Pray Together

But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need. Indeed, he greatly missed all of you and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill. In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him—and not to him only, but also to me—so that I would not have grief on top of grief. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety. So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me. Philippians 2:25-30 NET This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I, too, may be encouraged by hearing news about you. For there is no one here like him who will readily demonstrate his deep concern for you. Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know his qualifications that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel. So I hope to send him as soon as I know more about my situation, though I am confident in the Lord that I, too, will be coming to see you soon. Philippians 2:19-24 NET This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast: that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you. And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me. Philippians 2:12-18 NET This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he fasted 40 days and 40 nights he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:1-4 NET This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,who, though he existed in the form of God,did not regard equality with Godas something to be grasped,but emptied himselfby taking on the form of a slave,by looking like other men,and by sharing in human nature.He humbled himselfby becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross!As a result God highly exalted himand gave him the namethat is above every name,so that at the name of Jesusevery knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue confessthat Jesus Christ is Lordto the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 NET This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. Philippians 2:1-4 NET This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that—whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent—I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel, and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation—a sign which is from God. For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him, since you are encountering the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing. Philippians 1:27-30 NET This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Now if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean productive work for me, yet I don’t know which I prefer: I feel torn between the two because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, but it is more vital for your sake that I remain in the body. And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith, so that what you can be proud of may increase because of me in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you. Philippians 1:22-26 NET This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Philippians 1:20-21 NET This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:18b-19 NET This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Scripture I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel: The whole imperial guard and everyone else knows that I am in prison for the sake of Christ, and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment. What is the result? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Philippians 1:12-18 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Scripture I thank my God every time I remember you. I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace together with me. For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:3-11 NET This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Prompt #1 Matthew 16:15-9 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will bebound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” "Lord, you are the Messiah and you are the King. By your grace and by your Spirit, show me the depths of this truth in my heart. Help me to openly and actively be a part of this unstoppable movement you started with your death and resurrection. As you build your Church, help me be faithful to the part of that to which you've called me. I surrender to your unstoppable movement and your unfailing love. Use me for your glory on this earth. Amen." Prompt #2 Psalm 131:1-3 "My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore." "Lord, there are so many things in this world that I don't understand and can't control. Help me not to be to overly focused on those things, but instead to simply fixed my eyes on you in trust. I believe that you are good and you bring forth good. I trust your loving hand to guide and lead me into your perfect will. Help me to not to move or act out of any posture other than one of total trust in you." Prompt #3 Acts 4:24-31 "When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage  and the peoples plot in vain?The kings of the earth rise up    and the rulers band together against the Lord  and against his anointed one.’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." "Heavenly Father, help us to focus on what is most important in this world. As the world resists your unstoppable movement, help us to trust in your power and your ability to change the hearts of those who are furthest from you. We look to your hand and to your power to lead people to your Son, Jesus." This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Got the chance to sit down with Tyler Sterchi and talk through his sermon from last Sunday. And you have to hear the story about roof prayer! I’d encourage you to listen to the audio if possible. But if not, here are the prayer prompts for today. Prompt #1 Isaiah 55:8-9 “Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds,” says the Lord, “for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans. Dear God, I acknowledge that you are far greater than I. You are God, you are the ruler of the whole universe. I am not. I am just a man. I do not possess the capacity to understand what you’re doing and why. I worship you for this. I acknowledge that you are directing our ways and governing our world. You are in charge…I am not. Prompt #2 John 3:16-17 For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. Lord, I am sorry for attempting to boil life down to a set of rules. Forgive me for where I’ve judged others for failing to uphold my rules. I pray that you’d help me to understand that you have come to serve and love, and help me to do the same thing. Prompt #3 John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” God, I embrace the mess that is your church and your body. I embrace the fact that you do not build according to a formula. You are infinitely creative and I accept and choose to enjoy my role as a passenger while you are the pilot. I trust you, and I look forward with excitement to see how you will bring your kingdom. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

I got to sit down with a good friend of mine, Joey Bright. We talked about how God’s been moving in his life and how he had to move past himself to step out and do what God wanted him to do. Then we led through a time of prayer. Check out the audio for the awesome story, but if you can’t get that, here are the prayer prompts today! Prayer Prompt 1 Psalm 103:10-12 He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve. For as the skies are high above the earth, so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers. As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us. Dear Father, Thank you for forgiving me for my past. Thank you for paving a way for me to experience your love and life. I am humbled…I know I don’t deserve it. I know I deserve death as my punishment…but you’ve held that back from me. Thank you God. Prayer Prompt 2 Galatians 3:27-28 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. God, I surrender my past and my identity. I am nothing. I want to be so full of Jesus that everything that defines me fades away. I want to know you, to know your power and to find my new identity completely in you. Take all of the old me and replace it with your Son. Prayer Prompt 3 Isaiah 6:5-8 I said, “Woe to me! I am destroyed, for my lips are contaminated by sin, and I live among people whose lips are contaminated by sin. My eyes have seen the king, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” But then one of the seraphs flew toward me. In his hand was a hot coal he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Look, this coal has touched your lips. Your evil is removed; your sin is forgiven.” I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” I answered, “Here I am, send me!” God, now that you’ve freed me from my past…I commit myself to your service. I surrender completely to your will. I will do exactly as you call me to do. I promise to obey you in whatever you put before me. I ask that you’d use me in the service of your kingdom. Use me to bring glory to yourself. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

In Chapter 4 of “A Greater Movement”, Van Brooks talked to us about how the church requires a few things: practical organization and empowered leaders. Kristy joins me on the podcast today to talk about what that looks like on a day to day basis! If you missed the sermon, it’s available on Youtube. I invite you to pray and fast with us today. I’d encourage you to listen to the audio attached to this post to get the discussion between Kristy and I as well as the prayer experience, but if you can’t, here’s the prayer prompts in their text version! Prayer Prompt #1 Scripture: Galatians 5:13-14 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” Lord, you died to make us free. Help us to devote ourselves now to our new cause…service to each other. Do not let us squander what you’ve given us. Don’t let us make church all about ourselves. Remove our self-centered tendencies. Instead, I pray that we would come to our gatherings motivated to love each other and serve each other. When we come, let us be looking for opportunities to help each other. Prayer Prompt #2 Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. God, I pray that you’d help each one of us to understand how you’ve gifted us. And help us to use those gifts for the benefit of others. I pray that we would find great joy in doing what you’ve created us to accomplish. Help me to stop worrying about what others are doing and instead to focus on the calling and the gifting you’ve given me. Prayer Prompt #3 Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38 Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest-ready fields.” God, send workers. Send people into your field. Inspire people to move. I pray that when people look around they would see the bewildered and helpless sheep. I pray that they would be moved to volunteer and serve. I pray that they would be pushed into ministry by your Spirit. God, you’ve commanded me to pray this prayer…so I pray it. Send workers into your fields. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Welcome to the third installment of “A Greater Movement”. Tyler talked about the puzzling story of Ananias and Sapphira from Acts 5. It’s a wild story, but Tyler did a great job helping us understand it. If you missed the sermon, it’s available on Youtube. I invite you to pray and fast with us today. I’d encourage you to listen to the audio attached to this post to get the discussion between Darin and I as well as the prayer experience, but if you can’t, here’s the prayer prompts in their text version! Prayer Prompt #1 Scripture: Psalm 26:4, I do not sit with men of falsehood,nor do I consort with hypocrites.I wash my hands in innocenceand go around your altar, O Lord, Dear Father, show me where I’ve been pretending. I realize that I need your help to see it. I’ve probably been pretending so long that I’ve fooled myself as well. Show me the truth about who I am. Prayer Prompt #2 Scripture: 1 John 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. God, I confess my sins before you. I want to be very honest with you and talk to you about everything that’s wrong. I know that you don’t ask me to be perfect in my own strength. Instead, I want to talk about all the imperfections so you can redeem them through Christ’s power. Send me your Holy Spirit and do a work in my heart. Prayer Prompt #3 Scripture: John 15:12-13 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. God, make this true for me and my church. I pray that we would live in true community with one another. I want experience what it’s really like to live out your love in this way. I understand that it will cost me. I want to see the power of God exhibited through love in his church, no matter what the price is. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Last week we launched our series called “A Greater Movement”. This is the second installment! Darin preached a great message last week from Acts chapter 2, and we sat down to discuss it together on the podcast. Then we lead you through a time of prayer. If you missed the sermon, it’s available on Youtube. I invite you to pray and fast with us today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

Last Sunday, we launched a new series called “A Greater Movement”. We’re looking at the early church in Acts and all the factors that played into the great movement God started through the early apostles. We’re learning those lessons and working to apply them to our church, in our time. Along with that, we realize that we must be praying. We are calling the whole church to a season of fasting and prayer, especially on Wednesdays. We want to see a greater movement of God, and we know that prayer and fasting is absolutely essential. I sat down with Tyler Sterchi to discuss his message and lead us through a time of prayer. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com

John 19:16-42 NET So they took Jesus, and carrying his own cross he went out to the place called “The Place of the Skull” (called in Aramaic Golgotha). There they crucified him along with two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had a notice written and fastened to the cross, which read: “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.” Thus many of the Jewish residents of Jerusalem read this notice because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the notice was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The king of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am king of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” Now when the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and made four shares, one for each soldier, and the tunic remained. (Now the tunic was seamless, woven from top to bottom as a single piece.) So the soldiers said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but throw dice to see who will get it.” This took place to fulfill the scripture that says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they threw dice.” So the soldiers did these things. Now standing beside Jesus’ cross were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, look, here is your son!” He then said to his disciple, “Look, here is your mother!” From that very time the disciple took her into his own home. After this Jesus, realizing that by this time everything was completed, said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty!” A jar full of sour wine was there, so they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a branch of hyssop and lifted it to his mouth. When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Then because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not stay on the crosses on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was an especially important one), the Jewish leaders asked Pilate to have the victims’ legs broken and the bodies taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men who had been crucified with Jesus, first the one and then the other. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out immediately. And the person who saw it has testified (and his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth), so that you also may believe. For these things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled, “Not a bone of his will be broken.” And again another scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.” After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus (but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he went and took the body away. Nicodemus, the man who had previously come to Jesus at night, accompanied Joseph, carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about 75 pounds. Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it, with the aromatic spices, in strips of linen cloth according to Jewish burial customs. Now at the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb where no one had yet been buried. And so, because it was the Jewish day of preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus’ body there. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit praytogether.substack.com