Tag Archives: prayer

In Defense of the Prayer Meeting (Part 2): Its Essential Purpose

In Defense of the Prayer Meeting (Part 2): Its Essential Purpose

This entry is part of 2 in the series In Defense of the Prayer Meeting You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

This series of posts is in defense of the prayer service. In the first post, I offered some important introductory remarks, and laid out the biblical warrant for the prayer service. The second reason to maintain the prayer service is rooted in what the prayer service represents. Namely, the prayer service represents the body of… Continue Reading

Don’t Pray Like This, Either

Don’t Pray Like This, Either

Kevin T. Bauder [This essay was originally published on May 11, 2012.] Jesus wanted to teach His disciples how to pray, but He also wanted to teach them how not to pray. In the Sermon on the Mount, He told them that they should not pray like the hypocrites (Matt. 6:5-6). For Jesus’ followers, prayer… Continue Reading

But we never talk like that in real life!

But we never talk like that in real life!

It appears today that “authenticity” has become the most important virtue. In one sense this is good. Hypocrisy is a vice condemned by Scripture (Mathew 23:27). I often think about this with regard to my children. Never would I want them to watch me act one way in public with others and think to themselves,… Continue Reading

Praying for what God has promised

Praying for what God has promised

The Scriptures teach us to pray for the things that God has promised. We often pray for things that we are unsure of. We often pray for health problems or for people to obtain employment or for a president to be of a certain political persuasions. This is good. We should continue to do this, for God… Continue Reading

When Belief in Christ Breaks the Home Apart

When Belief in Christ Breaks the Home Apart

In Mark 6:4, Jesus is rejected by His listeners in Nazareth and quotes the well-known proverb: “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” Notice how He specifies three groups and narrows the group each time―hometown, relatives, and household. Jesus knew what it was… Continue Reading

A Prayer by a Pastor’s Wife for Her Husband

A Prayer by a Pastor’s Wife for Her Husband

With her permission, this is a prayer my wife typed out for me one day. It’s a good prayer for any Christian to pray for himself, herself, or whoever else, and especially for all Christians to pray for those whose calling involves regularly proclaiming the gospel. I hope it encourages others as it encourages me. What’s most… Continue Reading

Christian Worship is Trinitarian

Christian Worship is Trinitarian

The Christian faith is Trinitarian. We worship the one God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One of the ways we rightly respond to the truth of the doctrine that God is one and three is that we as Christian congregations worship that Triune God. Indeed, our worship should be Trinitarian. Our worship should be Trinitarian… Continue Reading

How to Pray for Yourself and Others to Give the Gospel

How to Pray for Yourself and Others to Give the Gospel

Paul asked for prayer multiple times in multiple letters. Here are two passages that act as examples to instruct us how to pray for ourselves and others to give the gospel. Ephesians 6:18–20 Pray for the words to say when giving the gospel. Paul encouraged the Ephesians to persevere by “making supplication for all the… Continue Reading

Prayer to a Sovereign God

Prayer to a Sovereign God

In Ezekiel 36:33-38, the Word of God gives us a glimpse at the mystery of prayer: [33] “Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. [34] And the land that was desolate… Continue Reading

Pastoral Leadership Through Prayer

Pastoral Leadership Through Prayer

The role of pastor has been recast during the past generation. Some churches envision their pastors as corporate CEOs. Others view their pastors as impresarios. New Testament pastoral ministry, however, does not consist in organizational direction or in stage management. The pastor’s leadership is essentially spiritual leadership. What is spiritual leadership? One might define spiritual… Continue Reading

Article 7: On Scripture Regulated Worship

Article 7: On Scripture Regulated Worship

This entry is part 9 of 17 in the series A Conservative Christian Declaration You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

This is a series to further explain the articles of “A Conservative Christian Declaration.” . We affirm that the worship of God is regulated through his Word. Innovation, however well-intentioned, is “will-worship” (Col. 2:23), violates the free consciences of individual Christians (Rom. 14:5, 23), and is therefore displeasing to God (Matt. 15:9). We affirm that the… Continue Reading

William Ames on the connection between prayer, singing, and outward expressions

William Ames on the connection between prayer, singing, and outward expressions

In the second book of The Marrow of Theology, William Ames’s (1576-1633) classic Post-Reformation work, Ames deals with a number of matters related to practical theology. The ninth chapter discusses prayer.1 As you will see, Ames’s approach to this topic is helpful from a historical and practical perspective. Prayer, Ames says, can be outward or inward–mental or audible.… Continue Reading

Relevance is Irrelevant (Part 13)

Relevance is Irrelevant (Part 13)

This entry is part 13 of 14 in the series Relevance is Irrelevant You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 I have been arguing that Paul’s method of ministry deliberately avoided attempts to be (what we would call) relevant. Paul not only says that he himself avoided relevant methods, but compels his successors to do the same. His manner of ministry… Continue Reading

The Early Church’s Prayer Meeting

The Early Church’s Prayer Meeting

“Where many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:12) These words are part of the story wherein Peter is imprisoned and then miraculously delivered. It is filled with great and solemn instruction that every Christian should deeply consider 1. The early church believed in prayer. The prayer meeting was a regular feature of the early church. If… Continue Reading

The founders of the first church were united in fervent prayer

The founders of the first church were united in fervent prayer

This entry is part 2 of 4 in the series Characteristics of the Founders of the First Church You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

We have begun a series looking at characteristics of the founders of the first church that we should emulate in our churches today. The first characteristics that we should seek to emulate is described in verse 14: They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and… Continue Reading

Four Commitments of the Infant Church

Four Commitments of the Infant Church

Regular readers of this blog know that I am a fervent defender of the Regulative Principle of Worship. However, today I’d like to set that debate aside and address something that both sides of the issue should be able to agree on. (For non-regular readers, allow me to summarize the principle briefly: the regulative principle states… Continue Reading

Prayer in Gospel Ministry

Prayer in Gospel Ministry

Prayer is a necessary practice of a sound church. The role of secret and corporate prayer in the life of a Christian congregation is sometimes overlooked. Mark Dever, whose insights we value, fails to list to prayer as one of his “marks” of “healthy churches.” (Dever concedes this point and briefly addresses it in his… Continue Reading

Is corporate worship better than private worship? (Part 5)

Is corporate worship better than private worship? (Part 5)

This entry is part 5 of 5 in the series Public Worship and Private Worship You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

 |  |  | We have looking at different reasons why the regular meeting for worship with one’s church is better than private meetings of worship, including times of personal devotion and family worship. Both, we have consistently stressed, are essential for vital piety in the life of a believer. But one is more important than another. And… Continue Reading