October 4, 2009 - He's Still Got the Whole World in His Hands:

#2 - Pray Till Peace Comes

Key Focus:

• We often come to prayer as a cheap throw away line, "I'll pray for you," or as a way to ask God to fix all of our messes. Clearly, we are to go to God with everything on our heart. That's part of what it means for Him to be our Abba Father. But prayer is also a surrender to God's will: a time to let Him know our love and to surrender to His purpose in our lives. We join Jesus in saying, "Not my will, but Yours be done, not my glory, but Yours be won!" When this happens, suddenly life and death and everything in between is alive with purpose, meaning the presence of God. Our peace comes from knowing we are heard, that He will use us, and that we can't be separated from His grip in the middle of our messes.

Idea Bin:

• Dramatic Piece or Video: Stephen Corbett will put together a set of clips from Dawson's Creek that emphasize that prayer changes us.

• Jesus with the disciples in the boat
  Storm -- seismos: 4x in Matthew - a perfect box 4 of things we don't understand (storms, Jesus' return, Jesus' death, Jesus resurrection)
  • Asleep in the stern -- his hands are not on the wheel like Carrie Underwood sings, he's sound asleep on the keel!
  • Waves are not only breaking over the bow, Matthew says the ship is veiled from sight: it's being covered up
    • Like three shots in the dark of night, the disciples cry out: Lord. Save. Annihilated.
  • But before we get to Jesus' response, notice the words right before this story begins!
    vs. 18-22. Two key things to notice:
    1. This is a story for disciples -- get away from the crowds, this promise, this experience, is for those who are truly following Jesus
    2. This is about where Jesus chooses to make his home: I don't have a place to sleep, but if you look, you will notice that where I lay my head is where you are, even in the storm. All I am asking is that your really follow me wholeheartedly and that you turn to me in the storm!
  • So what happens when they cry out? The storm dies down so they know that not only is he with them in the storm, but that he unsettled by the storm because he has power over the storm
  • New perspective!
    • Philippians 1:18-19 (17-26)
    • Romans 8:28-29 (26)
    • 2 Timothy 4:6-8
    • Jesus prays in the Garden: Not my will, but yours be done!
    • Look at the heroes in the last half of Hebrews 11
  • Prayer opens the door for God to change things. But it's dangerous because ...
    • May change the circumstance (usually what we pray for)
    • May change the result of the circumstance (Acts 4:23-31)
    • May change the world around you through the circumstance (John 12 - draw all to me: Stephen & Paul)
    • May change you in the circumstance (Philippians 1:19-30 -- God glorified by life or death)
      • This is clearly the pay off of this week's message and the video clip will emphasize this.
  • Hear the echo (Romans 8:28-29) ...
    • Love God
    • Called according to His purpose
    • Works out for our good
    • But ... like it did for Jesus
      • Brings God glory
      • Brings those around us, grace
      • Brings us closer to God
    • Doesn't mean easy!
      • Look what Jesus faced
      • Look what Jesus felt (Psalm 22)
      • But also...
        ... look at what Jesus finished

• Celebration Sunday
• Invite our Friends to Church with Us

• Matthew 8:18-27 tniv
• Romans 8:28-29 tniv
• Philippians 1:19-30 msg
• Romans 8:32-39

Drama, Media, & Connecting Pieces:

• Pre-video:
• Video Piece: Video Link
  • Direction
• Scripture readings
  • Scripture Directions
    1. Day - Thoughts about use
    2. Ref - Thoughts about use
       

Time in the Word Focus:

• Key focus of the Time in the Word
  • Key Ideas
    • Point

Daybreak Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - Marilyn & Wade)

Refresh Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - John C, Larry, Amanda, & Phi)