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2011 Prayer Support for Mission V. 2; N. 28
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MISSION HIGHLIGHT
Eritrean Lutheran LINC Houston
Begun in 2006, Pastor Isaak is reaching the Eritrean community in this vibrant Houston area mission.
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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!
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Invocation
O Father, settle my heart and mind this day as I prepare once again to sit at Your feet as a disciple. Grant to me the strength to deny my own desires, the courage to take up my cross, and the character to follow You who is, was, and is to come; Jesus. Amen.
Reading Luke 9:23-26; Psalm 145
Reflection
The Crowd or Disciples?
In The Cost of Discipleship, D. Bonhoeffer spells out what it means to follow Christ.
An often quoted part of the book deals with the distinction Bonhoeffer makes between "cheap" grace and "costly" grace. But what is "cheap" grace? In Bonhoeffer's words: "Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, and communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, and grace without Jesus Christ" or, it is to hear the gospel preached as follows: "You have sinned, now everything is forgiven, so you can stay as you are and just enjoy your forgiveness." The main defect of such a proclamation is that it contains NO demand for discipleship, NO true commitment to Christ. In contrast to this is costly grace: "Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to FOLLOW Jesus, and it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light.""
Jesus was interested in disciples who FOLLOWED Him, not just a crowd who showed up.
According to Jesus' words in this passage, there are at least THREE CONDITIONS that must be met by people who want to follow Jesus:
1) we MUST be willing to deny self,
2) we MUST be willing to take up our crosses daily, and
3) we MUST be willing to follow him.
We are not saved by the quality of our own discipleship but solely on the merit of who Christ is and what He has done. However, discipleship is the natural response to the costly grace of God. Salvation is FREE, but not CHEAP. it cost everything to God; it cost His only and begotten Son Jesus Christ. Jesus took up the cross for our salvation, are you ready to take up your cross and follow Him today?
By David Kim
Mission Director of LINC Houston
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
Go, as His disciple, reflecting Jesus in all you do and say. to His glory. AMEN .
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| Note: Those items that are in bold italic are newly added to or timely emphasis items |
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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.
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Pray for Missionaries and their Families -----
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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. |
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For Rev. Lincon & Noemi Guerra, LINC Houston Centro Familiar Christiano.
For Rev. Juan Garcia, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Waco, 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.
For New Workers in the District
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Pray for New Missions -----
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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. For St. John Cypress as they look for their next mission start. |
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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 WOBLO TX as they begin the adventure of bringing God's kingdom into darkness.
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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 Mission Liberty Hill
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Pray for Continuing and Key Events -----
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The FiveTwo network across the world
For congregations to make bringing Christ to communities their top priority
For strong fellowship development among like minded witnesses
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For Ramiro Guierrez and his family in the New Hope ministry. That leaders would be raised up for the surrounding community.
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For Beto and a Church Plant that God would guide to the start of prayer groups and Bible Studies in the communtiy and for the I-360 visa application. Beto's current visa expires on July 27th.
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For congregations in Area A as they look to develop missional hearts.
St Paul, Ft Worth / The Summit at Aledo as they search for direction concerning their next Multi-Site Mission location.
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For Parent Ministry in the Spanish-Speaking Church Plant in Carrollton, Farmers Branch, to break through the apathy to grow, and that parents and children grow in their relationship.
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For ongoing connections with AVID teachers: Becky, Teal, Liz, Lindsey, Christina, Camille, Richard, and Cindy.
For a new intern to help run SALI in the 2011-2012 school year.
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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
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For LINC NT work in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and for protection of the children during summer vacation, especially from drugs and pregnancy.
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Thanksgiving for a very successful Gala. Thanksgiving for the development at New Hope.
For the Ten new church starts in Area B
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Circuit Seven and Wichita Fall Mission Initiatives. That mission culture be developed.
For High Plains Mission Network development.
For preparation and planning of the 2011 Professional Church Workers Conference to be held in Klein, TX October 16-18. that the Mission of God be foremost in the heart and mind of presenter and participant alike.
For 10% of the Baptized members of TxDistLCMS to pray for mission
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For SALI as they move out into other school districts as well as for the new Early College High School Parent Nights at Brookhaven College.
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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.
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Message to Partners -----
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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.
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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 Worker Training in the Texas District, click here.
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Blessings,
Rev. Steven Misch
Texas District, LCMS
806-433-4536 |
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