Our 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting are almost over! To conclude this special season in the life of our church, we are having an all night prayer gathering from 8:00pm Friday, November 17^th until 7:15am Saturday, November 18^th. Learn more and sign up on the event page for a time to come pray with us.

The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer; they do not go on praying; they do not persevere. If they desire anything for God’s glory, they should pray until they get it. Oh, how good, and kind, and gracious, and condescending is the One with Whom we have to do! He has given me, unworthy as I am, immeasurably above all I had asked or thought.

George Mueller

Begin with Adoration

This week we are going to continue to let the great hymns of the Church teach us about adoration. After reading the lyrics to this hymn, use it like an Old Testament Psalm, allowing the words to become your own words of adoration and praise.

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

Charles Wesley (1739)

Continue with Confession

This week, we will trust the Spirit to use Proverbs 28:13 to prompt our confession. Remember the power of sin is its secrecy. You are not alone in your sin, and confession brings not condemnation, but forgiveness in Christ. If the Lord so prompts you, confess your sin to a Christian brother or sister, for in so doing you will experience the grace and love of Christ…and freedom (James 5:16).

Proverbs 28:13

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

As the Spirit brings any sin to mind, confess it (agree with God that it is sin) and turn from it (repent). Thank God that He forgives our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness on the basis of the finished work of Jesus and the promise of 1 John 1:9.

Now offer words of Thanksgiving

Start by adding one to two things to the list of things you are grateful for that happened in 2017.

Continuing with Psalm 116:12…

We render thanks. Consider the “benefits” of God toward you, and thank him specifically for them. For example, another benefit of God toward us is the light of His word to guide us (Psalm 119:105). “God, thank you for putting a light—the light of truth, the light of Your Word—on the path, to show me which way to walk…”

Conclude with Supplication & Intercession…

Remember, supplication is making our own needs known to God and asking that He meet them. Intercession is making the needs of others known to God, and asking Him to meet them. Both are petitions and are “the heart of prayer.” God invites and delights in our asking.

Let’s begin by praying for those we know who do not yet know Christ…

Secondly, let’s continue to pray for people who may think they are Christians, but who have not personally put their trust in the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

Now, considering your own needs, is there something you need from God for this day? Ask Him…

Including today, we have seven more days in our 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting. This season of seeking was prompted by at least two things. First, over the past several years we have come through some pretty tough waters, from a lawsuit to several leadership changes. We wanted this time of prayer to acknowledge our dependence and need for God.

And secondly, on March 8^th, 2018 we will celebrate 20 years since our first “public” worship service at the Franklin High School cafeteria. As we look back on 20 years, we are grateful. And as we peer into the next 20, we want to begin on our knees.

We want to be in lock step with the Holy Spirit. While anchored in the unchanging Word and unstoppable purposes of God, we recognize that the next 20 years will require us to adjust to the challenges and changes of our local and global context.

And so as we finish out the final seven days, let’s join together to pray for some of the most critical and pressing challenges and opportunities before us…

1. Clarity of mission and vision—mission is why we exist and vision is a clear and compelling statement of what we do and our desired future. As we enter our next 20 years we sense God calling us to adjust, sharpen and renew our mission and vision in ways that help us align and move forward with greater focus, clarity and synergy. Pray for clarity and direction around mission and vision.
2. We are currently one church with three locations: Brentwood, Franklin and Nashville. In order to streamline communication and strategies, to most efficiently allocate resources, and most effectively achieve the mission/vision God calls us to, we need wisdom and clarity as we organize each congregation to be effective and fruitful. Pray for God’s wisdom and clarity for how best to structure our church and strategies with the three existing campuses.
3. As part of this season of renewal, we are refreshing the elder board. New elder candidates are being vetted through a process of aspiration, qualification and affirmation. Pray that God would lead this process and put His called and qualified men into roles as new elders, and wisdom for the existing elders as some will rotate off the board, and some will remain for a season.