Sunday P.R.E.P - February 1, 2015

Posted by Jon Chasteen on

This is the first installment of Sunday P.R.E.P., a weekly tool that we are starting to help you prepare for corporate worship gatherings at Redemption Hill Church. As you individually pray, reflect, expect and pursue, God will prepare you for worshiping him corporately as a church.

 

1. Pray.

 The following is a portion from the prayer, “The Gospel Way,” from the  Valley of Vision, a resource of formed prayers that Tanner mentioned this past Sunday. Pray this in preparation for hearing and responding to the gospel on Sunday.

Blessed be thou, O Father, for contriving this way,

Eternal thanks to thee, O Lamb of God, for opening this way,

Praise everlasting to thee, O Holy Spirit, for applying this way to my heart.

Glorious Trinity, impress the gospel on my soul, until its virtue diffuses every faculty;

Let it be heard, acknowledged, professed, felt.

Teach me to secure this mighty blessing;

Help me to give up every darling lust,

         to submit heart and life to its command,

         to have it in my will, controlling my affections, moulding my understanding;

         to adhere strictly to the rules of true religion,

                   not departing from them in any instance,

                   nor for any advantage in order to escape evil, inconvenience, or danger.

 

2. Reflect.

Reflect on last weeks sermon and text: Ephesians 1:15-23 - The Power of God for You

  • The point: Live your life with the limitless power of God.

            o   Are you living a spiritually anemic life or a life filled and led by the
                 extraordinary power of God?

  • Apply the FADES acronym for prayer.

             o   F: free and formed

             o   A: alone and assembled

             o   D: desperate and delighted

             o   E: explosive and extended

             o   S: spontaneous and scheduled

  • Pray Ephesians 1:15-23 for someone in your life.

 

Reflect on this Sunday’s text: Ephesians 2:1-10

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV)

 

As you read through this, pray that God would help you to see your sin the way he sees it (Eph 2:1-3). We are far worse sinners than we think we are, but God’s mercy, grace and love are far greater than we could ever dream (Eph 2:4-7). Pray also that God would prepare you to rightly embrace his love for you and show you the ways he wants you to respond and walk in good works (Eph 2:8-10).

 

Reflect on the songs we will sing Sunday

This is Amazing Grace - Phil Wickham

All I Have Is Christ - Sovereign Grace Music

Before the Throne of God Above - Shane and Shane

You Alone Can Rescue - Matt Redman

Give Me Faith - Elevation Worship

 

3. Expect.

With Sunday being Super Bowl Sunday, it’s tempting to approach Corporate Worship just like we watch the Super Bowl, as a spectator instead of participant. Instead of just observing this Sunday, expect and prepare to receive the Word of God and respond to God. Expect to see transformation in your life and in others. Expect to be used by God to edify others. Right now, think of two to three people that you know you will see on Sunday whom you can greet, encourage, serve, pray for, exhort, and care for. Because you expect to be used by God on Sunday, why don’t you go ahead and prepare to arrive a little earlier and stay a little later as you pray for God to use you.

 

4. Pursue.

  • Pursue God. He is worthy of all of your worship. Pray: “All of me for you glory!”
  • Pursue people. As you expect God to move, who is it that you’ve been wanting to invite and bring with you.
  • Pursue our city. This Sunday is “Souper Sunday” and we will be holding a canned food drive to serve families in the Medford Housing Authority. In order to participate, you must prepare. Do you need to go to the store and buy some things? 

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