September 15, 2012 - Church at Worship

Sermon: “As to a Friend . . .” Part 2 - The Kneeling Disciple - Randy Roberts

Baptism: Samantha Lorraine Amey - Shawna Campbell

Pastoral Welcome: Timothy Gillespie

Children’s Feature: Patty Marruffo-1st service

Ordination of Elders: Marvin Ponder-2nd service

Meditation:

Prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue. – Adam Clarke
Prayer is ordained to this end: that we should confess our needs to God, and bare our hearts to him, as children lay their troubles in full confidence before their parents. – John Calvin
Real prayer comes not from gritting out teeth, but from falling in love. – Richard Foster
A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God. – Leonard Ravenhill

Scripture Reading: Luke 11:5–8 NCV - Shelley Regester

Sermon Notes: 

My favorite description of prayer is found on page 93 in Ellen White’s classic book,
Steps to Christ. It says: “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend.”
Could a description possibly be more succinct and yet more substantive? It underlines prayer as communion, intimate sharing, the binding together of hearts, and
profound connection.

While that one pregnant sentence contains so much, the remainder of the paragraph adds depth. “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that
it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable
us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.”

Clearly, such a concept of prayer underlines the need to pray in all of the ordinary
as well as the extraordinary events of life. Just as friends walk and talk together
throughout the varied circumstances of life, so our prayer life with God ought to
encompass all of our lives.

To such thoughts we turn our minds today.

Randy Roberts
Senior Pastor

Note: Baptisms and child dedications are in the extras section in the DVD