generous | prayer that partners with mission
A Praying Community
We are continuing in the second part of our generosity series. Over the past few weeks we have been talking about prayer and how it becomes a major part of our lives and daily rhythms.
But sometimes we forget where we live. We live in a place where everything works.
The lights come on.
The schools function.
The groceries are stocked.
The lawns are trimmed.
And if we’re not careful, our faith starts to function the same way.
Comfortable.
Predictable.
Personal.
Small.
But the early church we are about to read about in Acts 13 and Colossians 4 did not gather for comfort or tradition.
They gathered to pray.
And what we see is the Holy Spirit send out their best leaders and mission was born.
Prayer is not just how we protect our lives or make our requests known.
Prayer is how God propels His mission.
The early church did not pray alone or pray small prayers.
They discerned together.
They fasted together.
They sent together.
They carried mission together.
If you can turn with me to Acts 13:1–3 and Colossians 4:2–4.
As you turn there, we want to see snapshots in Scripture of not just individuals living generous lives — but communities living generous lives.
Today we see a church that was generous with prayer.
A church that prayed for mission and stepped into mission together.
What Is True?
Prayer gives birth to mission
In Acts 13 we see a church gathered in Antioch.
They are worshiping.
They are fasting.
They are praying.
They are listening.
And then the Holy Spirit says,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul…”
Mission was not their idea.
Mission was discerned in prayer.
Prayer came before sending.
Strategy did not come first — faith did.
The Spirit spoke as they prayed together.
And they released some of their best leaders.
Imagine being there.
“Is this a good idea? Don’t we need Barnabas and Saul here?”
Mission costs leaders.
Mission costs time.
Mission costs comfort.
But prayer is the church’s generous participation in God’s global purpose.
John Calvin said, “Prayer is the chief exercise of faith.”
In Acts 13 we see a church exercising faith together.
They sought God in prayer, and then came the plan.
A mission without prayer becomes human effort.
Prayer sustains mission
In Colossians 4 we see prayer during mission.
Paul is in prison and the gospel is advancing, but he is chained up.
And he writes:
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Watchful means being alert to what God is doing.
Thankful means being grounded in grace.
Then Paul asks them to pray for open doors.
He does not ask for comfort.
He asks for opportunity.
And he asks for clarity:
“That I may proclaim the gospel clearly.”
Paul understood something important.
The prayers of the church sustain the work of the mission.
Prayer aligns the church with God’s purposes rather than our own ideas.
Tim Keller said,
“The only way to experience powerful, transforming prayer is to understand that we are saved by grace.”
Prayer flows from grace, not guilt.
Mission is sustained by a shared spiritual burden.
Isolation starves mission.
Prayer multiplies mission
The whole church was involved.
Even the people who stayed behind participated through prayer.
There was no spectator Christianity in the early church.
Everyone had a role.
Mission multiplied because prayer was shared.
This was not private Christianity or personalized spirituality.
This was shared devotion.
John Stott said,
“The church is not a collection of isolated individuals but a community of interdependent members.”
For mission to multiply, it takes all of us.
Isolation is not just unhealthy — it is unbiblical.
We are meant to do mission together.
And when we pray together for God’s will, we begin to see multiplication.
What Is The Challenge?
Resist Isolation
Isolation says:
"I can pray on my own."
Scripture shows us something different.
There are things God does when His people gather to pray.
Pray With Others, Not Just For Ourselves
Acts 13 shows us corporate prayer.
Resist isolation by:
Attending prayer gatherings
Praying aloud with others
Joining a group that actually prays
Carry Shared Burdens
In Colossians 4, Paul invites the church into his struggle.
Isolation says:
"My faith is personal."
Mission says:
"Your burden becomes our burden."
Share the names of people you are praying for.
Pray for missionaries together.
Fast together.
Not alone.
Release and Receive Together
Acts 13 required the church to release leaders.
They trusted God together.
They participated together.
Isolation hoards.
Community releases.
Generosity is not just money.
Generosity is shared spiritual life.
What Is The Rhythm?
Prayer walk your neighborhood.
Not alone.
Do it with your family.
Invite someone from church to join you.
Walk your streets and pray for the people who live there.
Pray for open doors.
Pray for conversations.
Pray for opportunities.
Make prayer a rhythm of mission.
Some of us have been doing this already.
Every week at lunch Jon Lewis and I walked neighborhoods and pray.
Simple.
Consistent.
Faithful.
Because when a church prays together,
Mission grows.
And God uses a praying community.
We are continuing in the second part of our generosity series. Over the past few weeks we have been talking about prayer and how it becomes a major part of our lives and daily rhythms.
But sometimes we forget where we live. We live in a place where everything works.
The lights come on.
The schools function.
The groceries are stocked.
The lawns are trimmed.
And if we’re not careful, our faith starts to function the same way.
Comfortable.
Predictable.
Personal.
Small.
But the early church we are about to read about in Acts 13 and Colossians 4 did not gather for comfort or tradition.
They gathered to pray.
And what we see is the Holy Spirit send out their best leaders and mission was born.
Prayer is not just how we protect our lives or make our requests known.
Prayer is how God propels His mission.
The early church did not pray alone or pray small prayers.
They discerned together.
They fasted together.
They sent together.
They carried mission together.
If you can turn with me to Acts 13:1–3 and Colossians 4:2–4.
As you turn there, we want to see snapshots in Scripture of not just individuals living generous lives — but communities living generous lives.
Today we see a church that was generous with prayer.
A church that prayed for mission and stepped into mission together.
What Is True?
Prayer gives birth to mission
In Acts 13 we see a church gathered in Antioch.
They are worshiping.
They are fasting.
They are praying.
They are listening.
And then the Holy Spirit says,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul…”
Mission was not their idea.
Mission was discerned in prayer.
Prayer came before sending.
Strategy did not come first — faith did.
The Spirit spoke as they prayed together.
And they released some of their best leaders.
Imagine being there.
“Is this a good idea? Don’t we need Barnabas and Saul here?”
Mission costs leaders.
Mission costs time.
Mission costs comfort.
But prayer is the church’s generous participation in God’s global purpose.
John Calvin said, “Prayer is the chief exercise of faith.”
In Acts 13 we see a church exercising faith together.
They sought God in prayer, and then came the plan.
A mission without prayer becomes human effort.
Prayer sustains mission
In Colossians 4 we see prayer during mission.
Paul is in prison and the gospel is advancing, but he is chained up.
And he writes:
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Watchful means being alert to what God is doing.
Thankful means being grounded in grace.
Then Paul asks them to pray for open doors.
He does not ask for comfort.
He asks for opportunity.
And he asks for clarity:
“That I may proclaim the gospel clearly.”
Paul understood something important.
The prayers of the church sustain the work of the mission.
Prayer aligns the church with God’s purposes rather than our own ideas.
Tim Keller said,
“The only way to experience powerful, transforming prayer is to understand that we are saved by grace.”
Prayer flows from grace, not guilt.
Mission is sustained by a shared spiritual burden.
Isolation starves mission.
Prayer multiplies mission
The whole church was involved.
Even the people who stayed behind participated through prayer.
There was no spectator Christianity in the early church.
Everyone had a role.
Mission multiplied because prayer was shared.
This was not private Christianity or personalized spirituality.
This was shared devotion.
John Stott said,
“The church is not a collection of isolated individuals but a community of interdependent members.”
For mission to multiply, it takes all of us.
Isolation is not just unhealthy — it is unbiblical.
We are meant to do mission together.
And when we pray together for God’s will, we begin to see multiplication.
What Is The Challenge?
Resist Isolation
Isolation says:
"I can pray on my own."
Scripture shows us something different.
There are things God does when His people gather to pray.
Pray With Others, Not Just For Ourselves
Acts 13 shows us corporate prayer.
Resist isolation by:
Attending prayer gatherings
Praying aloud with others
Joining a group that actually prays
Carry Shared Burdens
In Colossians 4, Paul invites the church into his struggle.
Isolation says:
"My faith is personal."
Mission says:
"Your burden becomes our burden."
Share the names of people you are praying for.
Pray for missionaries together.
Fast together.
Not alone.
Release and Receive Together
Acts 13 required the church to release leaders.
They trusted God together.
They participated together.
Isolation hoards.
Community releases.
Generosity is not just money.
Generosity is shared spiritual life.
What Is The Rhythm?
Prayer walk your neighborhood.
Not alone.
Do it with your family.
Invite someone from church to join you.
Walk your streets and pray for the people who live there.
Pray for open doors.
Pray for conversations.
Pray for opportunities.
Make prayer a rhythm of mission.
Some of us have been doing this already.
Every week at lunch Jon Lewis and I walked neighborhoods and pray.
Simple.
Consistent.
Faithful.
Because when a church prays together,
Mission grows.
And God uses a praying community.
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