
INTRODUCTION
Jesus has called us to be On Mission for Him. His last command needs to be our first concern.
“Jesus came near and said to them, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age’.” —Matthew 28:18-20
City United Church is committed to obeying Jesus’ last command. We exist to lead people in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, resulting in MORE disciples and churches both locally and globally.
During this collection of talks, we will explore how we can be On Mission for the Kingdom:
August 9 How to be On Mission
August 16 On Mission In New England – Special Guest Dr. Terry Dorsett (BCNE)
August 23 Funding the Vision – Faith Promise Commitment
August 30 On Mission in the World – Compassion Sunday
September 6 Praying for the Next Generation - Ryan Kelley
Text: Psalm 78:1-8 (CSB, Old Testament)
Today’s Takeaway:
If we want to reach the next generation, we have to pray for the next generation.
ON MISSION WEEK 5: Praying for the Next Generation
6 PRAYERS THAT WE CAN PRAY TO HELP SHAPE
THE NEXT GENERATION TO BE ON MISSION
I. PRAY THEY WILL
IN THE WORD OF GOD
“How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long.” —Psalm 119:97
- This takes parental involvement.
- This takes personal and family involvement in God’s work.
- This takes an emphasis on loving God’s Word and living in wonder of it.
II. PRAY THEY WILL BE
, NOT JUST RELIGIOUSLY EDUCATED
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.” —Ezekiel 36:26-27
- This takes creating an environment for teaching truth. (Acts 2 vs. Acts 17)
- This takes having conversations, so they understand and grow in truth.
- This takes creating a mindset of surrender to Christ who is absolute truth.
“You say that I’m a king’, Jesus replied. ‘I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” —John 18:37b
III. PRAY THEY ARE
AND
BY THE WORD OF GOD, NOT THE WORLD
“I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God because they will return to me with all their heart.” —Jeremiah 24:7
- This requires personal engagement.
- This requires parental encouragement in vocation and devotion to Christ.
- This requires support from the church for our next generation groups (kids, tweens, teens, and college age).
IV. PRAY THEY WILL BE
AND
IN SERVING OTHERS
“For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed, …” —Acts 13:36
- This requires us to love each other.
- This requires us to serve each other.
- This requires us to be On Mission together.
V. PRAY THAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD WILL
TO GENERATIONS WE WILL NEVER KNOW
A. It starts in the
“These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.” —Deuteronomy 6:6
B. It must be present in the
“Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” —Deuteronomy 6:7
“I will confirm my covenant that is between me and you and your future offspring throughout their generations. It is a permanent covenant to be your God and the God of your offspring after you. 8And to you and your future offspring.” —Genesis 17:7-8
- Pray this generation will influence their families for Christ.
- Pray this generation will Influence their schools for Christ.
- Pray this generation will Influence their community for Christ.
- Pray this generation will Influence the digital world for Christ.
VI. PRAY THEY WILL NOT FALL AWAY FROM THE FAITH, BUT LIVE BY FAITH
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.” —Romans 1:17
- Our prayers will move us to action.
- Our prayers will move us to obedience.
- Our prayers will move us to please Jesus.
My On Mission Next Steps:
- Add the generation in the 10/30 window to your regular daily prayers.
- Join us at City United Church for a time of Communion and Prayer Walking for our community and schools – September 16th at 6:30 pm. We will meet at the church for Communion and then deploy into the community to pray.
- Pray for our City Kids, City Tweens, City Teens ministries, the leaders and the students they are reaching.
- Pray for the families, students, and teachers in our church and community during this difficult year with so many changes because of COVID-19.
CONCLUSION:
Will you be On Mission and pray for this next generation so that we can reach them for Christ?
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