PreDecide: I Will Pray
Pre-Decide: I Will Pray
If only we could make decisions ahead of time rather than when we're under stress, overwhelmed, or swayed by fear or emotion. This series teaches us how to position ourselves to make the choices we really want to make as followers of Jesus and avoid those we do not. Pre-Decide will help you: • See how your small choices shape the kind of person you become • Understand the science behind your decision-making habits • Overcome decision fatigue and debilitating fears • Diminish the role of emotions in decision-making • Define and put into action the seven life-defining pre-decisions you can make today Becoming the person God wants you to be starts before you even make a decision. You'll discover the power of pre-deciding today to help you live the life you want to have tomorrow.
Locations & Times
First Baptist Church Seminole Tx
202 SW Ave B, Seminole, TX 79360, USA
Sunday 5:00 AM
Prayer
Read Plan
Give Generously
At our church, it is our desire to serve our community and share the life-changing message of hope and truth in Jesus. We see giving as another way we can our worship God by generously and joyfully giving toward the ministry and mission he has called us to together.
Welcome to First Baptist. This page is where you will find the sermon notes and more information about what is happening at FBC.
Stay connected:
www.fbcseminole.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FirstSeminole
Twitter: @Seminolefbc
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@fbcseminole_youth
We meet Sundays:
9:30 am First Service
10:30 am Second Service
Connect Groups on Sunday
Connect Groups throughout the week.
35,000 and Seven. 35,000 is the number shaping my life. Seven is the the number that allows me to take back my life.
The Barna Group found in 2017 that 79% of American adults have prayed at least once in the last three months.
1. Powerful Prayer is in Community (vv. 13-16)
Our world, specifically our culture, is becoming more and more individualized.
That same 2017 study by Barna also found that:
94% of American adults who prayed in the last 3 months did so alone.
82% did so silently while alone.
94% of American adults who prayed in the last 3 months did so alone.
82% did so silently while alone.
Conclusion: “What [was] found gives us a much more nuanced portrait of the American prayer life. The most notable aspect of which is its individual quality. People pray mostly alone—it is a solitary activity defined primarily by the immediate needs and concerns of the individual. Corporate prayer and corporate needs are less compelling drivers in people’s prayer lives.”
This study shows us that the primary form of our prayer lives is quite different from the picture of prayer painted by James.
We need to remember, not only in our social lives but also our spiritual lives that we are not meant to be alone.
Your prayer life should not be an exclusively private, solitary thing.
Your prayer life should not be an exclusively private, solitary thing.
Challenge: Decide to be intentional about praying with and for each other.
2. Persistent Prayer is Powerful (vv. 17-18)
Elijah didn’t wake up one day and decide to pray. He had already cultivated a life of prayer and a relationship with God.
His prayers were an extension of his relationship with God, not the full extent.
His prayers were an extension of his relationship with God, not the full extent.
These parables are painting a picture of what persistent prayer looks like.
Jesus is making the point, through these parables, that persistent prayer is powerful.
Jesus is making the point, through these parables, that persistent prayer is powerful.
We can’t just pray when we feel like it or have time for it.
We must pre-decide to prioritize prayer in our lives.
We must commit ourselves to people who pray first, not last.
We must commit ourselves to praying persistently, not inconsistently.
We must pre-decide to prioritize prayer in our lives.
We must commit ourselves to people who pray first, not last.
We must commit ourselves to praying persistently, not inconsistently.
We (Josh and Courtney) prayed persistently that the Lord lead us somewhere that have strong community. As we prayed, we felt the strong pull of the Lord towards a city I (Josh) had heard of but had never been to: Seminole
3. The Power of Prayer is Eternal (vv. 19-20)
There are currently approximately 2.5 BILLION Christians in the world. Compared to 6 billion who don’t know Jesus.
Before we read through the Roman Road with someone, before we try to “convert” them or convince them how great Jesus is – we should pray for them.
When James challenges us to be part of the redemption story of others – he doesn’t quantify the relationship.
The baggage, the hurt that comes with some people – pales in comparison to the need.
The baggage, the hurt that comes with some people – pales in comparison to the need.
We can have a lot of Gospel conversations, debates and discussions.
But those will never do any good if they are devoid of prayer.
But those will never do any good if they are devoid of prayer.
Baby Lorelai has already affected the way I (Josh) see the world, God and prayer.
When that baby girl cries out, I am compelled to act.
Does she control me? No.
But my love for her compels me to act when she cries out to me.
Does she control me? No.
But my love for her compels me to act when she cries out to me.
God works the same way.
When His beloved children cry out to Him, it’s not the prayer that compels Him, it's his love for his child!
When His beloved children cry out to Him, it’s not the prayer that compels Him, it's his love for his child!
The Challenge:
Pray in community.
Pray persistently.
Pray for eternity.
Pray in community.
Pray persistently.
Pray for eternity.
Connect Group Questions — PRE–DECIDE
James 5:13-20
1) When in your life can you say that God without a doubt, answered a prayer? What does that tell you about Him?
2) Have you ever experienced an unanswered prayer? How do you know God was still present?
3) Would you consider your prayers to be persistent? Why/why not? What season(s)/circumstance(s) might make you more persistent?
4) Are you praying for someone to encounter God? Who? If not, who in your life might need such prayer?
5) Read the 2017 study conducted by Barna (https://www.barna.com/research/silent-solo-americans-pray/) How does your prayer life compare/contrast to the average American? What needs to change?