Church Culture, Part 1: A Culture of Prayer

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Acts 2:38–42 (ESV) 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Jubilee 2024: A call to prioritize seeking intimacy with Jesus.

We exist to see people transformed by Jesus

Culture: a way of life, beliefs, behaviors, values and symbols within a group of people; common language, customs, and celebrations

Acts 2:42 (ESV) And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

We gather for worship/prayer to encounter God and be moved to respond.

We worship/pray to Know God in order to be a vessel of Him.

Philippians 3:7–8a (ESV) 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Acts 13:2–3 (ESV) 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

We worship/pray to get heaven’s perspective in order to bring heaven’s perspective.

Matthew 6:9-10 (ESV) “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Our congregational practice of prayer should shape and strengthen our personal practice of prayer.

Psalm 105:1–4 (ESV) 1 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! 2  Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! 3  Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! 4  Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

“A spiritual kingdom lies all about us, enclosing us, embracing us, altogether within reach of our inner selves, waiting for us to recognize it. God Himself is here waiting for our response to His presence. This eternal world will come alive to us the moment we begin to reckon upon its reality.” ~ A.W. Tozer

Pursuing God’s presence together inspires and catalyzes our personal pursuit of His presence.

Acts 4:13 (ESV) 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

“God develops your life in the secret place, not the stage.”

Acts 4:29–31 (ESV) 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Colossians 1:9–14 (ESV) 9 … [I ask] that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.