5 Bold Prayers to Change our Church
By Ryan Dawson
At Vision Night we highlighted the Vision and Strategy that God has put on our hearts for Sequoia in 2024. We want to invite you to join us in praying for God to work powerfully in and through us, so we maximize our redemptive potential as a church.
We know that we live in difficult days, and we see pain and brokenness all around us. Just this week we learned of the tragic multi-person homicide which occurred in Barrhaven. We grieve for the family and all those impacted by this horrific violence, and we are praying for God to bring His love, comfort, and peace into this situation. Tragedy like this reminds us of our desperate need for God, and Jesus Christ is our Living Hope! So we need to pray, because prayer is our declaration of dependence.
Below you will see what we call “The Big Five” - the areas we are leaning into for 2024. Each area has a corresponding prayer. Please print these out or post them somewhere where you will be reminded to pray for our church family. I am convinced that God will move as we seek Him in corporate prayer.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Thanks for praying with us,
Blessings, Ryan
PRAY LIKE JESUS - Become a people of prayer for all nations.
•"My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations" Mark 11:17
•Simple Rule: "Make prayer your greater work"
•Practice: Pray consistent, bold, & specific prayers trusting God for immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine as a people and as a Church.
•Our Prayer: "Lord God, make us a House of Prayer for All Nations!"
BELIEVE LIKE JESUS - Live as if we believe the Truth of the Gospel in every area of life.
•Romans 1:16-17 (NLT) For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
•Simple Rule: Believe the Word and follow the Spirit.
•Practice: Prioritize Gospel rhythms with an emphasis on Bible Reading & life application.
•Our Prayer: "Lord God, help us grow as a people who believe the Gospel & live out the Gospel, empowered by your Spirit."
LOVE LIKE JESUS - Cultivate deeper & authentic relationships as the family of God.
•1 Thessalonians 2:8 "We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too."
•Simple Rule: Be the friend you want to have.
•Practice: Schedule time every month to build deeper relationships.
•Our Prayer: "Lord God, fill us with your love so that we love one another as you have loved us."
WELCOME LIKE JESUS - Practice radically ordinary hospitality as a people.
•1 Thessalonians 2:8 "We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too."
•Simple Rule: Open your heart and your life to those around you.
•Practice: Use what God has given you to love others by being present and welcoming.
•Our Prayer: "Lord God, empower us through your Spirit to open our hearts and lives to others."
SHARE LIKE JESUS - Proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel story in relevant ways.
•1 Thessalonians 2:8 "We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too."
•Simple Rule: Be faithful to the opportunity to make Jesus the hero of the story.
•Practice: Take the initiative to share the story of Jesus through word & action.
•Prayer: "Lord God, we ask for courage and boldness to share the Good News with love and power, so that we see more and more people find and follow Jesus."
At Vision Night we highlighted the Vision and Strategy that God has put on our hearts for Sequoia in 2024. We want to invite you to join us in praying for God to work powerfully in and through us, so we maximize our redemptive potential as a church.
We know that we live in difficult days, and we see pain and brokenness all around us. Just this week we learned of the tragic multi-person homicide which occurred in Barrhaven. We grieve for the family and all those impacted by this horrific violence, and we are praying for God to bring His love, comfort, and peace into this situation. Tragedy like this reminds us of our desperate need for God, and Jesus Christ is our Living Hope! So we need to pray, because prayer is our declaration of dependence.
Below you will see what we call “The Big Five” - the areas we are leaning into for 2024. Each area has a corresponding prayer. Please print these out or post them somewhere where you will be reminded to pray for our church family. I am convinced that God will move as we seek Him in corporate prayer.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Thanks for praying with us,
Blessings, Ryan
PRAY LIKE JESUS - Become a people of prayer for all nations.
•"My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations" Mark 11:17
•Simple Rule: "Make prayer your greater work"
•Practice: Pray consistent, bold, & specific prayers trusting God for immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine as a people and as a Church.
•Our Prayer: "Lord God, make us a House of Prayer for All Nations!"
BELIEVE LIKE JESUS - Live as if we believe the Truth of the Gospel in every area of life.
•Romans 1:16-17 (NLT) For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
•Simple Rule: Believe the Word and follow the Spirit.
•Practice: Prioritize Gospel rhythms with an emphasis on Bible Reading & life application.
•Our Prayer: "Lord God, help us grow as a people who believe the Gospel & live out the Gospel, empowered by your Spirit."
LOVE LIKE JESUS - Cultivate deeper & authentic relationships as the family of God.
•1 Thessalonians 2:8 "We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too."
•Simple Rule: Be the friend you want to have.
•Practice: Schedule time every month to build deeper relationships.
•Our Prayer: "Lord God, fill us with your love so that we love one another as you have loved us."
WELCOME LIKE JESUS - Practice radically ordinary hospitality as a people.
•1 Thessalonians 2:8 "We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too."
•Simple Rule: Open your heart and your life to those around you.
•Practice: Use what God has given you to love others by being present and welcoming.
•Our Prayer: "Lord God, empower us through your Spirit to open our hearts and lives to others."
SHARE LIKE JESUS - Proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel story in relevant ways.
•1 Thessalonians 2:8 "We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too."
•Simple Rule: Be faithful to the opportunity to make Jesus the hero of the story.
•Practice: Take the initiative to share the story of Jesus through word & action.
•Prayer: "Lord God, we ask for courage and boldness to share the Good News with love and power, so that we see more and more people find and follow Jesus."