2011 m2c texas prayer initiative 2.20

2011 Prayer Support for Mission V. 2; N. 20

MISSION HIGHLIGHT

TheStation

Denton, TX

We are a Christian community located in Denton, Tx. We are striving to live missional lives that bring glory to Jesus Christ. (contact)

Go to the Website.

Do you know people who would like to make a difference in the world?

Invite them to become an m2c Missional Prayer Partner. Forward them this link. click here!

Invocation

God of heaven and earth, Father of time and eternity, You hold all that is Created in Your hands, yet You call me to Yourself. Give me the boldness to move in Your name and under Your authority in this life with Your Gospel for the sake of Him who was, who is, and who is to come; Jesus. Amen.

Reading Luke 7:17-35; Psalm 25

Reflection

Luke 7:17-35 "...yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he" (Luke 7:28).

Historical records are full of great men and women.

Church history is also replete with the accounts of great men and women of extraordinary ability and achievement. John the Baptist is counted among them. The Lord of the Church Himself assures the greatness of his position, "among those born of women there is no one greater than John"(Luke 7:28).

Luther himself looks at history in general and finds this to be the case. God will, as the occasion demands, raise up his "vir heroicus"-His "heroic man." This is indeed the case. There can be no doubt that certain individuals according to the demands of time and place manifest their extraordinary gifts and abilities and thereby achieve historical greatness. Of course Jesus turns this on its head even with John. He will not be great among the great, a royal among royalty, but in the desert.

But then Jesus continues with the most striking non sequitur, "the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he"(Luke 7:28). This statement seems to fly in the face of all common experience to the contrary. When we reflect however briefly on the normal course of our experience in the church and world the statement seems utterly absurd. The church, as human institution, needs the great, the capable, the accomplished, the successful, the wealthy with their all their wealth. We need and claim all the good gifts God gives to His church in the world and celebrate the exceptionalism which allows for the creation and maintenance of a great institution by great leaders.

This being the case, the hardest worker and the best thinker earn their due respect and admiration in the comparative and superlative of greater and greatest.

But the Australian theologian, John Kleinig, may offer some helpful insight into Jesus' statement that "the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he," as we think about prayer and prayers in the kingdom of God. His understanding comes from the term introduced in John 15:15, "I have called you friends." His point is drawn from the use of the term "friend" in the Old Testament. In Old Testament usage the term "friend" was often used to describe the role of one of the kings most trusted advisors. There are a variety of examples: I Chronicles 27:33, "Hushai the Arkite was the king's friend," would be one. Hushai had the king's utmost trust and confidence, immediate access to the king's ear and interests. Hushai the Arkite spoke for and on behalf of King David and his concerns , as we read in II Samuel 15-17 in the history of Absalom's rebellion.

And if we are Jesus' "friends"? Kleinig suggests that we are indeed members of the Privy Council of the Great King Jesus. Though least in the kingdom and world, how importantly do we take our prayers and intercessions with and on behalf of the Great King Jesus and His Kingdom interests? Do we pray as "friends" of Jesus with the understanding that history is being written not only "from below" but also "from above" in response to the prayers of Jesus' friends? Those unknown in the pages of human history may still be well attested in the record of the Lord of history at His coming as men and women who prayed with all boldness and confidence and certain expectation of accomplishing great things by prayer as the "friends" of Jesus. This true greatness even for the least.

Rev. Steve Morfitt, Brownsville, RioMAC Hispanic Training Center

Pray (As you pray include . . . people who don't know Christ; people who will plant & witness; include people who pray. In addition, pray that the land be quenched with rain and that opportunities to bring God's love to individuals and communities impacted by the wildfires not be missed by God's servants.)

Benediction

You have heard, you have been called, you are sent. Go in the boldness of the presence of the Living God. Amen.

Note: Those items that are in bold italic are newly added to or timely emphasis items

Pray that the members of the Texas District embrace the mission.

Lord, As fears grow concerning local, state, and world events, make Your presence known, through Your church and through Your people in such a way that Your hand of grace would be seen calming hearts and minds ultimately drawing all people to Yourself. Amen.

Pray for Missionaries and their Families -----

For the Preparation of new Church Planters who are ready to enter into this challenging and difficult ministry in Texas and throughout the nation

For the Center for Us Mission CPAC. Pray that men and their families are raised up for vital church planting in our church body.

For the unseen missional workers in neighborhoods and communities in Texas and around the world whose hearts would reveal Christ to the world.

For Vicars and Call Candidates as the Lord prepares them and their families for work in God's Kingdom.

For Vicar Logan Scheiwe, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Irving, TX

For Mr. Gian Din, POBLO TX All Nations Lutheran Church, Dallas, TX

For your own pastoral leadership

For church planter coaches and those being coached
For those preparing for the ministry, that they recognize the heart and desire of Christ in every ministry to which they are called.

Pray for New Missions -----

For the Holy Spirit to guide the formation of Abiding Word Lutheran Church in Gonzales

For Hope Lutheran, Marble Falls, planted in connection with Genesis, Buchanan Dam

For Grace Community Church (Pakistani / Indian)

Rev. Ed Benarsi and Pakistani worship at Our Savior, Austin on Sunday evenings. Pray for effective outreach and God's blessings on this new beginning.

For Mission Marble Falls.

For Redeemer, Austin to implement childcare outreach.

For St. Paul, McAllen as they investigate a new start with SMP Vicar Mr. Andrew Perry

For St. Peter, Roanoke as it becomes a Texas Dist Church Planting Training Partner

For Mission Liberty Hill

For St. John Cypress as they look for their next mission start.

For Steve Sandfort, Mission Planting Vicar at Crown of Life, Colleyville and the launch team for Edge Community Lutheran, NW Tarrant County.

For the development of mission in the northeast corner of Area A and Candelaria in the Southwest.

For Epiphany, Pearland as they continue to develop their multi-site ministry.

For St. Paul, McAllen as they investigate a new start with SMP Vicar Mr. Andrew Perry

Pray for Continuing and Key Events -----

The FiveTwo Wiki Conference on June 21-24, 2011

For congregations to make bringing Christ to communities their top priority

For strong fellowship development among like minded witnesses

For Hope, Lubbock as they discern their next mission step

For the Ten new church starts in Area B

St Paul, Ft Worth / The Summit at Aledo as they search for direction concerning their next Multi-Site Mission location.

For POBLO and a new Ethnic Mission Plant in partnership with Our Savior, Rockwall.

For the search for Director for LINC San Antonio

For Missional Worker Training in Area C

For continued support for LINC

For workers as they gather together at the Theological Convocation that the Mission of God be foremost in their discussions and that such resides in the hearts and mind's of each participant.

For 10% of the Baptized members of TxDistLCMS to pray for mission

Pray for Congregations to grow in their discipleship response to the Gospel including their financial support for kingdom work. For Stewardship Resources click here.

Pray for the U.S. Budget Process for 2012 and for the strengthening of our economy in the US and around the world for the continued resourcing of the Mission.

Message to Partners -----

Even though changes on these lists may be subtle and infrequent, do not be discouraged in your prayers and do not conclude that things are not happening. There is active mission movement in the Texas District. Perseverance in prayer is one of the characteristics of this ministry, as I am sure you know.

I assure you that your prayers are being heard and are greatly needed. There is movement in the body of Christ in Texas and around the world. Thank you for your persistent prayer support.

This publication is made available for your encouragement in prayer ministry and prayer support for Mission 200 of the Texas District, LCMS. Reflections are authored by missionaries and leaders in the Texas District whose heart is to bring the Gospel to people who do not know Jesus Christ.

If you have questions, comments, prayer requests for planting, or if you are looking for information concerning church planting in your community, you may email your Area Mission and Ministry Facilitator:

Steven Misch | Paul Krentz | Mike Newman | Jon Braunersreuther

Mission 200 (M2C) is the effort of Texas District Congregations to start 200 new Word and Sacrament Ministries by 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The Texas District prays that a mission movement can grow in Texas.

For more information and resources for mission planting in Texas go the m2c website by clicking here.

For information about Missional Work Training in the Texas District, click here.

Blessings,

Rev. Steven Misch
Texas District, LCMS
806-433-4536