Praying for the Prayer Meeting!

by Rev. James Wong

The scenario: A handful of members get together but feel discouraged over the poor attendance in the church prayer meeting. Thus, the best course of action for the few faithful is to pray for the prayer meeting.

I asked a Korean pastor whether it is usual for Korean churches to have early morning prayer meeting every day and his answer floored me. He said no one wants to go to a church that does not have daily morning prayer meeting. Is it a matter of culture, church tradition, Christian upbringing, or too many church activities that we do not see the importance of corporate prayer meeting? There  is a place for corporate prayer.

Starbuck sells coffee, KFC sells fried chicken and the Church is a house of prayer. Jesus says , the temple which  is a place of worship, is called a house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17). Today, the church is still a house of prayer not just for Sunday service. This means, Christians must come together to pray corporately. The prayer meeting is like the power station of a city. The spiritual power of the church is dependent on her prayer station. When this station is weak the power of God is not manifested in the church. Without passionate faith and prayer of God’s people, the gift of signs and wonders, the gift of healing and many other ‘power gifts’ will not survive and the church ends up nothing more than a religious institution talking about religious morality, devoid of the  “demonstration of the Spirit’s power” (see 1 Cor 2:4-5).

      

The members of the early church were ’devoted’ to prayer (Acts 2:42). To devote oneself to prayer means to ’dedicate oneself exclusively to the purpose of prayer.’ It is a choice we have to make. The Bible teaches us to be ‘faithful in prayer’ (Rom 12:12) and ‘persistent in prayer’ (Col 4:2). Listen to what Jesus says about prayer:

       

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” Matt 7:7-8 (NIV). Is it not comforting to know that God answers our prayer when we ask, seek and knock?  

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" Matt 18:19-20 (NIV). When Christians gather together in corporate prayer they will see God works in a special way.

A Healthy Growing Church (Part 2)

Matthew 9:27-38

Rev. James Wong

1. They Were Devoted to the Apostles Teaching

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.                                           ~Acts 2:42 (NIV)

2. They Were Devoted to Fellowship

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  ~Acts 2:42 (NIV)

3. They Were Devoted to Worship

“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  ~Acts 2:42 (NIV)

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God …” ~ Acts 2:46-47a (NIV)

4. They Were Devoted to Prayer

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  ~Acts 2:42 (NIV)

5.  They Believed In Miracles

“Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:43 (NIV)

The prayer of Peter and John: “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” ~Acts 4:30 (NIV)

6. They Had Meals Together

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God …” ~ Acts 2:46-47a (NIV)

7.  They Care and Share With Each Other

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”

~Acts 2:44-45 (NIV)

“… enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. ~Acts 2:47 (NIV)

Balancing Facts And Faith

Five Finger Prayer

A Blessing So Great

Perestroika of the Spirit

Welcome On Board

Church Concerns

Church Activities For This Week

The front door and the back door

by Rev. James Wong

Most churches have a good front door. Members invite friends to church. Through the years, new people come and join the church but the size of the church remains quite the same. The problem is not so much with the  front door but with the back door. The back door is as big as the front door. How do we close the back door? That is, how do we keep people from leaving our church? There is no easy answer to this. However, the followings are the four common keys to assimilation members and help them to remain active in the church.

1. Membership requirement. There is a high expectation on membership. The baptism class or confirmation class is an example of membership requirement. Believers are not just to congregate on Sunday for worship. They are to live out  their life of weekly worship, daily devotion, bible reading and prayer, tithing, sharing the love of Christ, attend training seminars and etc.

2. Small group involvement. This may take many forms like the Sunday school class, weekly life group meeting, youth meeting, G412 and etc. It is in the cell group environment that people get connected to each other where meaningful friendships can flourish. The Sunday worship will not provide such environment to build deep relationships because of time and space constrain, unless members intentionally get together for breakfast to connect with each other after the service.

3. Ministry involvement. Those who get involve in serving in ministry usually stay active in church because they feel connected to the church. There is a deep sense of belonging. One way to get yourself active in serving God is to serve in a ministry. It could be just as simple as controlling the computer system on Sunday or helping out in ushering or singing in the music team. Such simple involvement set a fire in your heart for God.

4. Relational connection. Human beings are relational creatures. People don’t return to a church that show them cold shoulders. People are more likely to remain in a church where they have developed meaningful friendships and relationships with others in the church. Research has shown that people may come to the church because of the pastor, but they remain in the church because of the people they know there.

Would you help to close the back door? Simply make an effort to connect with unfamiliar people or guests who visit our church. Every relationship begins with a handshake and a smile. Most people find their way to heaven through friendship. It may begin with a simple cup of coffee together.

A Healthy Growing Church (Part 1)

Acts 2:41-47

Rev. James Wong

1. They Were Devoted to the Apostles Teaching

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.                                           ~Acts 2:42 (NIV)

2. They Were Devoted to Fellowship

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  ~Acts 2:42 (NIV)

3. They Were Devoted to Worship

“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  ~Acts 2:42 (NIV)

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God …” ~ Acts 2:46-47a (NIV)

4. They Were Devoted to Prayer

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  ~Acts 2:42 (NIV)

Leading Change

What Is A Real Christian?

Financial Fitness: Generosity Reaps Generosity

Seek The Peace of The City

Church Concerns

Church Activitis For This Week

The Importance of Knowing The 'Key Result Areas'

by Rev. James Wong

The “Key Result Areas” is a management term that refers to the results that an organization wants to achieve in the key areas of their operation. It focuses on results rather than activities. You can be sweating profusely riding on a stationary exercise-bike but going no where! “Begin with the end in mind” says Stephen Covey.

Every church must identify her Key Result Areas. We may call that the tasks, goals, vision, purposes or mission of the church. The results that we want will determine our ways of operation. But to have results we must be willing to change our ways of thinking and our mode of operation. Albert Einstein says, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results.”  Think about the following key Result Areas (printed in our Ministry Handbook 2011, page 6-7) and pray that God will help you to play your part in fulfilling them.

1. Effective Outreach. We hope to see you inviting friends to Church. Our goal this year is to have 160 people in the Sunday service. Prayer meeting = 30. Sunday school = 40. Life Group = 8 groups.  BBGB = 150. Generation 412 = 50.

2. Leadership development. We devote one page in our weekly bulletin for this purpose. Leadership makes the difference in every ministry.

3. Discipleship training. This is done intentionally in BBGB, life groups and other meetings. Our goal is to ‘make disciples’ as Jesus commanded.

4. Gift-oriented ministry. We encourage and enlist members to participate in the different ministries of the church based on their passion and ability.

5. Inspiring Worship. Our Sunday worship service is contemporary in music style with strong outreach intention. Numerous surveys show that new comers, including many Christians, do not return to a boring service.

6. Holistic Life Groups. It is through this platform that we provide members the opportunity to have meaningful fellowship, bible study and learning experience. Be part of a life group.

7. Loving relationships. Let us move out from our own circle and comfort zone. Connect with new friends and follow-up with genuine loving concern. An SMS, a call or a visit, a helping hand makes a world of difference.

8. Tithes & offerings. Under the title Generous living in the bulletin we share with you how to be a good manager of God’s wealth.

9. Prayer Meeting. This is the power station of the church. Make yourself available.

10. Excelling for God. We strive for excellence and not perfection. Anything worth doing for God must be done well. This is our fundamental attitude.

The Key Result Areas help us to focus on activities that will produce the desired results. Do not confuse activities with results. Let us do everything with the end in mind for God’s glory.