SERMON OUTLINE FOR SUNDAY AM, November 15, AM, 2009


Pastor Peter Hogeterp

Covenant Christian Reformed Church

Winnipeg, Canada

           

Scripture Reading: Acts 12:1-19
Sermon: THE CHURCH’S FIRST PRAYER WARRIOR: RHODA

Introduction:
Prayer must seem like a strange ritual to those who are not followers of Jesus. It’s even difficult for many Christians to describe, explain, or practice. What is really happening? Does it do anything? Is it worthwhile? Part of the DNA God put into the new baby NT church was the need, ability and desire to pray.

  1. The place of prayer in the Christian Church
    1. Liturgical prayers as part of worship
    2. Family prayers as part of family devotions
    3. Personal prayers in our “closets” (Matt 6:6)
    4. The Praying Church in other parts of the world
    5. A definition of prayer: an intimate 2-way conversation between a child of God and his/her Father

 

  1. The imminent death of the new baby NT Church’s Primary Leader
    1. Peter was in prison, carefully guarded by up to 18 soldiers
    2. His beheading was scheduled as the grand finale of that year’s Passover
    3. Across the city, a little group of believers is deep in around-the-clock prayer at Mary’s house.
  1. The miraculous escape of Peter
    1. An angel touches Peter in the night; God often waits till the 11th hour.
    2. The chains drop off; the doors open; he follows the angel out
    3. He thought it was a vision (12:9) until he came to himself (12:11)
    4. He went to Mary’s house and knocked at the door; Rhoda answered.

 

  1. The lesson of prayer
    1. Rhoda was so excited she forgot to let Peter in
    2. The praying church thought she was out of her mind (12:15)
    3. As Peter kept knocking, they realized someone was at the door
    4. Why we are astonished when God says YES
    5. Why Rhoda is the hero in this story
    6. Meanwhile, across town, at the prison, the fallout is the execution of all the guards

Conclusion:
What role does Prayer play in our personal lives and the life of the church? We have a huge ASK of God as a church for our present and for our future: how to grow into spiritual maturity ourselves, how to communicate God’s grace to the next generation and our culture, how to deal with the heartache of adult children walking away from the Lord, how to share Christ until all fully reflect him, where to go as a church, who our next pastor will be, etc. What’s God got to do with it?