Prayer Guide: Reformation Month

SOLA SCRIPTURA: Scripture Alone

The Bible alone is our highest authority.

The Scriptures are our ultimate and trustworthy authority for faith and practice. This doesn’t mean that the Bible is the only place where truth is found, but it does mean that everything else we learn about God and his world, and all other authorities, should be interpreted in light of Scripture. The Bible gives us everything we need for our theology.

Every word of the 66 books of the Bible is inspired by God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit also helps us to understand and obey Scripture.

The Five Solas – Points from the Past that Should Matter to You Justin Holcomb, Christianity Today

Prayer Points:

• That we would grow in our love for and engagement with Scripture personally

• That our church would be a church ground on and saturated in Scripture

• That our family and friends would hear and receive the truth of God’s Word as we share Scripture with them, and that God would use it to transform them

Scripture to Pray Over:

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11 ESV)

SOLA FIDE & SOLA GRATIA: Faith Alone & Grace Alone

We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

We are saved by the grace of God alone.

We are saved solely through faith in Jesus Christ because of God’s grace and Christ’s merit alone. We are not saved by our merits or declared righteous by our good works. God grants salvation not because of the good things we do, and despite our sin. As humans, we inherited (from our ancestor Adam) a nature that is enslaved to sin. Because of our nature, we are naturally enemies of God and lovers of evil. We need to be made alive (regenerated) so that we can even have faith in Christ. God graciously chooses to give us new hearts so that we trust in Christ and are saved through faith alone.

God graciously preserves us and keeps us. When we are faithless toward him, he is still faithful.

We can only stand before God by his grace as he mercifully attributes to us the righteousness of Jesus Christ and attributes to him the consequences of our sins. Jesus’ life of perfect righteousness is counted as ours, and our records of sin and failure were counted to Jesus when he died on the cross.

The Five Solas – Points from the Past that Should Matter to You Justin Holcomb, Christianity Today

Prayer Points:

• That we would grow in our faith, by the grace of God – that all of our lives would be grounded in grace and faith

• That our church would be a church ground in the grace of God

• That God would grant our friends and family grace to trust Him by faith

Scripture to Pray Over:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:4-9 ESV)

SOLUS CHRISTUS: Christ Alone

Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior and King.

God has given the ultimate revelation of himself to us by sending Jesus Christ, Colossians 1:15. Only through God’s gracious self-revelation in Jesus do we come to a saving and transforming knowledge of God. Because God is holy and all humans are sinful and sinners, 1 John 1:1 Hebrews 7:25 Romans 8:34. Neither religious rituals nor good works mediate between us and God. Acts 4:12 by which a person can be saved other than the name of Jesus. Hebrews 7:23, and his sacrificial death alone can atone for sin.

The Five Solas – Points from the Past that Should Matter to You Justin Holcomb, Christianity Today

Prayer Points:

• That we would grow in our love for Christ, and Christ alone – that all of our lives would be founded and centered on our union with Him

• That our church would be centered on Christ, and Christ alone – that Christ and His Gospel would always be the center of everything we are and do

• That our family and friends would come to believe that Christ alone can save them and give them the life they are looking for and were created for

Scripture to Pray Over:

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20 ESV)

SOLI DEO GLORIA: The Glory of God Alone

We live for the glory of God alone.

Glory belongs to God alone. God’s glory is the central motivation for salvation, not improving the lives of people—though that is a wonderful by product. God is not a means to an end—he is the means and the end.

The goal of all of life is to give glory to God alone: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). As The Westminster Catechism says, the chief purpose of human life is “to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”

The Five Solas – Points from the Past that Should Matter to You Justin Holcomb, Christianity Today

Prayer Points:

• That God would receive glory through every part and aspect of our lives – and that we would see this as the ultimate purpose of our lives

• That God would receive the glory due to Him through all the various ministries and works of The Village Church

• That our family and friends would see the glory of God in face of Jesus Christ

Scripture(s) To Pray Over:

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11-14 ESV)

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)

Reformation Prayer Night Schedule:

• Intro: Explanation of The Reformation & Why We’re Here 6:45

• Song 1: Grace Alone 6:50

• Responsive Prayer: Luther’s Prayer To Be Heard 6:53

• Song 2: In Christ Alone 6:57

• Sola Prayer Rotation 1 7:00

• Sola Prayer Rotation 2 7:10

• Sola Prayer Rotation 3 7:20

• Sola Prayer Rotation 4 7:30

• Song 3: Amazing Grace 7:40

• Prayer For Those In Need 7:44

• Song 4: The Stand 7:55

• Close: Luther’s Evening Prayer 8:00

Reformation Prayer Night: Responsive Prayers

Luther’s Prayer To Be Heard

Lord God, heavenly Father, I ask and would be assured that my petitions shall and must be nothing less than yea and amen. Otherwise I will not pray nor have intercession made for me. Not that I am righteous or worthy, for I know very well and confess that I am unworthy. I have earned Thine eternal wrath and hell fire with my great and many sins. But in this that Thou dost command and constrain me to pray in the Name of Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, I am still somewhat obedient. Upon this challenge and consolation of Thine infinite goodness, not on account of my own righteousness, do I kneel or stand before Thee, and pray what is upon my heart concerning those who are in need of Thy help. If Thou dost not help us, O Lord, Thou wilt offend and dishonor Thy Name. Thou wilt surely spare Thyself, lest the world would say Thou wert an ungracious and dreadful God. Preserve us from such a misfortune. Remember, dear heavenly Father, how Thou hast at all times supported and helped Thy people. I will not cease to knock but will continue to cry aloud and to plead to the end of my life. Amen.

Luther’s Evening Prayer

My heavenly Father, I thank You, through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, that you have protected me, by your grace. Forgive, I pray, all my sins and the evil I have done. Protect me, by your grace, tonight. I put myself in your care, body and soul and all that I have. Let your holy angels be with me, so that the evil enemy will not gain power over me. Amen.

Black = reader Red = everyone

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Matt Kyser is a 6.4 Fellowship Regional Resource Leader, Pastor of The Village Church of Irvine, CA, and Regional Director of Acts 29 WEST. https://www.facebook.com/matthew.kyser.3