Sermon Resources on Praying With Expectance

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Author

Keywords

Our God has boundless resources. The only limit is in us. Our asking, our thinking, our praying are too small. Our expectations are too limited.

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The Great Bell that Rings Above the Ears of God

Author

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

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Scripture

1 Kings 18:41–45, Daniel 9:3–19 , Matthew 7:7–8 , Luke 18:1–8, Hebrews 4:16 , Psalm 145:18–19

“The Prince of Preachers”, Charles Haddon Spurgeon once shared a thoughtful analogy for the life of prayer in most people’s lives: Prayer pulls the rope down below and the great bell rings above i...

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Author

John Wimber

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Scripture

James 4:2, James 5:14-15, Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 11:9-10, Mark 11:24

When we prayed for no one, no one was healed. When we prayed for lots of people, some were healed.

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Bruce Almighty Tries Granting Every Prayer

Author

Mia Levetan

Keywords

Scripture

James 4:3, 1 John 5:14, Matthew 6:8, John 15:7, Isaiah 55:8-9, Luke 11:11-13

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I'm glad I'm not God!" Too much responsibility! In the 2003 movie "Bruce Almighty," Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) gains God’s divine powers b...

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Going Down to the River to Pray

Author

William Rowley

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Scripture

Exodus 14:21-29, Joshua 3:, 2 Kings 5:, Acts 8:36, Acts 16:13-15

Have you heard the old spiritual “Down to the River to Pray” or “The Good Old Way”? It is most famous in popular culture because of Alison Kraus’s version of the song recorded for the movie O Broth...

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You Prayers are Lame

Author

Craig Groeschel

Keywords

“Hey, Craig, do you believe God still does miracles?” “Of course,” I said. “Good—because your prayers are so lame.” I tried to laugh with him, but my friend’s joke stung—mostly because he was right. W...

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Expect Always the Unexpected Anticipate

Author

Dave Peterson

Keywords

Expect always the unexpected Anticipate Miracles Knowing that with God, all things are possible May the Lord bless you and keep you May the Lord make His face to shine upon you May the Lord lift up th...

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Author

Clement of Alexandria

Keywords

Scripture

Hebrews 11:8-10, Luke 1:38, Matthew 21:22 , Isaiah 40:31, Philippians 1:6, James 1:2-4

Faith is a voluntary anticipation.

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Author

William Carey

Keywords

Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.

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Author

Eugene Peterson

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 15:13, Psalm 130:5, Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:6-7, Lamentations 3:25-26, Psalm 27:14

Hoping does not mean doing nothing. It is not fatalistic resignation. It means going about our assigned tasks, confident that God will provide the meaning and the conclusions. It is not compelled to w...

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In this season of Advent, may you go forth

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Revelation 21:5

In this season of Advent, may you go forth as a person of hope. May your waiting be active, that you might discover the presence of the God who is making all things new. And may the love of God, the ...

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Prayers for Strength and Hope

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 2:1-4 , Psalm 61:1-4, 1 Peter 1:1-2

Pastor: With the Psalmist we pray: Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for You have be...

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A Blessing on Hope

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 16:1-16 , Psalm 130:5

Pastor: I wait for the Lord, People: and in His word I put my hope. Pastor: Now may the God who calls you “friend,” the Lord Almighty, bless you and direct your days and your deeds...

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Dear Lord, We come to you this evening

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2, John 1:4-5, Luke 2:8-14, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Luke 19:1-10, Philippians 1:6, Matthew 6:33, Luke 10:38-42, Luke 2:11, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 2:1-12

Dear Lord, We come to you this evening with great expectations. Expectations that your Son Jesus has been born, and that his life is a light for us and all people. We come with expectations that He c...

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As we watch and wait for Christ’s coming

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 5:19, Zephaniah 3:17

This prayer can be used for all 4 weeks of Lent, with the small changes of saying "candles" instead of "candle" after the first week and by switching out the candle theme (Hope, et...

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Advent Wreath Lighting

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Advent

Scripture

Jeremiah 31:3, Zephaniah 3:17

Note: Use this prayer throughout Advent to create consistency across the weeks, replacing the theme (Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love), depending on the week. Reader: In this season of longing and anticip...

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Hope In God

Author

Eugene Peterson

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 40:31, Romans 8:24-25, Psalm 27:14, Hebrews 11:1, Lamentations 3:25-26

Hoping does not mean doing nothing. It is not fatalistic resignation. It means going about our assigned tasks, confident that God will provide the meaning and the conclusions. It is not compelled to w...

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A Prayer For Advent

Author

Kayla Craig

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2, Luke 2:8-20, Matthew 2:1-12, Psalm 9:1-2

O come, Emmanuel. Ignite in us the awe of a child, Looking into a manger scene As we wait on the promise Of the coming infant King In a humble stable. TO LIGHT THEIR WAY

Quote

Author

Walter Brueggemann

Keywords

Advent

In our secret yearnings we wait for your coming, and in our grinding despair we doubt that you will. And in this privileged place we are surrounded by witnesses who yearn more than do we and by those ...

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Hope in the Trenches: Thoughts From the Founder's Desk

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Just yesterday, while filming our Advent Sermon Series video , it struck me just how important hope is as a Christian virtue. And not just the kind of starry-eyed hope of childhood, but rather someth...

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Anticipation Lifts the Heart

Author

Luci Shaw

Keywords

Anticipation lifts the heart. Desire is created to be fulfilled – perhaps not all at once, more likely in slow stages. Isaiah uttered his prophetic words about the renewal of the natural Creation into...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Jeremiah 33:14-16

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Jeremiah 33:14-16, Jeremiah 32:1-2, Jeremiah 30:3, Jeremiah 30:16, Jeremiah 31:1, Jeremiah 31:31, Jeremiah 33:17-18, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Matthew 4:17, Revelation 21:null, Philippians 1:6

Check out our video discussion of the text with the author, Austin D. Hill. Click here to view! Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Exile and Catastrophe There is deba...

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Be present, O Lord, to our requests;

Keywords

Be present, O Lord, to our requests; and as you give us a desire to pray, grant us, O most Loving God, your aid and comfort in our prayers; and may the souls which thirst for your promises be filled f...

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Third Sunday of Advent

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 80:1-3, Mark 4:35-41 , 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Isaiah 64:1-4, John 11:38-44, Luke 5:17-26, Romans 5:6-11

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ o...

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Adapted from Psalm 130 (ESV)

Author

Dustin Ray

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 130:null

Pastor: Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! All: If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could s...

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Prayers of Faith and Hope

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 2:29-40

lectionary

First Sunday of Advent

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Jeremiah 33:14-16, Jeremiah 32:1-2, Jeremiah 30:3, Jeremiah 30:16, Jeremiah 31:1, Jeremiah 31:31, Jeremiah 33:17-18, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Matthew 4:17, Revelation 21:null, Philippians 1:6

AIM Commentary Check out our video discussion of the text with the author, Austin D. Hill. Click here to view! Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Exile and Catastrop...

liturgy

A Prayer for Patience

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 130:5-6, Ephesians 4:1-16

Holy One, grant me Patience in the waiting Raise in me Steadfastness Resilience Persevering Make me a child of hope and becoming New life takes time to root and grow and bear fruit It takes trus...

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Heavenly Father, give us hearts that

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 27:13-14, Isaiah 40:31, Philippians 4:6-7, Romans 8:28, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 5:7, Lamentations 3:25-26, Psalm 37:7, Colossians 3:15, James 5:7-8

Heavenly Father, give us hearts that wait with faith. Build in us the assurance that you are at work and in control. Forgive us for our impatience, our uneasiness, and our wandering desires when we do...

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Prayer for Holy Saturday

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 46:10, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Romans 8:24-25, Hebrews 11:1, Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 40:31

There are so many things we do not understand⁠ So many ways we long for change and closure⁠ Help us to trust you⁠ even when the situation is desperate and out of control⁠ Help us to follow you⁠ even...

Sermon Resources on praying with expectance

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