This Wednesday 15 men gathered early at 6:30am to pray. We began by talking about how the men had been encouraged by The Resurgence Total Church conference earlier in the week, specifically regarding the centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we turned our focus to the word of God, Pastor Cliff led us to 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20:

“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God’s wrath has come upon them at last.”

We talked about the power of the Word of God, and about how the apostles gave thanks for the transforming power of the proclaimed gospel. In addition, the Thessalonians received in faith the preached Word of God, and the truth of God was at work in them first for salvation then for sanctification. The Thessalonians imitated the apostles preaching the Gospel despite real persecution.

Application Questions:

• Are you giving thanks for those you are ministering to?

• How would you articulate the Gospel to a young believer? To a person who is lacking faith? To a non-believer? To an angry believer?
• How is the truth of the Gospel changing how you live your life?
• How could the Gospel help you in the trials you are dealing with?
• What are others imitating in you?

Prayers this week:

• Pray for the Trial series that many non-believers would come to know Jesus both at the campuses and on-line.

• Pray for the campaign to raise campus pastors and church planters that 900 faithful and called men would step up. Pray for the church planters that are being assessed this week.
• Pray that Mars Hill community groups would be so focused on the gospel of Jesus that the groups and their members are praying for evangelistic opportunities to invite non-believers to Mars Hill and into their group.
• Pray for all those who are in financial need that they would find their hope and security in Jesus.
• Pray for those who are worshiping money rather than Jesus. Pray the people would understand the deep riches of the Gospel and would desire to give out of that understanding.
• Pray for the Micro Missions campaign
• Pray for the Elders that they would be unified and walk not in their own efforts but the power of the Holy Spirit.