This Sunday (21/8) we shall be looking at our expectations of God and ourselves as His church. 10-30am live at MRBC.
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FOR REFLECTION & DISCUSSION
Read Acts 12
1. What do you think were the expectations of Rhoda, the disciples and Peter? Think of times when your expectations of what God can do or might do have fallen well short of reality? What shaped your low expectations? How do dramatic changes in our lives influence our expectations, particularly big events like the pandemic etc.
2. Can you think of times when you expectations of what you thought God was going to do or should have done were different from what happened? The sort of thing I have in mind may be in terms of bereavement, health and healing, prayer for important things. How did you respond to the outcome? Were your expectations a consequence of what you now know to be misconceptions of what you thought God can or was willing to do?
3.What measures can we take both as individuals and as a church to ensure that our expectations are in accordance with God’s purposes for us?
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THE CRISIS IN EAST AFRICA: Prayer Points from Tearfund
There are five areas we can focus our prayers on: for people affected by hunger and water shortages; for those in leadership positions; for God’s provision and love to be revealed through the church; for vulnerable adults and children; and for peace.
Pray for people affected by hunger and water shortages
Pray for provision of nourishing food and clean water for those in need.
Pray for healing for those who are suffering from malnutrition and hunger. Pray that they will feel God’s love and comfort surrounding them. Pray that there will be no long-term side effects or medical conditions due to hunger.
Ask God to bring the rainfall that is needed to parts of Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Pray that this will lead to abundant harvests and for water sources to spring up again closer to communities.
Pray for world leaders and politicians
Pray that food and fuel prices will stabilise, and that provision will be made for countries in a vulnerable position.
Pray that the UK Government will urgently commit £750 million for humanitarian and development work in the region. Ask God to convict the UK Government to use their influence to persuade other rich countries to commit funding and aid.
Pray for Tearfund staff as they meet with UK MPs so they can better understand the challenges facing the region, understand what Tearfund and the local church is doing, and the crucial part they can play in alleviating the crisis.
Pray for the church
Pray for the church in the UK to speak out against the injustice of the hunger crisis and for it to use its influence to persuade the UK Government to take action.
Pray that God’s power will be revealed through the church across East Africa – that it will bring a message of hope amid the suffering.
Pray for our local church partners as they respond, and pray that the entire church in East Africa will be resourced to serve people who are suffering. Pray for church leaders – who are often struggling with the effects of hunger themselves. Ask God to strengthen and protect them as they live out God’s call to care for people in need.
Pray for vulnerable children and adults
The crisis has led to an increase in child marriages. In their desperation, parents are marrying off their daughters to wealthier families in the hope that they’ll have a better chance of survival. Pray for protection for these girls. Ask that they will be valued as God’s precious daughters by their communities.Pray for a generation of children who are missing out on their education because parents cannot afford their school fees. Others are missing school because they are having to travel to collect water instead, or are simply too hungry to attend.
Pregnant and nursing mothers, people with disabilities and the elderly are especially vulnerable to food shortages. Pray for God’s protection and provision over them.
Pray for peace
The shortages of resources, including food, is making conflict worse in Ethiopia and leading to renewed conflict in other places. Pray for people’s safety and for peace to reign.
Pray for an end to the conflict in Ukraine, which is having a huge effect on the price of essential food supplies such as flour and cooking oil.
Need more resources or want to make a donation to Tearfund?