded in the Word and in love for God and others.
For Cru at UCF as they engage in evangelism and discipleship, and for Jeremy Reddy as he leads the work. Pray for reliance on the Spirit’s power in their lives.
For all the staff and students from Campus Outreach who were part of LBC this summer. Pray that their experiences and growth from this summer will deepen throughout the fall and that they will be strong witnesses on their campuses and in their families.
For the college students who attend LBC. Thank God for their presence and their participation in the life of our church. Pray that their college years would be a time of spiritual growth and transformation.

For the Family

The season of late teens/early twenties is such a unique time in life full of change and choice. Share with your children some of the impactful things that happened to you during that time of your life. Each of our lives is a journey and we can’t predict what is going to be on that road, but it is amazing to look back at where that road took us. God not only knows our entire journey—he is on each road with us.

Ask your children: what is important to them right now and why? Maybe it is a friendship, an extracurricular activity, or family time. This part of their journey is preparing them for what is ahead. Find ways to be present in their journey and to look for God’s guiding hand in their lives.

Contributors

"Local Campus Ministries" - Scott Crocker

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/18/16 Alison Epps 8/18/16

Hannah Rader: With the Refugees in Greece

The refugees are in such a place of desperation and vulnerability that the hope and love of Jesus is the only truth that can impact their current situation in a positive way.

Over last Christmas break one of my good friends invited me on a missions trip to Thessaloniki, Greece. I was hesitant at first because of the risks involved with going to work with Syrian refugees, but after a few months of prayer and discussion I felt like God was calling me to go.

The trip was called Engage the Crisis, and thousands of college students participated in this movement by traveling to Europe to share the gospel to Refugees. My team was located in northern Greece and we spent two weeks this summer sharing the gospel, loving the refugees, and distributing food, water, and clothes.

It is amazing that of all the locations Engage the Crisis had to offer, my team was located in the area that contained the most refugees at the time. My team and I spent most of our time in two different refugee camps known as Echo and Diavata. Echo (which no longer exists; the refugees were forced to leave and join another camp in Greece) was an informal camp, which means it was not government-run. We were able to enter the camp very easily and speak freely.

In this camp in particular, our team was blessed with the opportunity to share the gospel daily. Muslim refuges were not only interested in, but also accepting of the gospel; they wanted to know Jesus on a personal level. It was amazing!

The refugees are in such a place of desperation and vulnerability that the hope and love of Jesus is the only truth that can impact their current situation in a positive way.

Many refuges that we had the privilege of speaking with communicated that they had been experiencing recurring dreams of a man in white coming to them in their sleep. My team and I firmly believe that the man in their dreams is Jesus, and we were able to share this truth and saw lives transformed because of it.

I am so amazed at the ways in which God is moving within these camps. He is present and His love for the Muslim people is unreal. I personally found the trip and experience to be very challenging. I had never spoken to strangers on the street, let alone Muslims, about Christianity before, but I quickly learned it was the most rewarding thing I have ever done; I had never felt so alive. Reflecting on my time makes me miss the relationships with the people I met, but it also encourages me to continue to pray for the refugees, and ask God to continue to make Himself known to these people who are so hungry for hope and life.

I am so thankful that Lake Baldwin supported me with their prayers and financial support. Many refugee lives have been transformed and many people have experienced the loving embrace of Jesus for the first time. Thank you for partnering with me!!

— Hannah Rader

Scott Crocker 8/18/16 Scott Crocker 8/18/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 18

In an age where a quick tweet or Facebook post allows us to offer a critique of our leaders, God’s Word instructs us to instead pray for them. The role of the Christian is to lift up our leaders—spiritual, civic, or otherwise—before the God who sees all and knows all.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 2:1-4)

"Praying for our Leaders"

One of the best examples of leadership in the Bible is that of Moses. The circumstances surrounding his birth, the manner in which he was raised, and the remarkable ways in which God chose to use him are an evidence of God’s power and grace. When God called to him from a burning bush it was evident that God had unique plans for Moses. He was to lead his people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.

But Moses was a reluctant leader. He initially hesitated to be “God’s man,” though he eventually accepted his call. And even though it is obvious to us that Moses was God’s appointed prophet to deliver the Israelites from slavery, many of the people Moses was attempting to lead did not appreciate his efforts. They constantly complained. They questioned his decisions. Some even wanted to stone him. No one said leadership was easy.

In fact, leadership can often be quite difficult. Though leaders often get attention and recognition, they also carry the burden of responsibility and receive unfair criticism. Like the Israelites, we can be quick to fault our leaders without fully comprehending the weight of decisions and expectations that they carry with them.

In an age where a quick tweet or Facebook post allows us to offer a critique of our leaders, God’s Word instructs us to instead pray for them. The role of the Christian is to lift up our leaders—spiritual, civic, or otherwise—before the God who sees all and knows all. Let’s do that today...

How to Pray...

Pray for local government officials. Pray for wisdom as they lead our city and that God would draw them closer to himself.
Pray for law enforcement, fire fighters, paramedics, and all those who seek to serve and protect us. Pray for their protection and that they would lead with courage and integrity.
Pray specifically for the leaders of LBC who lead us in caring for our congregation and in serving our city, our deacons. Pray for Michael Ballenger, Scott Crocker, Drew Hallberg, Candice Holtz, Adam Mikkelson, and Ernie Traynham. Pray for their personal spiritual lives, their families, and the ministries they lead. Ask God to raise up new deacons and deaconesses for our deacon team.
Pray pastors throughout the city, including those planting new churches. Pray for Mike Aitcheson, former apprentice at LBC now planting Christ United Fellowship as a multi-cultural congregation. Pray for the Florida Church Planting Network, with 40+ churches locking arms to resource new church plants. LBC helps fund this effort.
Finally, pray that God would use all these efforts to open the hearts of people to the gospel, bringing good news to the city!

For the Family

by Michelle Crouse

As a family, make a list of all the community leaders and servants you can think of (president, governor, representatives, policemen, firemen, judges, pastors, church leaders, etc.)

During this election season our kids are likely hearing all kinds of ideas and viewpoints about leaders or potential leaders. Give your kids some time to share what they have heard and what they think about it. Take some time to talk about how we can be respectful of others and their viewpoints even if we don’t agree with them. One of the greatest gifts we can give to these leaders and servants is to pray for them as they seek to lead and care for the people.

Download a "Community Helper" coloring sheet HERE!

For the younger children, print the Community Helper coloring sheet. Encourage them to pray out loud as they color the community helpers!

Contributors

"Praying for Our Leaders" - Scott Crocker

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/17/16 Alison Epps 8/17/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 17

It’s been said that work is the gracious expression of creative energy in the service of others. Your work matters to God! Redefine your boss and then do your work whole heartily, as unto the Lord!

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)

"Faith and Work"

What word best describes what you like to spend your time doing? In answer to that question, how many said “work”? On any given day, many of us can relate to the words of the country artist, the late Johnny Paycheck, who sang, “Take this job and shove it, I ain’t workin’ here no more!”

From culture we get a view of work that can vary widely. Ringo Starr observed, “It’s been a hard day’s night, and I’ve been workin’ like a dog!” In the movie 9 to 5, Dolly Parton commented on the plight of many in the workforce when she sang: “Workin’ 9 to 5 / what a way to make a livin’ / barely gettin’ by / it’s all takin’ and no givin’! ” At one end of the spectrum work is drudgery—you work like a dog just to barely make a living.

On the other end, “Work”, Henry Ford proclaimed, “is the salvation of the human race, morally, physically, socially.” President Coolidge said of work, “the man who builds a factory builds a temple, the man who works there worships there.” Another perspective on work is found in the sign above the Nazi Concentration Camp at Auschwitz, which reads "Arbeit Macht Frei", or “work makes you free”.

In light of these contrary perspectives, Christians must ask: What does the bible have to say to us about work?

Starting on page 1, the bible describes God’s work in creation (Genesis 1:1-30). Scripture tells us that it was for his pleasure that God created all things (Revelation 4:11). It pleased God to work and he was pleased with his creation, pronouncing it “very good.” As creatures made in his image, God gave us work to do (Gen. 2:15). The work God gave to mankind was a blessing—a reflection of his image within us.

However, work became cursed when sin entered the world (Gen. 3:17-19). Ever since, people have struggled to keep work in its proper perspective. Theologian Os Guinness, says we often have upside-down values: “We worship our work, we work at our play and we play at our worship.” When this happens, our sense of value, identity, meaning and worth become tied up in our vocational position, power, or prestige . Our résumé becomes our righteousness.

A biblical understanding of work requires you to redefine your boss: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men… It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24). From the Lord you have received vocational aptitudes, gifts and abilities. When you put these to work in the service of others, it is an honorable thing, no matter what you do. As Martin Luther understood, “the works of monks and priests, however holy and arduous they be, do not differ one whit in the sight of God from the works of the rustic laborer in the field or the woman going about her household tasks, but that all works are measured before God by faith alone… Indeed, the menial housework of a manservant or maidservant is often more acceptable to God than all the fastings and other works of a monk or priest, because the monk or priest lacks faith.”

It’s been said that work is the gracious expression of creative energy in the service of others. Your work matters to God! Redefine your boss and then do your work whole heartily, as unto the Lord!

Where do we find the motivational power to do this? By remembering the work of Christ—the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep (John 10). As you remember what it cost the Lord Christ to serve you at the cross, you will find the power to redefine your boss and serve Him in your workplace. After all, He is the only one with the power to make you truly free. Amen!

How to pray...

Thank God for your job and pray that He would enable you to see your work as a good thing and an avenue in which to serve Him.
Pray that through your work God would grant you to the opportunity to witness by your life and words to the goodness of God.
Pray for co-workers who need to experience the love and forgiveness that is found in Christ. Pray that God would provide an open door for you to minister to them.
Pray for those from LBC who are currently without work. Pray that God would provide steady employment for them in which they will be able to utilize the gifts and passions.

For the Family

A common question we ask children is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Work, or what we “do”, is a big part of life. In fact, we often push kids in school to help them succeed in their work later on in life.

Our work is a way that we can serve our Lord. The work that the Lord gives us might not fit in a typical 9-5 day. It may be parenting and caring for you family, reaching out to your community, sharing the gospel with others, working in an office or working from home.

Ask your child, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” But this time do some follow-up questions to get to the heart of their thoughts.

What is it about that job that gets you excited?
Who would you want to help if you did that job?
Is there anything about that job you think you wouldn’t like?
What are some of the qualities that a person doing that job needs to have?
How could someone serve the Lord while doing that job?

Share with your child that they have a job now... even before they grow up! They can serve the Lord each and every day as they are growing; they don’t have to wait until they are grown up! They can serve the Lord in so many ways: friendships, schooling, family, church, decisions and talents! What a great mindset for our children to grasp early in life—that their life can be a life of service and worship to the Lord!

"Faith and Work" - Jim Cunningham

Jim Cunningham is an elder at Lake Baldwin Church. Jim has been a Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida since 1977. He holds a Masters in Biblical Studies in addition to his Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law. Jim has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Central Florida. Jim and his wife, Joyce, were instrumental in establishing a fund which provides scholarships for needy children to attend FCA camps in North Carolina. Jim and Joyce also served on the Board of Directors of Family First, an organization based in Tampa, Florida and dedicated to strengthening and improving Florida's families.

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/16/16 Alison Epps 8/16/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 16

May we be reminded today of His enormous generosity in Christ Jesus. Every way that He has made us rich—community, love, time, resources, finances, giftedness, job, family, ministry—we in turn may be rich in our generosity on every occasion to the glory and thanksgiving of God. May we at LBC be a generous people who have hands opened wide with His good gifts.

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11)

"Generosity"

One of the first words each of our four children voiced early on in toddlerhood was the word, “MINE!” It was a familiar expression shouted between them as each tried their best to hang onto what was in their hands at the time. Trying to teach their young hearts that God owned everything and His desire was for us to be generous in sharing those gifts with others, was a most difficult concept for them to grasp.

Recently I was enjoying an afternoon at the beach collecting shells. As I walked along the shoreline I mentioned to God, “I sure would love to find an unbroken sand dollar.” In all the years I had enjoyed New Smyrna Beach, I don’t ever remember finding an intact sand dollar on its eastern shores. Without exaggeration, I took maybe ten steps, and to my astonishment noticed what looked like the top of a beige shell with sand dollar markings. “No way,” I said out loud and excitedly brushed the waters back and forth to remove the thin layer of sand covering it. Sure enough, peering back at me was a most beautiful, completely intact, sand dollar! I was stunned! I gathered it up with childlike joy and practically skipped through the water, thanking God for His goodness and intimate display of love for me.

Passing a young mother and her two children I stopped and opened my hand wide revealing my prize saying, “Look what I found today! I asked God for a sand dollar and sure enough, He led me to it.” The young boy’s eyes widened exclaiming, “I’ve never seen a sand dollar before!” He admired my rare find, and then ran off to find his own sea treasures. As I continued walking I thought, “God, would you lead me to another sand dollar so I can give it to that young boy?” Without warning the question appeared, “Why don’t you give him the one in your hand?” Instantly I felt the fingers of my heart clench snug around the sand dollar I was holding. Facing my resistance I whimpered back, “But you gave this to me! It’s mine!” Like my young children, I was doing my best to hold onto what was in my hand.

As I waded back home that afternoon, the conversation in my heart with God was tender and without condemnation. Like a mother with her child, God gently reminded me that He was lavishly generous with me in offering His Beloved Son. That sacrificial giving would mark my heart the more I cherished and understood His amazing gift of grace. Furthermore, He reminded me that there wasn’t one gift I enjoyed that wasn’t given by Him, created by Him, sustained and held together by His generosity. My heart was refreshed with the truth that each gift He gives, He also empowers me by His Spirit, to offer it in order to enrich the kingdom in a way that ushers in thanksgiving to God, and bring honor to the name of the Lord. Every gift, including the treasure of a found sand dollar, enriches me so that on every occasion I can in turn be generous, resulting in the praise and thanksgiving to God. Jesus is my Prize, and by God’s grace my hands will remain opened wide, generously offering His treasures.

May we be reminded today of His enormous generosity in Christ Jesus. Every way that He has made us rich—community, love, time, resources, finances, giftedness, job, family, ministry—we in turn may be rich in our generosity on every occasion to the glory and thanksgiving of God. May we at LBC be a generous people who have hands opened wide with His good gifts.

How to pray...

As a follower of Christ, ask God to show you today how you might be generous and help reveal God to the world.
Take time to thank God for the specific ways He has been generous to you.
Ask God to show you how he wants you to use your gifts and talents at LBC to reach our community and city.
Pray today that God would enlarge your heart in your understanding of His generosity, as displayed through His Son, Christ Jesus.

For the Family

As a family look up the word "generous" and then put it into your own words.
Share a time when someone has been generous to you and how that made you feel.
Share a time when you have really understood God’s generosity to you.
What are ways that we can be generous beyond how we often view generosity to others around us (money/material versus time/words/actions, etc.)

Contributors

"Generosity" - Kim Anderson

Anchored by God’s Word, Kim Anderson is passionate about awarding worth and cultivating growth in women by helping them understand their identity in Christ. Married for 25 years to her husband Danny, they have four children. A writer and speaker at heart, Kim is grateful for the gift of words!

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Scott Crocker 8/15/16 Scott Crocker 8/15/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 15

We each have the opportunity to serve others in our community. Whether it’s picking up trash in our neighborhood, volunteering at a local school, serving with a local ministry that cares for the under resourced or joining a once/month team at LBC, we can model God’s love for others through the way we serve them. It might cost us a little time and possibly a little sweat, but the eternal difference our service can make is worth it.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”

— John Bunyan

"Serving Others"

There’s a gentlemen who lives in my neighborhood who is a well-known Christian leader. He leads a ministry of thousands and oversees a multi-million dollar budget. His influence on the lives of others is remarkable and the sheer number of people he’s had an impact upon would be difficult to count.

He has faithfully served the Lord for decades and shared the gospel throughout the world and, for this, I have great respect for him. But one of the things that I admire most is that while he goes for his daily morning walk in our neighborhood, he often picks up trash along the road and sidewalks in our community. No one has asked him to do this and he certainly isn’t getting paid to do it. In fact, as a very busy person with important responsibilities, some might argue that it’s not a good stewardship of his time to be picking up discarded fast food wrappers, half-consumed soda cans and forgotten scraps of paper that are the result of the carelessness of others.

But as one who seems to have a good understanding of why “Jesus came to serve and not be served,” I think he offers a good example for each of us. I would imagine there are a number of people in our neighborhood who recognize him as “that guy who picks up trash” and don’t know anything else about him. But I’m also guessing that his willingness to humbly serve our neighbors through this oft-unrecognized service opens doors for him to share about the One who not only served, but “gave his life as a ransom for many.”

We each have the opportunity to serve others in our community. Whether it’s picking up trash in our neighborhood, volunteering at a local school, serving with a local ministry that cares for the under resourced or joining a once/month team at LBC, we can model God’s love for others through the way we serve them. It might cost us a little time and possibly a little sweat, but the eternal difference our service can make is worth it.

How to pray...

Pray for God to develop a humble heart of service within you.
Pray for all of the faithful volunteers who serve LBC each and every week. Pray for their energy, strength and steadfastness.
Pray for gospel-inspired service to be part of the culture of our church, and for volunteer teams to be at full strength as we anticipate the excitement of the fall ministry season.
Pray that the members of LBC would be known by others in our community as people who willingly and joyfully serve others.

For the Family

There is excitement in the air as this is the time that school is starting back! Some children are about to begin their school journey and others are another year along in the process. How special it is that the same week that children are going back to school, we are seeking the Lord about serving others!

Carve out a little time to talk with your kids about ways that they can serve the Lord through serving others at school. Ideas might include opening doors, playing with a new friend at recess, helping your teacher clean up a mess in the room, looking for new students and introducing yourself. Sometimes just talking through ideas helps train our eyes and ears to be sensitive when events happen in our daily life when we can take a moment to extend grace to others!

As the busyness of the year kicks in, you may want to think ahead of creative times you could have these types of meaningful conversations and touchpoints with your kids —driving in the car, during a meal, while you are cleaning up at the end of the day, or while giving them a bath, trimming their nails or brushing their hair! Little moments of connection can be so meaningful and special!

Contributors

"Serving Others" - Scott Crocker

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/14/16 Alison Epps 8/14/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 14

The truth is that when God saves young people, it is not for them to sit around and wait until they’re ‘old enough’ to do something for the Kingdom, but that each young person has the potential to set the example in faith and devotion to those around them.

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

"Set the Example"

Young people have always been a big part of influencing the world. God’s desire is that their influence would be spiritual, that people from all ages would long after the faith of those in a younger generation.

Paul is writing to Timothy in order to encourage him to lead, teach and pastor the church Paul had begun. Perhaps Timothy felt he was out of his depth. Paul says to Timothy ‘you might be young, you may be leading many others that are older than you, but when it comes down to it, your faith in Christ, how you live that out and your capacity to influence others does not have an age requirement.’ God is actually calling all of us to set an example of faith.

‘Age is not the authority or basis for boldness in our lives, but faith and dependence on God’

He doesn’t tell Timothy to impress others with his giftings or abilities, he tells him instead to set the example to the rest of the church in how to live a life of faith. God gives us five ways in which we ought to set the example to others in the church;

the words that we speak (Proverbs 18:21)
how we live (Micah 6:8)
our heart’s capacity to love others (1 John 4:7)
a growing dependence in faith (2 Corinthians 5:7)
the pursuit of purity (1 Thessalonians 4:7)

So I want us to stop and consider whether these ways of setting an example are on display in our lives? Can people see that our lives are saturated in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it has an impact on us?

One young person I’ve known moved to a new church and got stuck into the youth ministry. He was so gripped by a heart for those who turned up to church or the youth programme and didn’t know anyone, so he went out of his way to sit by them, talk to them and spend time with them; soon others were doing the same. He set the example and reflected the love of God by caring and valuing those who were new.

The truth is that when God saves young people, it is not for them to sit around and wait until they’re ‘old enough’ to do something for the Kingdom, but that each young person has the potential to set the example in faith and devotion to those around them.

‘The measure of maturity in young people is devotion to Jesus’

There was a King of Judah who began his reign at the age of 8! He probably had jelly and ice-cream every night. But this young man had an extraordinary heart; ‘He did was right in the eyes of the Lord… and did not turn aside to the right or left’ (2 Kings 22:1-2). Honouring God has never been about age, but it has everything to do with obedience and surrender to the One who gave everything for us. This King’s influence and heart turned a nation back to faith in God. And it makes me wonder what our young people at LBC are capable of when they give themselves fully in faith to God.

‘Where are the young men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap and be faithful, even unto death? Where are those who will lose their lives for Christ’s sake, flinging them away for love of Him? Where are those who will live dangerously and be reckless in His service?’

How to pray...

Pray for Mark and Aimee McKinney as they prepare to transition from life and ministry in Liverpool to life and ministry with the LBC youth group.
Pray for the process of obtaining an R-1 visa for Mark. Pray that God would show us favor by granting Mark’s visa and granting it quickly!
Pray for our youth as they continue to meet every Sunday night. Pray that their hearts would continue to be shaped by the Gospel.
Thank God for Scott and Lindsay Buono, who are ministering to our youth in the interim. Pray that they would speak truth and love to the hearts of our youth.

For the Family

Do you have special people in your life that are in college or high school? Maybe a babysitter, a helper in SPLASH, a friend or neighbor? Write them a note or draw them a picture to encourage them and let them know how much they mean to you! Spend time praying for them.

Contributors

"Set the Example" - Mark McKinney

Mark McKinney has recently accepted the youth director position for Lake Baldwin Church, after the unanimous recommendation of the search committee. He and his wife, Aimee, currently live in Liverpool, England, and hope to make the transition to Orlando by the end of 2016, pending the granting of an R-1 (religious) visa by the U.S. government. Mark is originally from Northern Ireland and has extensive experience in youth ministry. LBC is looking forward to adding Mark and Aimee to our community!

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/13/16 Alison Epps 8/13/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 13

The Kingdom is not just for grown-ups, for those who have their lives and acts together. Christianity is the most inclusive movement the world has ever seen. CEOs and custodians, lawmakers and criminals, doctors and invalids, PhD’s and people with special needs, singles and married couples, locals and internationals… and yes, little children.

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Let the Little Children Come

In this passage from Matthew, Jesus teaches us all a very important lesson about the kinds of people that make up the Kingdom. In the ancient world (and in many places in our modern world) children are seen as having very little value. They cannot work, they need constant attention, and they can generally seem like a nuisance. In many cases, societies try to push children into a corner where they cannot disrupt the neat and tidy universe that adults have created for themselves.

Hmmm. This sounds familiar. We do the same thing for many other types of people. The poor, the sick, those with disabilities, and minorities are often pushed into the corners of society so that they don’t disrupt the neatness and tidiness of what we consider ideal.

Like he does so often, Jesus turns our paradigms upside down. He rebukes his disciples and tells them that the Kingdom belongs to these types of people. In fact, he finds great delight in the children because they are so full of life. NT Wright says “that’s what God’s Kingdom is like - full of new and unpredictable life. Little children, trusting and adventurous, eager, ready to be drawn into stories and dramas, are just the sort of people the kingdom is for.”

This is such good news. The Kingdom is not just for grown-ups, for those who have their lives and acts together. Christianity is the most inclusive movement the world has ever seen. CEOs and custodians, lawmakers and criminals, doctors and invalids, PhD’s and people with special needs, singles and married couples, locals and internationals… and yes, little children. There is no criteria for citizenship in the Kingdom except for that we recognize our need for Jesus and trust him.

How to pray...

Pray for Michelle Crouse as she leads our children’s ministry, SPLASH Kids. Thank God for her abiding commitment not only to provide a safe and fun environment for our children on Sundays, but to constantly look for creative ways to communicate the gospel of Jesus to kids.
Thank God for our children who are coming to faith in Christ. Rejoice with Colton, who was baptized last Sunday, and his family.
Pray for the teachers who invest in our children every week. Pray that God would use them in mighty ways to lead our children to faith in Christ.
Pray for Scott Crocker and the other volunteers who set-up and tear down to create the environment for Splash.
Ask God for a humble heart that joyfully welcomes little children (and other marginalized people) and values their contributions and presence in our church community.

For the Family

Sometimes children are the best teachers. When we see the gospel through the lens of a child, we often see things in a new and refreshing way.

Sometimes a child’s view of God is exactly what we need. Sometimes a child’s understanding of sin, grace, forgiveness or heaven will bring you into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

There are inevitably times when a teacher in SPLASH Kids goes into SPLASH prepared to share a lesson about God, and they walk out with a deeper understanding of Him because of being with children. Children are a gift to us in so many ways.

Parents, share with your child something they have taught you or you have learned from them. Let them know ways that they have shaped your spiritual journey.

"Let the Little Children Come" - Joel Pollard

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

Alison Epps 8/12/16 Alison Epps 8/12/16

2016 August Prayer Initiative - Day 12

In the short-term, sanctification can easily be a discouraging process. Sin’s influence in our lives is deeply ingrained and won’t easily be defeated. However, this is where the great hope of the gospel comes into play. Paul tells us in Philippians that God will be faithful to finish the good work he began in us.

THEREFORE, MY DEAR FRIENDS, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED—NOT ONLY IN MY PRESENCE, BUT NOW MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE—CONTINUE TO WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING, FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL AND TO ACT IN ORDER TO FULFILL HIS GOOD PURPOSE. (PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13)

"Pursuing Holiness"

In the past few centuries humans have made advances in technology that have made work easier, extended life expectancy, and increased our capacity for enjoying life. Yet one of the many detriments of this kind of progress is that it has made us more impatient, prone to expecting “instant gratification” at all times. It only takes 2 minutes to make popcorn in the microwave! It used to take months to get from Europe to America… but we can do that in 8 hours now!

So it is with sanctification. Many Christians fall into the trap of expecting a sort of “instant gratification” conversion—immediate freedom from sin once we put our trust in Jesus. This is not entirely true. We ARE free from sin’s dominion, in that it is no longer our master and we are free from the eternal consequences of our guilt. However, we are still under sin’s influence and will be so as long as we inhabit our fallen bodies.

In the short-term, sanctification can easily be a discouraging process. Sin’s influence in our lives is deeply ingrained and won’t easily be defeated. However, this is where the great hope of the gospel comes into play. Paul tells us in Philippians that God will be faithful to finish the good work he began in us. (Philippians 1:6)

What does this mean for us practically?

Sanctification is something we have to work at. The Holy Spirit is the one who changes our hearts, but we have to be active participants in the process. 1 Peter 1:16 says, “Be holy, as I am holy,” not “You are already holy…” There’s an implicit command to actively pursue holiness.

An illustration might be helpful. Imagine a blacksmith working with a piece of iron. The Holy Spirit is the fire that heats the metal (the sinful heart) and makes it pliable. The part of the Christian is to faithfully swing the hammer and do the hard work to reshape that stubborn piece of iron. By employing the power given to us by the Spirit, we are able to say no to sin and slowly, gradually kill the sin over time.

If you sometimes feel discouraged or overwhelmed in your struggle against sin, this is good news! Our Father cares for us so much that he will not leave us in this broken state. He has not only provided a way for our sins to be forgiven but a way to overcome our sinful nature altogether, to be restored to the fullness of our status as glorious bearers of his own image. One day, in the fullness of time, heaven and earth will join and we will be given new, incorruptible bodies that are no longer under the influence of sin. Hallelujah! What a great hope we have in the Gospel.

How to pray...

Pray that we all as a church would actively engage the sanctification process, as we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.”
Pray that God would show you sin that you have been unaware of and then give you the grace to defeat that sin.
Pray that God would make us all lovers of his law, delighting to obey rather than feeling like slaves to it.
Pray specifically for the next generation of leaders in our church; for elders, deacons, deaconesses, and small group leaders. Pray that God would be preparing them now through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

For the Family

Watch the video about what a blacksmith does, then talk about these questions as a family:

What is sanctification?
What parts of the blacksmith’s process can we remember to remind us of how God works in our life?

Contributors

"Pursuing Holiness" - Joel Pollard

"For the Family" - Michelle Crouse

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

"The Word of His Grace"

How to pray...

For the Family

CONTRIBUTORS

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

"The Throne of Grace"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end." (Revelation 21:6)

"Because It's Done, We Can Do It"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14 )

"Christ’s Last Words and the Least Reached"

How to pray...

For the Family

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

"Witnesses"part 2

How to pray...

For the Family

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses… (Acts 1:8)

"Witnesses"Part 1

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6-7)

"God's Heart for the Nations"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. (Psalm 67:4)

"Let the Nations Be Glad"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)

"God's Larger Story"

How to pray...

For the Family

CONTRIBUTORS

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

"The Healing of Orlando"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)

"Justice and Restoration"

How to pray...

For the Family

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ… (Colossians 4:2-3)

"Local Campus Ministries"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

The refugees are in such a place of desperation and vulnerability that the hope and love of Jesus is the only truth that can impact their current situation in a positive way.

— Hannah Rader

"Praying for our Leaders"

How to Pray...

For the Family

Contributors

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)

"Faith and Work"

How to pray...

For the Family

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11)

"Generosity"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

"Serving Others"

How to pray...

For the Family

Contributors

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

"Set the Example"

How to pray...

"Witnesses"
part 2

"Witnesses"
Part 1