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A Prayer for the Pastor
Heavenly Father, I pray for my pastor as the senior leader and shepherd of this congregation. Give him the wisdom and insight he needs to direct our church according to your will. May we follow his lead, instead of arguing, complaining, or revolting against his leadership. Instead, help us to join hearts, hands, and minds in one accord as we seek your Spirit’s leading.
Bless our pastor with understanding of how best to teach and equip our church for service. Give him fresh insight each week as he studies your Word to deliver to our congregation. Help him to demonstrate how the truths of your Word are extremely practical to our lives.
Encourage our pastor as he seeks to train volunteer workers, such as myself, how to better serve the church. Help him to see areas in which we can improve and be able to equip us for greater ministry. Help us to be humble enough to receive the training we need, even though we may have served in our volunteer ministries for many years. Amen.
Dedication of the Tabernacle
Read Exodus 40:17-38
“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (v. 34).
There is a good feeling in tackling a work that takes care of a need. There is yet a bigger reward in finishing it. When something is built, there is a glory that goes to the contractor that does an excellent job. Many people usually give compliments on the good work. But when one acts in direct obedience to God, there is a glory from heaven that fills the soul almost to bursting.
“Moses finished the work” (v. 33). Then a cloud came and sort of hid the tabernacle. Sometimes a bit of gloom comes when we don’t expect it. But God has a reason for everything. This cloud may have helped cover the glory of the Lord that came and filled the tabernacle. That glory was so rich in splendor and power that Moses was not able to enter the “tent.” Moses, who had talked to God personally, and had been in His presence until his face shone, could not take this!
Why did God come in such glory? Moses and the men had just built Him a home. When young people go off to college sometimes they take some family pictures and a few other things to help them feel more at home. Well, God just wanted to bring a little of heaven with Him! (L. Wayne Covert)
A little girl, walking with her father on a starry night, when asked what she was thinking, said, “I was thinking that if the wrong side of heaven is so glorious what must the right side be?”
A Prayer of Dedication
Focus Text: 2 Chronicles 6:12-21, 40-42
Central Truth: Christians should dedicate themselves to do God’s will.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify areas of their lives which should be dedicated to God.
Lesson Outline:
I. Adoration (2 Chron. 6:12-15)
II. Entreaty (2 Chron. 6:16-21)
III. Petitions (2 Chron. 6:40-42)
A Prayer for the Superintendent
Heavenly Father, thank you for my Sunday school superintendent and all the work that he/she does to make sure our Sunday school department runs properly.
You see the stress this person experiences when teachers are absent without warning or complain and argue over little things. Help me to be an encouragement by faithfully showing up each week and letting the superintendent know well in advance if I cannot come. Help me also to have such a sweet spirit that it gives joy to him/her.
Enable this person to have the strength and energy to serve in this position. Help them not to feel overwhelmed by the various administrative tasks for which they are responsible. Give this person creative ideas for how to encourage and train us teachers to disciple our students more effectively. Help us teachers to work together for the good of our church, but most of all because we love you, Lord. Amen.
Divine Reassurance
Read Daniel 9:20-23
“Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation” (v. 21).
We humans have an innate desire to communicate and be heard and understood by other people. I see this desire in my three-year-old’s face as he tries to get his story out over the noise and distractions of his older brothers. Being ignored or drowned out by the sea of competing sounds is a frustrating experience for him. In those times, stooping down to his level, looking into his eyes, and placing a hand on his arm is the encouragement he needs that someone is listening and cares about what matters to him.
In this passage, Daniel pours out his heart in intercessory prayer, and God sends an angel to reassure him that he is “greatly beloved” and to reveal some astonishing details about God’s work in the future for his people. In our times of prayer, we also may be anguished and burdened for the needs of those around us. In these moments, our Heavenly Father hears us, and it is a blessing when we feel His encouraging touch, reassuring us of His great love and concern for the things that matter to us. (Stephen B. Smith)
A Prayer of Confession
Focus Text: Daniel 9:3-6, 11-19
Central Truth: God’s grace is extended to those who confess their need to Him.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify some areas of need in their lives which require God’s help.
Lesson Outline:
I. The Burden (Dan. 9:3-10)
II. The Confession (Dan. 9:11-15)
III. The Request (Dan. 9:16-19)