1. The Mission of the CMBA, (That s the CMBA family of staff, pastors & churches spreading the GOOD NEWS!)

Transcription

1

2 PRAYER OR SMALL GROUP LEADER GUIDE How best to use this prayer guide? As you read, pray with your eyes open... We encourage you to use the CMBA Prayer Guide in your personal, group and local congregation devotions. The Prayer Guide uses portions of the new CMBA brochure and foundational scriptures from Isaiah 61:1-11 to launch us into prayer for... The 3 M s: 1. The Mission of the CMBA, (That s the CMBA family of staff, pastors & churches spreading the GOOD NEWS!) 2. The Ministry of its local congregations, and (That s your church and your part in that work!) 3. The Multitude waiting for the Good News here in Chicagoland. (That s the lost, the unchurched & the seeker in our town!) Keep the 3 M s in mind as you use this prayer guide to prompt prayer in private, group and corporate prayer settings. In addition to using 3 M s to guide this prayertime, we also encourage you to use your eyes, your ears and your mouth. As you begin to read this prayer guide, the Holy Spirit will prompt you or stop you as you go through the guide. Your eyes may stop on a particular word or phrase, your ears may hear that sweet inner voice prompt you with a scripture, song or name, and use your mouth to pray what the Lord lays on your heart.

3 Prepare your heart for prayer with a time of silent confession. Sin blocks prayer. Read Isaiah 59:20 & I John 1:9 Begin your prayer time with worship. Glorify the Lord with a Song and Scripture which worship the Lord Read a page of the CMBA Brochure and the scripture reference displayed Stop reading when the Holy Spirit prompts you Ask the Holy Spirit about the place or passage where He stops you Pray the prayer prompt the Holy Spirit has given you (Repeat Dove symbol steps as you go through each page of the prayer guide) End your prayer time with Praise and Thanksgiving (Don t wait until the battle is over... Shout Now!

4 One day God impressed on my spirit that He had brought me to the Chicago Metropolitan Baptist Association to raise up a new generation of Christians across this city who would be well pleased to call themselves Baptists. Keith Draper Executive Director

5 The Lord has used Isaiah 61:1 11 to inspire our Executive Director, Keith Draper, during his prayer times for CMBA Pastors, Churches and Staff. Read and meditate on this passage. Isaiah 61:1 11 HCSB 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners; 2 To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of our God's vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, 3 To provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord, to glorify Him." 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the former devastations; they will renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 5 Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers. 6 But you will be called the Lord's priests; they will speak of you as ministers of our God; you will eat the wealth of the nations, and you will boast in their riches. 7 Because your shame was double, and they cried out, "Disgrace is their portion," therefore, they will possess double in their land, and eternal joy will be theirs. 8 " For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and injustice; I will faithfully reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants will be known among the nations, and their posterity among the peoples. All who see them will recognize that they are a people the Lord has blessed." 10 I greatly rejoice in the Lord, I exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a turban and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden enables what is sown to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

6 We Bring Good News! The Chicago Metropolitan Baptist Association is a remarkable mosaic of local congregations, designed by God, of all sizes, shapes, ethnicities, and languages. God has uniquely called the CMBA together to reach the world, beginning in our own communities. Do you share our calling? Itʼs as simple as

7 1 Great Mission The heart of our mission is Good News! Chicago is a city full of voices demanding our attention. Often, though, the news they bring is not good news. Our city needs to hear the Good News in fresh and compelling ways. Nothing will speak louder or more clearly than diverse, concerned Christians from all across the region sharing the Good News in a united voice. Our one great mission the reason we exist is for the millions around us who have not yet come to follow Jesus Christ. We bring the Good News so that all our neighbors might know Him.

8 2 Worthy Initiatives Renewing the Lordʼs Work Among Us Revivals and great awakenings are not simply history. God is at work today in Chicagoland, in the lives of every believer who senses Godʼs call to live for Him and to serve Him. The CMBA exists to serve you and your congregation in the renewing work of Godʼs Spirit. Preparing Now for the Next Generation The CMBA has a passion to see Chicagoland glorifying God in every generation, and that means shaping believers of all ages to become change-agents for their generation. The CBMA can help your church build bridges between older and younger within your church and across the Christian community, to make a profound impact on each generation for him.

9 3 Crucial Tasks Developing Ministers of the Gospel The CMBA is only as strong as our individual ministers and churches. So together we have committed to be the best we can be. The CMBA helps churches like yours equip its people as ministers, and we help our pastors fan into flame the gifts theyʼve been given to build the Kingdom of God in Chicagoland. Strengthening Local Churches Our CMBA churches represent the body of Christ in their communities, so we put CMBA resources to work growing healthy ministries. The CMBA helps local churches expand their influence in their own neighborhoods. Expanding the Kingdom of God The Kingdom of God grows as people come into a personal relationship with the living God. So the CMBA devotes resources from without and from within to meet peopleʼs real needs and to put strong, biblical communities in their neighborhoods.

10 Chicago Metropolitan Baptist Association Office: 2237 W. 120th St., Blue Island, IL Office Hours 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (CST) M-Th Phone (708) Fax (708)