I want to call CrossWay to pray for the progress of the gospel at Exploring Christianity. I want to call you to pray when you come before God in your morning devotions, and when you gather together for dinner as a family, and when you come together as a Care Group. Men, lead your families in praying for the progress of the gospel at Exploring Christianity. Care Group leaders, lead your members to pray for the progress of the gospel at Exploring Christianity.
Preview Dinner
Preview Dinner
This past Wednesday we hosted our Preview Dinner for Exploring Christianity and we had 72 adults participate in the dinner. There were many unfamiliar faces, some new to CrossWay and some friends of CrossWay attendees. All who were there were there by God’s sovereign and providential design. We trust that they are there for a reason, and that reason is that they might know Christ more fully.
Please Pray
So I ask you, I plead with you, would you pray for the progress of the gospel at Exploring Christianity? Pray especially on Wednesday evenings when we gather together. I am reminded of how Paul asked the Colossian church to pray for his gospel work. He said,
“…pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” -Colossians 4:3-6
So, here are four ways you can be praying for Exploring Christianity,
- Pray that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ. When I think of a door I think of people. Pray that God would continue to bring non-Christians to Exploring Christianity. Pray that they would come week after week and that they would bring their non-Christian friends with them. Pray that as they come that God would open their hearts to the mystery of Christ. Pray that it would no longer be a mystery to them because of the illumination of the Spirit. Pray that the Spirit would give them understanding and that He would regenerate their dead hearts. Pray that they would have life, eternal life, life in Christ.
- Pray that we would declare the mystery of Christ and that we would make it clear, which is how we ought to speak. Pray for those who are teaching, that their teaching may be centered on Christ and Him crucified and risen from the dead. Pray the message would be clear to those who are listening. Pray for those who are leading and helping in our discussion groups. Pray they too would steer the discussion towards the gospel and make the message of the gospel clear, and compelling, and accessible to those who come.
- Pray that our speech is always gracious, seasoned with salt. Pray this for the entire team: those setting up and taking down, those working with the children, those serving the meals, those leading and helping in the discussion groups, those speaking. Pray that those who attend Exploring Christianity would be surprised at the kindness and graciousness of those who serve them. Pray that we would be able to speak a word of grace that would bless them. Pray that our speech would demonstrate a seasoned maturity in our knowledge and love for Christ, a saltiness that testifies to the power and presence of Christ.
- Pray that we may know how to answer each person. Here I think of our discussion group hosts and helpers and our Explorer Kids workers. Our discussion groups often get some difficult questions, and loaded questions, and questions that come with personal history. Please pray that they may know how to answer each person, with truth, and grace, and clarity, and compassion. Pray that they would not only answer the question correctly, but that God would use them to minister grace to each particular situation. Pray also for our Explorer workers, that as they serve the children and parents of children that they would be able to answer their questions, and serve their needs, and be a refreshing presence in some difficult situations.
Thank you CrossWay for your prayers, thank you for your partnership in the gospel, and thank you for praying for our evangelistic witness as a church.
