I can’t believe it is already mid January. We’ve had a strange weather year in Central Texas; from record breaking heat last summer to a strange winter pattern which has the temperatures going up and down like a yo-yo. Most of the leaves have fallen but amazingly there are some that have not. I spent a few hours last weekend raking leaves in the same part of the yard I did the week before. When strong north winds blow, it seems that all the leaves in my neighborhood have a tendency to be blown and collect in one place; my yard.

Late last summer, First United Methodist Church of Waco was praying for rain. The area was so dry and a slight increase in the winds caused fires to burn rampant all over Texas. Waco is surrounded by farm and ranch land and many prayers were being lifted up for those that depend on rain for their livelihood.

The message last weekend at First United Methodist Waco called “The Church Truly Prayed” was about Acts 4; the early church and the big prayers they prayed.

Some of the main points brought out in the sermon message were the following: 

• The Church is built on something that happened
• The Church is continually pulled toward the Inside
• What we believe should make us brave
• The size of our prayer should grow our faith
• Our prayers will show us how big God really is

In Acts 4, the young church had just started because of something that had happened. Jesus had been crucified and now the indwelling Spirit moved the people. They had just witnessed Peter and John healing a crippled man. Peter and John were unschooled ordinary men; not insiders but considered outsiders. They had been arrested for speaking to the people about Jesus but they had the courage to stand before the rulers and elders; boldly explaining how they had the power to heal the crippled man. After they were released, they went back to their own people and prayed. Their prayers were big prayers and their faith grew.

We should do the same today. Our prayers should grow our faith and our prayers should be big prayers to show how big God really is.

Here are some links you might find interesting:
Lesson two on the sermon series “The Church”
http://www.fumcwaco.org/lesson2.html

Sermon Podcast
http://www.fumcwaco.org/pod.html

I hope you will be blessed by this inspiring video
As It Is In Heaven – Matt Maher

This upcoming week, write down notes from a sermon or sermon podcast and share a thought. Let us continue to work, learn, and pray big prayers together,

Mark