Discover what Jesus said about prayer in His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount

Tuesday, May 1, 2012, Part 2

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).

IDEA: Not all praying may be prayer.

PURPOSE: To help listeners pray with the right attitude and in the right way.

Who You’re Meant To Be

Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” Quoting those words of St. Catherine of Siena, the Bishop of London began his message to Prince William and Kate Middleton at their wedding in Westminster Abbey. Many watching on TV were deeply touched as the bishop affirmed their choice “to be married in the sight of a generous God who so loved the world that He gave Himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ.” Then he urged the couple to pursue a love that finds its center beyond themselves.

Helpful instructions for developing meaningful conversations with God

Monday, April 30, 2012, Part 1

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).

IDEA: Not all praying may be prayer.

PURPOSE: To help listeners pray with the right attitude and in the right way.

A Modern-day Nicodemus

By Oluwaseun Fayemiwo, Nigeria When I was at the national youth service camp, I hung out with my guy friends most evenings at the mammy-market*. We had the time of our lives boozing, dancing and talking about girls. But on some evenings, I would sneak out from the midst of my friends to attend a [...]

A Long And Winding Path

Sometimes the path of life seems impossibly steep and lengthy. I have no strength and no will for the journey. Then I remember God knew this path long before I was called to walk it. He has always known the difficulties I would experience, the pain that I could never explain to another. He knows and offers His presence.

Let’s look at the way God answers, and doesn’t answer, prayer

Friday, April 27, 2012, Part 2

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).

IDEA: The issue in the Sermon on the Mount is not our prayers but the motive for our prayers.

PURPOSE: God meets us when we pray with only Him in mind.

A Call To Commitment

Many health and fitness centers expect a flood of people to join every January who will come only a few times. They don’t mind if people pay the fee and never return. But fitness trainer Jesse Jones takes the opposite approach. If you sign up and don’t show up, he will terminate your membership. Jones says, “Save your money. Come see me in a few months when you’re serious. My passion is not for another three-month payment . . . we’re making people accountable to reach their goals.”

Will You Serve Others If You Have Power?

By Beth, Singapore Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon [...]

Find answers that impact your conversations with God

Thursday, April 26, 2012, Part 1

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).

IDEA: The issue in the Sermon on the Mount is not our prayers but the motive for our prayers.

PURPOSE: God meets us when we pray with only Him in mind.

True Religion

I recently saw an ad for a brand of clothing geared toward youth. It consists of blue jeans and all the accessories designed to go with them. There is nothing novel about that. What got my attention, however, was the name of this clothing line. It is called “True Religion.” That caused me to stop and think. Why was that name chosen? Am I missing some deeper significance? What is the connection between a brand of jeans and true religion? What do they mean by it? My musings left me with questions for which I had no answers.

Discover Jesus’ perspective on prayer

Wednesday, April 25, 2012, Part 3

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).

IDEA: While prayer is good, it can turn bad.

PURPOSE: To help encourage listeners to make their petitions to God.

Enjoy a thought-provoking conversation about prayer

Tuesday, April 24, 2012, Part 2

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).

IDEA: While prayer is good, it can turn bad.

PURPOSE: To help encourage listeners to make their petitions to God.

All Day With God

Brother Lawrence (1614–1691) felt intimately close to God as he humbly scrubbed pots and pans in the monastery kitchen. Certainly Brother Lawrence practiced specific times of devotional prayer. But what he found more life-transforming was prayer during the workday. In his devotional classic Practicing the Presence of God, he says, “It is a great delusion to think our times of prayer ought to differ from other times. We are as strictly obliged to cleave to God by action in the time of action as by prayer in the season of prayer.” In short, he advocated that we “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).

An insightful discussion on the value of talking to God

Monday, April 23, 2012, Part 1

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:5-6).

IDEA: While prayer is good, it can turn bad.

PURPOSE: To help encourage listeners to make their petitions to God.

Love Journal

By Megan Low, Melbourne Time: 2247hrs Location: Somewhere in the middle File Type: Journal entry I want to read the Bible I want to write letters I want to forge my own life I want You in control of it I want uncontainable power I want to be known as weak I want to depend [...]