Scripture

1 Timothy 3

Click here to read today’s passage on Bible Gateway

Observation

What key issue regarding living together as the Body of Christ is addressed in this chapter?

Application

Do my elders and deacons exhibit the qualities found here? Do I pray for them regularly? Do I somehow think that if I am not an elder or deacon, I don’t have to worry about growing in these areas?

Prayer

Pray today’s Scripture back to God:
Dear Father, I thank You for the people who serve in leadership for Your church. I pray that they would submit themselves to You and grow in the qualities described in this chapter, and that I would support them and pray for them and encourage them. And help me to be the kind of person who could step up and serve in this capacity if the need arose. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Pray to BLESS!

One good way to pray for people is to use the acronym BLESS to pray for God’s blessing on every area of their lives:

• B – BODY (physical health)
• L – Labor (their job or school)
• E – Emotions (emotional health as well as guarding against letting emotions rule)
• S – Social (relationships with family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, church, etc)
• S – Spiritual (remaining true to God and growing in Him)

Spend some time praying for the following people and ministries:

• Scott & Kristi Guinn (Josiah)
• Mike & Jamie Haberkorn (Hannah, Sean)
• Deborah Halkola
• Robin & Florence Henderson

Missionaries:

• J & G Simon, missionaries to Austria

CLF:

• Ask that we would be a church that is devoted to true fellowship: Pray that we would be encouraged from being united with Christ, comforted by His love, bonded with His Spirit, tender and compassionate with one another. Pray that we would be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Ask that we would do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider one another better than ourselves, looking not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of each other. Pray that we would all have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus.

Community: Pray for Teachers & Administrators & School Boards

• Godly curriculum
• God’s wisdom in teaching and leading
• Salvation for unbelievers
• Ability to inspire a love of truth and learning

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
instruct certain people not to teach different doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith. – 1 Timothy 1:3b-4 (HCSB)