1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,360 The next five weeks what we're going to do is cover five different themes of disciples that actually fall underneath 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,780 What I think it means to live right so we start with rest 3 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:17,440 Move into this segment of live live is a lot broader than what some of us think it is and then we get 4 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:25,160 To work and so it might be a shock to some of you that there is more to living in Christ than church attendance 5 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:33,120 It's not just about showing up on a Sunday. There is so much more that God has for us in relationship with him and whether so the next 6 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:38,120 Five weeks we're going to talk about abiding in prayer about reading the scripture about listening to the spirit 7 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:43,280 But practicing our faith and about forgiving as we're forgiven and then the the last week we're going to talk about 8 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:51,800 Working with God. So today we are going to abide in prayer a few weeks ago when I started this 9 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:58,240 Series off I mentioned that the Bible isn't the first step in our discipleship plan 10 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,320 You know because I said like some people will just tell people to a church and read 11 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:05,680 Their Bibles and I actually want to slow down and explain a little bit more 12 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,520 Why the Bible isn't the first step and you might be like Greg 13 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:14,680 I thought we were talking about prayer, but I think that this is a precursor why we have to explain this 14 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:19,080 Because some people they're not comfortable with the idea that the Bible isn't the very first thing 15 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,080 That you should jump into in this plan 16 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,800 And so I want to explain a little bit more because I love the Bible 17 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:31,000 I've been reading the Bible my entire life and over the years 18 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:38,160 I have come to understand it differently more deeply with new kinds of beauty and compassion with more grace 19 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,960 Hope but the Bible doesn't come first in this plan. So why? 20 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,800 We have the option of having the Bible with us 21 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:51,880 100 versions of it at all times in all places 22 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:54,120 so 23 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:55,320 post 24 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:56,320 enlightenment 25 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:03,760 Okay, you know a little bit about history post enlightenment the position of prayer in the life of a believer 26 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,520 Has been replaced by the reading of Scripture 27 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:12,000 Post in line that we've become so focused on what I can know 28 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,440 What can I learn? I think therefore I 29 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:17,440 Think therefore I am 30 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,840 We go what can I have this now so I should read it all the time 31 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:29,920 But this has not always been the case because the Bible as we understand it isn't something that even existed until relatively 32 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:35,560 Recently, I don't mean the books of the Bible the books of the Bible were decided the order of them 33 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,740 Which ones were considered canonical and all that relatively early? 34 00:02:39,740 --> 00:02:44,160 So that's not what I'm talking about the ability to have the whole Bible 35 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:49,000 Available to us at all times is a relatively new 36 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:55,040 Concept first Bible in English is only six hundred and thirty eight years old 37 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:01,360 You may be like, oh, that's that's really old. That's been forever. Well, my grandmother died at 97 38 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,360 Just five of her lifetimes 39 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,180 It's not that long ago 40 00:03:08,180 --> 00:03:16,420 600 that the first Bible in English is only six hundred thirty eight years old and when it got translated into English 41 00:03:16,940 --> 00:03:18,940 You couldn't get it 42 00:03:18,980 --> 00:03:21,940 You couldn't get it because the printing press hadn't been invented yet 43 00:03:24,380 --> 00:03:28,500 That didn't happen for another 71 years after that in 44 00:03:30,020 --> 00:03:34,340 1455 and it's true that when the Gutenberg press was created the first book printed was 45 00:03:34,340 --> 00:03:43,580 The Bible it was they printed between 150 and 180 copies depending on which source you read 46 00:03:43,580 --> 00:03:47,020 And then it took them between three and five years 47 00:03:48,260 --> 00:03:52,140 To print those copies depending on which source you read 48 00:03:53,180 --> 00:03:57,700 This is fascinating. They were printing guys. You ready for how quick this was happening 49 00:03:57,700 --> 00:04:03,780 Between two and a half and five copies of the Bible per month 50 00:04:06,020 --> 00:04:08,020 But they were all in Latin 51 00:04:08,860 --> 00:04:10,860 Anyone speak Latin? 52 00:04:12,060 --> 00:04:19,340 It was the 1520s 500 years ago before a German or an English version of the New Testament 53 00:04:19,900 --> 00:04:21,900 would be printed and 54 00:04:21,900 --> 00:04:28,860 Another ten years after that before the full Bible would be printed in English right now 55 00:04:28,860 --> 00:04:34,660 There are as many as six billion with a B copies of the Bible in the world 56 00:04:39,180 --> 00:04:41,180 It's been translated into over 57 00:04:41,620 --> 00:04:43,620 3,300 languages 58 00:04:44,420 --> 00:04:45,860 There are 59 00:04:45,860 --> 00:04:52,700 There are 100 million copies of the Bible printed every single year 60 00:04:53,420 --> 00:04:58,500 When the printing press was created there was only 430 million people on the earth 61 00:04:59,740 --> 00:05:01,740 Think about it 62 00:05:02,260 --> 00:05:08,060 Right now you can go to a thrift shop to Goodwill Salvation Army and get a copy of the Bible for a quarter 63 00:05:09,660 --> 00:05:12,940 But in the 1500s there was maybe thousands 64 00:05:12,940 --> 00:05:18,740 At most hundreds of thousands of the copy of the Bible in English 65 00:05:19,700 --> 00:05:25,340 German Latin Hebrew Greek they started expanding as they got further into the 66 00:05:26,180 --> 00:05:33,340 1500s and back then because of supply and demand a copy of the Bible could cost as much as 67 00:05:33,980 --> 00:05:37,980 Ready for this ten to twenty thousand dollars in today's money 68 00:05:37,980 --> 00:05:43,700 When the Bible started being translated out of Greek and Hebrew and Latin and into English and German for the first time 69 00:05:44,820 --> 00:05:49,340 Even if you could afford it you'd have to be able to read it 70 00:05:50,980 --> 00:05:55,860 See because the literacy rate when this was happening just guesses 71 00:05:56,340 --> 00:06:00,980 Literally across the board. What was the literacy rate in the 1500s guess? 72 00:06:02,300 --> 00:06:03,700 10% 73 00:06:03,700 --> 00:06:05,700 11.5% 74 00:06:05,700 --> 00:06:08,340 10% 11% 75 00:06:09,140 --> 00:06:13,020 Now now remember different time different era 76 00:06:15,260 --> 00:06:17,140 Among women 77 00:06:17,140 --> 00:06:19,140 The literacy rate was 1% 78 00:06:19,940 --> 00:06:23,240 Because they would not teach women to write or read 79 00:06:24,580 --> 00:06:29,820 So even if you could afford a Bible you had to be able to read it had to be in a language that you could read a 80 00:06:29,820 --> 00:06:37,060 Lot of people were left out of the opportunity to read from the scriptures 81 00:06:38,740 --> 00:06:43,940 Really most people the only place that you could hear the Bible was if it was read at a public service 82 00:06:44,980 --> 00:06:47,420 And that's if you lived close enough to a church 83 00:06:48,420 --> 00:06:54,180 And if that church read the passage in a common language you spoke because many churches up to that point 84 00:06:54,180 --> 00:07:01,980 Read all of the passages in Latin whether you spoke Latin or not. I think you're starting to get get the point 85 00:07:06,340 --> 00:07:10,160 In the absence of access to the scriptures 86 00:07:10,740 --> 00:07:14,420 There's an easy answer to this question. What do you do? 87 00:07:15,620 --> 00:07:20,680 In the absence of an access to the scriptures. What do you do? 88 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:25,400 Will you do what every believer of every generation has ever done? 89 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:28,760 You pray 90 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,720 Because prayer is timeless 91 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,600 Prayer is limitless 92 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:42,440 It's remarkable prayer is priceless yet accessible to everyone the rich and the poor 93 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,400 Every social class to the illiterate and the elitist alike 94 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:53,320 Prayer knows no borders or boundaries and draws no linguistic lines 95 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,640 Because God is fluent in every language we speak 96 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,280 In a couple weeks on 97 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:07,640 November 1st on All Saints Day 98 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,960 It will have been 22 years since my grandpa buddy died 99 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:20,520 And uh to to have known my grandpa buddy was to have known like kind of a 100 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:23,320 God-like event 101 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,320 He was not boring 102 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:27,080 Yeah 103 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,080 He had personality 104 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:34,280 And he wasn't in my understanding. He wasn't always a great person 105 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,880 He was not as far as I know a religious person 106 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:40,120 but 107 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,120 In his life he was a religious person 108 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:43,480 but 109 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:49,800 In his last months when his dementia had gotten really bad when he could barely speak a sentence 110 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:51,800 For years and years and years 111 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:56,520 He had smoked pipes and and cigars and when he got dementia when he started development 112 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:00,360 He forgot that and so he stopped but it damaged had already been done to his mouth 113 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:05,240 So when by the time he was put into a care facility, uh, he had always had these big mutton chops 114 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:10,600 And they they shaved his face and they pulled his teeth and they they buzzed his head 115 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:13,800 And so in a way he didn't look like himself 116 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:22,120 At all there was all of his personality all the external personality that my grandpa had had kind of been stripped away from him 117 00:09:22,680 --> 00:09:24,680 as dementia 118 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:30,280 Just wreaked havoc, right 119 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:38,600 But we went to see him in this care facility and I was concerned about oh, does he about his knowledge of god? 120 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:41,560 I 121 00:09:41,560 --> 00:09:46,760 Remember taking my guitar and sitting in his room and playing him a song. I don't remember which one 122 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:49,800 And then I asked him 123 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:52,280 I said grandpa, do you 124 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:55,720 Know god 125 00:09:55,720 --> 00:10:02,680 Oh god, which is such a funny question for me to ask my grandpa if you knew my grandpa 126 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,080 Um 127 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:09,880 And he taught me something that i'll never forget 128 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:14,600 I said grandpa, do you know god? 129 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:21,240 And him being barely able to speak in full sentences. He says oh he says oh, yeah 130 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:25,240 I talk to god every day 131 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:31,720 He says we don't speak the same language, but I understand every word he says 132 00:10:36,680 --> 00:10:38,680 As when you read the book of john 133 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:43,480 John uses this word abide 21 times across this 21 134 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:47,960 Chapters, but 11 of those are found within six verses 135 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:51,880 When jesus is teaching about what it will mean to stay connected to him 136 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:56,280 This word abide in the greek means to remain 137 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:02,200 To settle to take up lodging to rest to continue to stay 138 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,720 To abide so listen in this plan 139 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,720 prayer comes before reading the scriptures because none of us 140 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:13,880 Were born with the ability to read 141 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:18,120 And some of us will die having lost some of our faculties 142 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,120 And yet jesus will still understand 143 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,000 every word 144 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:26,760 And somehow 145 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:32,440 We'll know how to communicate with us in a way that we understand the language that he speaks 146 00:11:34,680 --> 00:11:36,680 Prayer is something 147 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,920 that truly holds no boundaries 148 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:41,800 Truly holds no boundaries 149 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:44,280 Truly has no borders 150 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:50,040 Because we don't just learn how to pray guys 151 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:53,160 We settle 152 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:55,240 We dwell 153 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:57,240 We remain 154 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,240 We abide 155 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,240 In prayer 156 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:06,600 So no matter how much of the bible that you've read you will always be able to pray from cradle to grave 157 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,280 So let's keep that in mind as we move forward 158 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,320 As we move forward with the time that we have left 159 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:18,520 If you'd like to open your bibles, i'm going to read verses from four different places 160 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,400 from first thessalonians 5 161 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:23,880 from ephesians 6 162 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:28,440 Philippians 4 and john 15 you can pick one of those if you'd like 163 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,160 um if you're a true uh 164 00:12:31,560 --> 00:12:34,120 Bible sword warrior you'll find all four right now 165 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:36,760 Some of you know what that means 166 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:42,200 Sword drills I grew up in a church where they called it sword drills where you'd hold up your bible and they'd say here's a verse 167 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:46,360 And then you had to find it as quick as you could and whoever won was the best christian 168 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:55,880 All right, so uh we have a tradition, uh, if if if you'd like to join us 169 00:12:56,440 --> 00:13:02,520 Uh of standing as we read the scriptures as we are are able and so i'm gonna read from first thessalonians 5 170 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:07,960 Ephesians 6 philippians 4 and john 15 first thessalonians 5 16 and 17 171 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:12,040 Says this plainly and simply rejoice at all times 172 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:13,560 pray 173 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:14,600 without 174 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:15,480 ceasing 175 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:17,480 Ephesians 6 18 176 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:23,560 And praying the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests with this in mind be alert 177 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:28,760 And always keep on praying for all the lord's people philippians 4 5 and 7 178 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:33,480 Let your gentleness be apparent to all the lord is near be anxious for nothing 179 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:40,040 But in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your request to god and the peace of god 180 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:46,520 Which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in christ jesus and john 15 9 181 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:52,040 As the father has loved me so have I loved you now remain 182 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:55,640 In my love or abide in 183 00:13:55,640 --> 00:14:00,040 In my love or abide in my love let us pray 184 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,280 Father we thank you for the scriptures that we have them that we can hold them 185 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:09,480 We thank you that even if we did not have this available in our hands that we could still pray to you 186 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,600 I pray that whatever you have 187 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:19,320 For us to learn today to remember today to be impressed upon us today that it would become a part of the framework of our faith 188 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:25,160 That our faith would become stronger that we would become more like your son jesus 189 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:27,880 Amen, thanks joe can I have a seat? 190 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:31,800 All right, so 191 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:33,320 so far 192 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:38,600 This morning we've already prayed in numerous ways in at least four different ways. Have you noticed? 193 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:44,120 Yeah, yeah, yeah, saint augustine said the one who sings 194 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:46,920 prays twice 195 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:54,280 So we've prayed already through each of the songs that we sing with different focuses with with different ideas with different 196 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,360 Hopes we have prayed through those songs. We prayed 197 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:06,680 Congregationally we do this every single week either through the prayer for rest or live or work. We we say that our father the lord's prayer 198 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:11,320 Monthly together, so we've prayed congregationally audibly and in unison 199 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:15,960 Together we've prayed interceding on behalf of our neighborhood 200 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:17,960 and then we've prayed for understanding 201 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:19,640 through 202 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:21,640 the scriptures 203 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:27,640 We've only been here for 45 minutes and we have prayed in at least 204 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:30,360 four different ways 205 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:32,680 But what do we do? 206 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:34,680 When we leave this building? 207 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:40,040 Right when when when you don't show up for a service that has structure and someone going 208 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:46,360 Okay, these are the exact things that we're going to do. What do you do when you're off on your own because prayer? 209 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:53,160 Is something that we're meant to be bathed in but prayer isn't a bathtub that you get in at a place 210 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:55,640 Does that make sense? 211 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:59,480 Like prayer is like an atmosphere that's meant to move with you 212 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:02,680 Jesus said abide in me 213 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:08,280 That jesus is not in one place dwell in me settle continue in 214 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:09,480 me 215 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:13,880 And so when we leave this place the opportunity to pray is meant to continue 216 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:19,880 Not meant to be confined to a prayer that we pray after the songs that we sing and pray 217 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:23,880 Hmm 218 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:30,200 So paul said that we can pray at all times on all occasions without ceasing 219 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,720 But I also know that that can sound intimidating 220 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:37,160 Like some of us think that we have no clue how to pray 221 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:42,440 Um, so at the time that we have left that I want to get real practical. Okay 222 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:49,960 Um, this is not something i'm i'm not like the practical guy sometimes in my sermons. I understand so i'm going to try to be 223 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:58,040 Practical, um because I could preach and I could break down words and cultures and contexts and I could exegete and offer 224 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:03,660 hermeneutical ideas, but I don't think that a sermon on what prayer is 225 00:17:04,620 --> 00:17:10,220 Will actually do much for us as much as us practicing what prayer is 226 00:17:15,020 --> 00:17:20,060 Because in addition to that I don't i'd be surprised if many of us actually have to be convinced that prayer is important 227 00:17:20,780 --> 00:17:25,740 I think for most of it is it's it is just getting past the line of thinking about prayer 228 00:17:25,740 --> 00:17:29,020 It is just getting past the line of thinking that we can do it 229 00:17:31,580 --> 00:17:32,780 So today 230 00:17:32,780 --> 00:17:37,580 Uh, we're going to be full on practical. So at the time we have left i'm going to teach you three 231 00:17:38,380 --> 00:17:40,380 prayer practices that you can use 232 00:17:41,100 --> 00:17:42,780 almost anywhere 233 00:17:42,780 --> 00:17:46,060 And almost any time and I say almost because you'll see 234 00:17:47,340 --> 00:17:49,580 All right. So here we go. Richard fostered 235 00:17:50,380 --> 00:17:52,380 In his book on prayer said this 236 00:17:52,380 --> 00:17:57,420 Today the heart of god is inviting you and me to come home 237 00:17:58,620 --> 00:18:06,060 To come home to where we belong to come home to that for which we were created his arms are stretched out 238 00:18:06,380 --> 00:18:08,380 wide to receive us 239 00:18:08,540 --> 00:18:14,300 His heart is enlarged to take us in he invites us into the living room of his heart 240 00:18:15,020 --> 00:18:20,540 Where we can put on old slippers and share freely he invites us into the kitchen of his friendship 241 00:18:20,540 --> 00:18:23,820 That we're chatter and batter mix in good fun 242 00:18:24,780 --> 00:18:26,780 He invites us into the dining room 243 00:18:27,420 --> 00:18:29,420 Of his strength 244 00:18:29,660 --> 00:18:33,020 So here we go. Our first practice is called hands up 245 00:18:34,060 --> 00:18:35,980 hands down 246 00:18:35,980 --> 00:18:37,980 So the first step of this 247 00:18:38,140 --> 00:18:44,140 Is to sit in your chair in a way that will help you in particular pay attention 248 00:18:44,140 --> 00:18:49,980 So for some of us that's going to be leaning back for some of us. It's going to be sitting forward on our chair 249 00:18:50,540 --> 00:18:54,940 And we're all going to start getting settled into that now. So sit in a way 250 00:18:55,580 --> 00:18:58,540 That you feel this is the way that I best 251 00:18:59,180 --> 00:19:00,700 pay 252 00:19:00,700 --> 00:19:02,700 Attention, let's take a moment 253 00:19:02,940 --> 00:19:04,940 And just give everybody a chance 254 00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:06,780 To move around 255 00:19:06,780 --> 00:19:08,780 wiggle a little bit 256 00:19:10,540 --> 00:19:12,540 Okay 257 00:19:12,540 --> 00:19:14,220 The next thing 258 00:19:14,220 --> 00:19:16,220 is to place 259 00:19:16,220 --> 00:19:18,780 Your hands comfortably on your knees 260 00:19:19,820 --> 00:19:21,580 with your palms 261 00:19:21,580 --> 00:19:23,020 down 262 00:19:23,020 --> 00:19:27,820 And ideally if you're comfortable, I would encourage you to go ahead and close your eyes 263 00:19:28,380 --> 00:19:30,300 Because some of this includes 264 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:32,300 your imagination 265 00:19:34,860 --> 00:19:39,740 So thinking back to what richard foster said and you don't always have to do this, but I think it would be helpful 266 00:19:39,740 --> 00:19:42,380 To think about what you're going to do in your life 267 00:19:42,940 --> 00:19:45,980 And I think that's what we're going to do today 268 00:19:46,700 --> 00:19:51,660 So I'm going to ask you to imagine yourself in a living room of god's heart 269 00:19:54,140 --> 00:19:57,100 Or imagine yourself sitting in the kitchen of his friendship 270 00:20:00,220 --> 00:20:02,220 Or in the dining room of his strength 271 00:20:05,340 --> 00:20:08,140 Let's take a moment just to let ourselves 272 00:20:08,140 --> 00:20:10,140 Imagine ourselves 273 00:20:11,980 --> 00:20:15,900 In the living room of friendship kitchen of friendship 274 00:20:18,220 --> 00:20:20,220 Dining room of his strength 275 00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:24,700 And now what we do is with your palms facing 276 00:20:25,260 --> 00:20:27,260 down on your knees 277 00:20:27,260 --> 00:20:30,060 We begin to imagine ourselves letting go 278 00:20:30,060 --> 00:20:37,820 Of any and everything that god's heart is asking us to let go of 279 00:20:45,660 --> 00:20:48,620 Understand that your hands are an extension of your hearts 280 00:20:51,100 --> 00:20:55,820 We hold on to things with our hearts maybe more tightly than we do with our hands 281 00:20:55,820 --> 00:21:01,660 But right now you are surrounded by the heart of god god's presence is all about you 282 00:21:03,020 --> 00:21:07,260 Every time you pray god's presence is all about you 283 00:21:13,740 --> 00:21:19,580 Just imagine the things that you're letting go maybe you're placing those things on the coffee table in the living room maybe 284 00:21:20,300 --> 00:21:22,300 You're putting them on the kitchen table 285 00:21:22,300 --> 00:21:26,220 Or in the sink or on the dining table 286 00:21:27,980 --> 00:21:29,980 Whatever you need to let go 287 00:21:31,420 --> 00:21:35,660 Let it be released from your heart down off of your hands 288 00:21:41,420 --> 00:21:44,220 Maybe some of us feel like we have sticky hands 289 00:21:44,220 --> 00:21:52,940 Maybe some of us feel like we have sticky hands maybe some of us feel like we have velcro 290 00:21:54,780 --> 00:21:57,020 Imagine the stickiness being washed off 291 00:21:58,860 --> 00:22:03,340 Imagine the velcro losing its effectiveness like it always does 292 00:22:03,340 --> 00:22:12,460 Remember you are in the living room of god's heart you're in the kitchen of his friendship you're in the dining room of his strength what you let go of is not lost 293 00:22:14,860 --> 00:22:17,340 The fear that we have of losing things 294 00:22:18,940 --> 00:22:20,940 They are not lost 295 00:22:21,900 --> 00:22:23,900 They are not lost 296 00:22:24,940 --> 00:22:26,940 They are not lost 297 00:22:26,940 --> 00:22:32,460 The fear that we have of losing things they are not lost 298 00:22:34,860 --> 00:22:44,220 But they are finally being found in god's heart and god will know exactly what to do with the things that you are letting go of 299 00:22:49,100 --> 00:22:51,100 Now when you're ready 300 00:22:51,740 --> 00:22:53,740 Turn your palms up 301 00:22:53,740 --> 00:22:59,500 And in your mind and your heart tell jesus my hands are empty 302 00:23:01,340 --> 00:23:03,500 My hands are open to what you have for me 303 00:23:07,020 --> 00:23:09,020 My hands are empty 304 00:23:09,980 --> 00:23:12,300 My heart is open to what you have for me 305 00:23:14,220 --> 00:23:16,220 And just see what god asks for you 306 00:23:19,020 --> 00:23:21,020 This is a conversation 307 00:23:21,020 --> 00:23:24,400 A conversation of openness 308 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:30,560 Settle in 309 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:33,200 Just rest 310 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:35,840 Receive 311 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:39,440 Abide 312 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:43,440 Open your eyes and let go 313 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:54,800 Okay, so i'll take a deep breath exhale and open our eyes that's one 314 00:23:57,120 --> 00:23:59,440 For some of us that's worth the price of admission 315 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:04,320 You're gonna go home and be like oh my gosh. I can't believe i've never done that before 316 00:24:05,360 --> 00:24:07,360 But you can do this anywhere 317 00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:12,320 You can be driving in your car and you can have one hand on your knee 318 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:18,800 You can be at work hands open typing on a keyboard thinking about what you're letting go of 319 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:25,680 All right 320 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:32,880 That was hands up or hands down hands up or palms down palms up now. We're going to do a breathing prayer 321 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:35,280 Uh 322 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:41,440 This has words involved. Um, so whereas the first one is just thinking and being present 323 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,920 Through prayer to what god wants you to love this one actually involves words 324 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:51,600 We don't say them out loud because we're breathing at the same time becomes difficult to say words while you're breathing in 325 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:55,120 But they are phrases that that we will think with our mind 326 00:24:55,680 --> 00:25:01,280 When we breathe in we think a short sentence and as we breathe out what we do is we think 327 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:03,280 and pray a response 328 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:04,640 to that 329 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:06,480 sentence we breathe in 330 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,320 breathe out 331 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:09,920 and um 332 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:11,920 As some of you may have noticed 333 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:15,680 We're always praying or we're always breathing so we can always be praying 334 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:18,080 Okay 335 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:21,520 So with this kind of prayer what we want to do is we want to keep it simple 336 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:26,240 We want that first sentence to be shorter than the second 337 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:31,360 Uh, what's recommended historically this this kind of prayer goes back centuries and centuries 338 00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:37,280 But what's recommended and i'm not completely sure why some people think that has to do with um your heart rate 339 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:42,640 Some people have to do with just what um how long our breath in is compared to out 340 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:47,280 But we're aiming for about five syllables in and eight syllables out 341 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:53,600 And so something like this could pray on the way in saying you are my true friend 342 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:55,600 You are my true friend 343 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:58,160 And on the way out I will trust in you fully 344 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:01,280 In you are my true friend 345 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:04,240 I will trust in you fully 346 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:11,200 So let's um, let's do that that one together a few times and then i'm going to encourage you to write your own 347 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,080 And then we'll practice that okay 348 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:19,440 So i'll say you are my true friend and as i'm saying that you breathe in 349 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:22,320 And think that sentence 350 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:27,760 Hold it and then i'll say and I will trust in you fully and we'll breathe out together. Okay ready 351 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:31,920 You are my true friend 352 00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:35,360 And I will trust in you fully 353 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:39,440 You are my true friend 354 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,840 And I will trust in you fully 355 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:47,520 You are my true friend 356 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:50,960 And I will trust in you fully 357 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,920 And that passage in john where jesus is teaching them about abiding 358 00:26:56,640 --> 00:27:00,320 He tells them I no longer call you servants, but I call you friends 359 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:08,960 Now let's take a moment on your own wherever you are and think of your own prayer they don't have to be five and eight 360 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:12,640 You could say 361 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:18,560 You could say I can feel afraid but I will trust in you jesus 362 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:20,320 Say 363 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:22,080 You feel far away 364 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:24,080 That you are closer than I know 365 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:26,880 You could say I didn't sleep well last night 366 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,160 I will receive rest from your heart today 367 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:38,640 In a way let the second sentence be a response or fulfillment of the first sentence 368 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:41,600 Okay 369 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:46,080 Say take some time you think of your own and you breathe in and out on your own pace 370 00:27:46,080 --> 00:28:10,960 This will just take a couple minutes here to practice this 371 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:18,160 So 372 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:48,880 So 373 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:59,040 Mine was on the way in saying I fall in old habits on the way out saying you make me a new creation 374 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:06,160 Anyone have a prayer the in and out that you'd like to share be helpful to someone else 375 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:11,520 So you are my comfort I will rest in you 376 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:13,760 You are my comfort 377 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:15,600 I will rest 378 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:17,600 in you 379 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:24,480 We have two practices now two practices that we can do pretty much anywhere almost anytime 380 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:30,320 Hands down hands up palms down palms up and a breathing prayer, okay 381 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:33,360 This last exercise 382 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:39,600 Dates back to the four or five hundreds and ironically in latin it means sacred readings 383 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:47,120 But I promise it's not just reading scripture. It is a prayer exercise that's connected back to scripture 384 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,520 Which I think is a good bridge as we 385 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:54,880 Leave the idea of abiding prayer next week. We begin to talk about reading scripture. It's called 386 00:29:55,500 --> 00:29:57,500 lectio divina 387 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:01,040 This practice includes 388 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:05,440 Praying and scripture at the same time and I want to explain how it's going to work 389 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:10,800 What's going to happen is i'm going to read a passage of scripture if you were to do this at home 390 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:18,720 You could print out or write out something a passage and then you would read through it once and then there's four times. There's four 391 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:21,200 phases of lectio 392 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,960 Divina, okay first time that I read it we just listen 393 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:28,640 Just listen to the scripture being 394 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:31,440 Read but even more listen for what god might be 395 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:36,400 Saying in your heart. It doesn't have to be a word from the scripture 396 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:42,000 It doesn't have to be a phrase it can be god might just want to say something to you in your heart 397 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:44,240 Maybe feels unrelated but 398 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:46,640 Listen to the scripture 399 00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:48,640 And let god just be present 400 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:51,280 In your heart the second time 401 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:55,680 I read it listen for a word or a phrase from the scripture 402 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:58,720 That stick that sticks out specifically 403 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:02,960 Especially if it connects to what god was saying in your heart the first time 404 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:04,480 Yeah 405 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:10,160 And then what you do is we'll give time for you to just pray that word or that phrase 406 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:12,880 back to god 407 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:17,200 Repeat it to yourself as you pray that phrase 408 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:24,000 Begin to think what is god bringing to your heart and mind because of that phrase because of that word 409 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:28,160 How is god speaking as you pray the third time through? 410 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:34,480 Reading the passage expand on what god has been showing you and begin a conversation 411 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:36,560 back and forth 412 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:38,560 What do you want to say to god? 413 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:45,920 Because of what has been sticking out. What do you feel like god is saying in response and the last time 414 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:48,480 I read the passage 415 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:50,800 Just settle 416 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:52,880 Abide in prayer 417 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:54,880 Abide in prayer 418 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:58,720 Let whatever the lord has been having a conversation with you about 419 00:31:59,920 --> 00:32:01,920 Be refined down 420 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:04,320 Into quiet rest 421 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:06,880 Into a peaceful mind 422 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:09,200 Okay 423 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:14,480 So this is lectio divina the first time just listen 424 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:18,080 See what god says 425 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:20,720 In your heart 426 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:22,560 Matthew 6 427 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:24,560 Starting in verse 9 says this 428 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:27,760 This then is how you should pray 429 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:30,640 Our father in heaven 430 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:32,640 Hallow would be your name 431 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:36,480 Your kingdom come your will be done on earth 432 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:38,560 as it is 433 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:40,480 in heaven 434 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:42,480 Give us today our daily bread 435 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:45,360 Forgive us our debts as we 436 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:48,320 Also have forgiven our debtors 437 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:53,840 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us 438 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:57,360 From the evil one 439 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:12,240 So just be aware of what god might be saying in your heart as a result of that passage 440 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:21,680 Now as I read the same passage again what word or phrase sticks out 441 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:28,240 That you want to stop and rest with repeat that word or phrase to yourself 442 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,000 As you pray 443 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:35,120 This then is how you should pray 444 00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:37,680 Our father in heaven 445 00:33:38,160 --> 00:33:40,160 Hallow would be your name 446 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:42,160 Our father in heaven 447 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:44,160 Hallow would be your name 448 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:49,200 Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven 449 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:52,240 Give us today our daily bread 450 00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:56,320 And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors 451 00:33:57,200 --> 00:33:59,200 And lead us not into temptation 452 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,000 But deliver us 453 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,000 From the evil one 454 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:08,560 Meditate on what stuck out 455 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:10,560 Repeat it, pray it 456 00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:48,080 What do you feel like god is bringing to your heart to your mind because of that phrase because of that part of scripture 457 00:35:00,240 --> 00:35:03,680 As I read it a third time expand on what god has been showing you 458 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:07,040 And go deeper into a conversation with god 459 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:09,040 About what is sticking out 460 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:11,040 This then is how you should pray 461 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:13,040 Our father in heaven 462 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,040 Hallow would be your name 463 00:35:15,040 --> 00:35:19,040 Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven 464 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:21,040 Give us today our daily bread 465 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,040 And forgive us our debts 466 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:25,040 As we also forgive our debtors 467 00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:27,040 And lead us not into temptation 468 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,040 But deliver us 469 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:31,040 From the evil one 470 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:37,040 Continue your conversation with god 471 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:23,040 This last time I read the passage again just settle in abide rest quietly calm your mind and heart sit prayerful peace 472 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:25,040 This then is how you should pray 473 00:36:25,040 --> 00:36:27,040 Our father in heaven 474 00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:29,040 Hallow would be your name 475 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:35,040 Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven 476 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:37,040 Give us today our daily bread 477 00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:39,040 Forgive us our debtors 478 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:41,040 That's as we also have forgiven our debtors 479 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:43,040 Lead us not into temptation 480 00:36:43,040 --> 00:36:45,040 Deliver us from the evil one 481 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,040 Say with me amen amen 482 00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:49,040 So three practices 483 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:51,040 Turn our hands down let go 484 00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:53,040 Turn our palms up and recite 485 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:59,040 We can breathe in breathe out response 486 00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:01,040 And then we can take scripture 487 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:03,040 And we can pray through that scripture 488 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:05,040 And what sticks out god is speaking to us 489 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:07,040 How we can have a conversation with god 490 00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:09,040 Because of that passage and then let it 491 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:11,040 Bring us to a place 492 00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:15,040 Peace and rest 493 00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:17,040 So what do we do with this 494 00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:19,040 We have to pray 495 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:23,040 We have to take these ideas 496 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:25,040 And we remind ourselves 497 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:27,040 I know how to pray 498 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:31,040 Prayer is not something that only happens in one place 499 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:35,040 But his presence goes with us wherever we go 500 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:39,040 Conversation is always available 501 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:43,040 Because we do not abide in prayer or in god in a building 502 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:47,040 We abide in his presence at all times 503 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:51,040 Amen amen let's pray 504 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:55,040 Father I thank you for these practices 505 00:37:55,040 --> 00:38:01,040 I pray that we would be brave 506 00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:03,040 We'll be brave about how we practice our prayer 507 00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:05,040 The way that we dive in 508 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:13,040 The way that we sink into the couch of prayer with you 509 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:15,040 The way that we belly up to the bar 510 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:19,040 So we can take conversation with you in 511 00:38:19,040 --> 00:38:23,040 The way we stand side by side and wash the dishes with you 512 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:27,040 The way that we partake of a meal 513 00:38:27,040 --> 00:38:31,040 The way that you did on the night that you were betrayed 514 00:38:31,040 --> 00:38:33,040 Remind us that you are always present to us 515 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:39,040 That we can remain, we can settle, we can stay, we can lodge, we can rest 516 00:38:39,040 --> 00:38:44,040 We can abide in prayer with you 517 00:38:44,040 --> 00:38:47,040 In the name of Jesus we pray 518 00:38:47,040 --> 00:39:15,040 Amen