Topic of Church sermon was....
By byfaithonly
@byfaithonly (10698)
United States
March 4, 2007 2:14pm CST
I would love to know the topic of the most recent church sermon you listened to.
Ours today was "Try Prayer for a Change"
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:10-14
Mother Teresa says that prayer is the “turning of the heart towards God”.
Pastor Mark said that the purpose of prayer is to “become a friend of God”. To be God’s friend is to seek to please him, to know his character, his heart, his Word. It is to know his work too, to live to serve him and fulfill the purpose he has called you to. It is also to know his power to do that work!You cannot come to know God’s heart and purpose without being transformed!
Pastor Mark challenged the congregation to take time every day for the next 35 days (to Easter Sunday, April 8) to pray.
Some tips Pastor Mark shared help:
1. Ask one other person to be your accountability partner in prayer. This will encourage you keep your commitment.
2. Make room in your life. Turn the TV off. Better yet, abstain from as much media as you can over the next month!
3. Schedule a regular time and place each day. Choose the time that works best for you. Write it on your calendar.
4. Keep a journal during the coming month. A spiral notebook works great. Write the date, and then simply jot a few thoughts about your prayer time. You can include scriptures that you read that day. You can write out a prayer that is your heart cry that day. You can write names of people you are praying for.
5. Expect a tremendous inner battle. If there is sin in your life, it will surface full force. Satan doesn’t care how you spend your time, just so it isn’t in prayer! The first lesson in prayer is perseverance.
6. Don’t be surprised if you don’t feel successful right off the bat. It takes time to learn to pray. It takes time to “tune your heart to God’s”. Be patient. You will grow accustomed to the practice and you will develop your own prayer patters over time.
What was the topic of your church service?
3 people like this
13 responses
@texasbettina (6)
• United States
5 Mar 07
Our sermon yesterday was about Broken Hearted People and how we can minister to them on a daily basis. Our church is very mission minded and encourages everyone from the youngest to the seniors to get involved in some way. Dr. Christopher talked about how to recognize someone who is suffering inside.
We had four generations sitting together yesterday. Ages ranged from my Aunt, 103, to my grandson, 13. There were 14 of us in all. What a great way to worship as a family.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
5 Mar 07
Oh how wonderful for your family that must be such a blessing. I'm afraid currently I don't have any of my family that goes to church with me but I continue to pray they will some day. My youngest (15) went with me until a couple years ago and then he got side tracked and has turned against the church. He had a tremendous heart for the Lord at one time I sencerely thought he was headed for the ministry field.
Our church is also very mission minded and always coming up with creative ways to reach out to others without "preaching". I think that is one of the things about Christians that is difficult for others to understand. We don't share God's word merely because some of us want to - we are demanded to do it. The elderly couple I helped a couple weeks ago are retired missionaries, they spent 25 years in Africa - it was a blessing for me to spend so much time with them and I learned a lot from them.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
5 Mar 07
I have read the Power of a Praying Parent by the same author. Excellent book and has helped me a lot. This last year I got a flip calendar by the same title that each day offers encouragment for parents. Because I came to the Lord late in life my children (4) weren't raised in a Christian home, I was never against Christ just didn't know Him. Now my children are older it is a great concern of mine but I know all things are possible and it will be in His time.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
5 Mar 07
Hello faith, there's couple of books that I don't know if you had read or not. Its called The Power of a Praying Wife and the Power of a Praying Mother. Both books are well written and can teach you how to resolve your children's heart into believing again. Sometimes, it may take years and years before the miracle will happen. But with our continuous faith to God, I know that it will happen. I had personally read these books and it has help me understand more about being a wife and a mother. Hope this info will help you.
1 person likes this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
4 Mar 07
I need to go to your church. I like those thoughts and I'll practice them. May i ask what denomination your church is. Seems pretty wise to me. Since I am not going to any church right now . Its nice to hear about sermons from others. Thanks for sharing.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
4 Mar 07
My church is Free Methodist and I love it. Pastor Mark is a great speaker on top of having a great love for the Lord. He's not one of those that puts you to sleep and he relates the scripture to how it applies to us today.
I've actually thought I would start sharing our sermons here - I always take notes so was thinking this would be a great way to share with others.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
4 Mar 07
I was thinking Sunday afternoon would be a good time to post it particularly for those who can't or don't go to church.
@Acts238girl (2087)
• United States
5 Mar 07
the last sermon i heard came from Acts 2:38"Then Peter said unto them,repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
5 Mar 07
LOL now we know where you got your mylot name :)
I also really like the one right after it -
Act 2:39 This promise belongs to you and to your children and to everyone who is far away. It belongs to everyone who worships the Lord our God."
"IT BELONGS TO EVERYONE..." so simple if people would only believe and worship the Lord our God.
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
4 Mar 07
Sounds like you received a wonderful message from your Pastor today. I am a Mormon so on the first sunday of each month we have fast and testamony meeting. We fast for 2 meals and take the money that we would have spent on food and give it to the church to take care of the needy. We also share our testamony with others in sacrament meeting. Sacrament meeting is always very spiritual because just listening to others testify about the blessings and trials in their lives gives me strength to keep going.
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
4 Mar 07
I forgot something
Thanks for sharing your sermon with me
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
5 Mar 07
What a wonderful thing to share the money with the needy. I've only fasted a few times in my life but I know I felt so close to God when I did - I think it was the physical act of giving up something for Him when He has given so much to us.
@missmuffet (238)
• United States
5 Mar 07
Today they had a special sermon and it was geared toward the first and second graders. It was about anger. He asked all the little kids what made them angry. Several responses were cute but my favorite was the little boy who said, "It makes me angry when my baby sister drools on my nintendo game."
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
5 Mar 07
I'm sure one of the reasons God wants us all to come to Him as children - they see things so much clearer and are honest. I think I would be upset at someone drooling on something of mine also but I would never admit it in front of people.
Eph 4:31 Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred.
Eph 4:29 Don't say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
5 Mar 07
The recent topic our pastor told us was about testing of our faith. He used his own experience about how we should maintain our faith despite difficulties. A recent super typhoon strucked our country and we were left with no electricity for 4 days and 3 nights. The first night, I was like its okay, surely, tomorrow we will have the lights back. The second night, I'm near tears. The third night, I'm almost going insane. I mean I have to keep fanning my daughters for 3 straight nights. But our pastor gave us an accounting of the 3 nights he himself experienced. The first night, he was still positively in a good mood despite the darkness. The second night, he was beginning to doubt that the lights will come back. The third night, a fire from his neighbor's house broke out and everybody went out trying to help out. Pastor told us that he began to lose faith that God will provide us with lights again. Fortunately, the firemen was able to put out the fire immediately. Pastor realized that he was mistaken for doubting God and even blaming Him for the typhoon. Suddenly, the lights come back. So pastor kneel down and prayed for forgiveness. These events that happened to our pastor may not seems unusual. But the message is clear. One should never doubt about the ability of what God can do for us. When we are all facing darkness, we should always maintain our strong sense of faith to God so that God can show us the lights again. God bless you.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
5 Mar 07
What a wonderful message for us all to keep in mind. Personally I think each day that passes it's more and more important for us to hold onto our faith and trust in Him - it's all that will get us through to the end.
Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered them, "I can guarantee this truth: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to the fig tree. You could also say to this mountain, 'Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
4 Mar 07
The last church sermon that I had when going to church was about the journey and the miracle, from Exodus chapters 13 and 14 I think that why the minister told this sermon was a reminded to people to the world that there is hope in regards to what is going on at this time in all our lives, and to have hope. The sermon that you had is very true and that sheep of our Lord, have to keep their hearts with the lord.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
4 Mar 07
Oh I love Exodus - the parting of the Red Sea, I can only imagine what those people were thinking when they saw that.
Exodus 14:31 When the Israelites saw the great power the LORD had used against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.
@p3halliwel2005 (3156)
• Philippines
5 Mar 07
Thanks for sharing this sermon to us..I have been very busy lately I don't even have time to spend to go to church...
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
4 Mar 07
To tell you the truth I have been looking here for a church to go too.I have been to a few but the one i liked a lot the preacher was talking mostly about his health,so i have not been back.they were really nice, but I think he was going to have sugery and did not feel well...I attended another church and i liked it, and the Pastor talked about our relationship with God,simular to what your pastor talked about at your church today..It was very good and one lady got baptized..I don't know if i told you are not but I am not living in my home town right now,we came here for my husband to have treatment at the VA hospital,so we have not been here long. He has recieved treatment and we plan to move back home to houston tex,soon..Anyway the singing was very good and the people were sweet,and i talked with a few...It sounds like your pastor has a very good plan for your church..It is true you have to pray and get close to God in order for the heart to know Gods will in your life...When I am home i have a church but since I have been here ,I am just searching because I know I will not be here for a long while...I really liked what your pastor spoke on today,sounds as though you have found a very good church to attend...I do appreciate christian people,they are the best and are alwys willing to help you pray about situations ,and i do miss my home church...
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
4 Mar 07
I do love my church and am very blessed. It was difficult for me before I found this church - finding one I shared the same beliefs, the people were friendly, and they taught - not just preached. Even with all of that you have to get the right "feeling". I think my church is the greatest but a good friend of mine went there several times and never felt "at home". I was a little hurt at first but had to realize that people are different and different things give them that "good feeling".
I do think having a home church is very important for Christians - I find such comfort, encouragment, learning from my fellow Christians.
1 person likes this
@ellijah (244)
• Nigeria
5 Mar 07
hello.the topics are.the mercy of God.knowing your financial deliver.the grace of God .the possibility potentials in u
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
6 Mar 07
Micah 7:18 was the text
We talked about forgiveness, and what it really means to forgive. How if we don't forgive someone when they've wronged us, then the next time something happens with that person, Satan will bring it back to mind.
We should be open and honest with our fellow believers and tell them when they have hurt us spiritually and emotionally, and then work through those hurts.
He also talked about how God does not stay angry at us forever. When we break his commandments, so we have no right to stay angry at anyone else. We must go to that person and confront them, no matter how much it hurts.
1 person likes this
@ragmama (536)
• United States
5 Mar 07
What a wonderful message, and great tips too. I definitely need to step up the time I spend in prayer as well, so I'll remember those.
I didn't make it to church yesterday as I was (and am still) sick. I hate it that I missed it, I always feel like I'm missing something when I can't be there.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
5 Mar 07
I feel the same way when I miss church. I am blessed though our early service (we have 3) is broadcast on the local radio station so there have been times when I was sick I could at least listen on the radio but even that isn't the same as being there in person. I also enjoy visiting with friends after service.
