21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Week 3: January 17-23

Focus: Relationship with the World

Change God’s WORLD

Week Overview

During the first two weeks we reflected on our relationship with God, and then our relationship with the family of God. This week we turn our focus to the 3^rd Key Life relationship, and that is our Relationship with the World, and the 5^th W which is CHANGE GOD’S WORLD.

Once Jesus accomplished what He came to do on earth by becoming the Savior for all, He left a direct and clear command to His followers to “carry the baton” forward to share the good news, aka: “the gospel”, for more people to discover and receive Him as Savior & Lord. This was not just a command for the disciples or leaders of the church. Nor was it a commend just for His followers back then. It was a command for ALL BELIEVERS to carry His message forward to the world who is lost without Him & in need of the RESCUE only He offers.

Do you know you have an assignment from God to share His love and his “good news” to others? People are lost without Jesus all around us, & God has called each of us to the mission of being His ambassadors. This mindset is to be an important part of a believer as they live their life. It is not about trying to “save the world”, but it is about seeing the people around you as God does & recognize their need for the Savior like you did.

Did you know there are at least 8 to 15 people God has supernaturally & strategically placed in your world for you to be the primary one to lead them to Him & see their lives changed?

Imagine would it look like if all of God’s people truly recognized this & embraced this calling. So many of the issues of our day would be changed if we all truly had a right relationship with the world as God calls us to.

This week take time to ponder what God says through His Word about this vital relationship with the world. Then take an honest reflection on where you are and what He wants next for you in this call as a disciple to CHANGE HIS WORLD.

Daily set aside time to read & meditate on the passages below.

Pray about what you read.
Ask God to show you in the passage what He wants you to see.
Consider journaling writing down insights, thoughts, & prayers to God.

Passages to look over this week…

Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 28:18-20
Acts 1:8
John 14:6
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
Romans 10:9-15

Things to ponder as you read the passages…

When reading God’s Word, ask questions like these to help bring understanding & insight:

What is happening here?
What is this saying about how to live or not live?
What do I need to do or not do to follow what God’s Word is saying?

End of Week Reflection…

Take time to reflect on the passages you read, & what God showed you about your relationship with the world.

Where are you in first recognizing & then truly living as an ambassador for God?
Have you identified who the 8 to 15 people are in your life that God has put there for you to be His ambassador to?
- If not, ask God to show you who they are?
- How are you investing in those relationships to foster an opportunity for God to use you in their lives?
Do you know how to share your faith if the opportunity arises?
- If not, this is your season to learn.
Where is God calling you to grow in this relationship & this W to Change God’s WORLD.

Take time to pray to God & surrender yourself to Him anew to grow your faith in these areas this next year. Journaling this prayer is a great extra step.

Thank God for all He has given, & how He has provided, & for what He has in store this year as you grow in your relationship with Him.

Get ready for a great time of worship on Sunday, January 23^rd.

Then get ready for our ALL-CHURCH CELEBRATION & DEDICATION EVENT that evening from 5-7:30pm.

Week 2: January 10-16

Focus: Relationship with God’s Family

The 2 Ws with this are

WALK with God’s people

Contribute to God’s WORK

Week Overview

While our first relationship is all about our connection to God, this next key life relationship has to do with how we connect with the family of God; aka: the church. The church is not a place we go, it is the people of God. That is why we often say, “we don’t go to church, we are the church.”

As the church,

He designed us to live in deep authentic community doing & enjoying life together
He calls us to love one another, encourage one another, sharpen one another, be there for one another, & carry one another’s burdens.
He envisions us to be like a beautiful, radiant bride anticipating His return.
He expects us to work in harmony together & be highly connected just like the parts of a healthy body work together.
He commands us to work together to carry on His mission of rescue to the world.

God never intended us to live in isolation, but in community.

That means for you as a believer, God’s plan is for you to be fully engaged in a church family, where you are growing, serving, & giving as a faithful follower/disciple.

This week take time for ponder what God’s says through His Word about this vital relationship of being a part of God’s Family. Then take an honest reflection on where you are and what He wants next for you in this call as a disciple to

WALK with God’s People & Contribute to God’s WORK.

Daily set aside time to read and meditate on the passages below.

Pray about what you read.

Ask God to show you in the passage what He wants you to see.

Consider journaling writing down insights, thoughts, & prayers to God.

Passages to look over this week…

Acts 2:42-47
Ephesians 4:1-16
1 Corinthians 12: 12-31
Hebrews 10:24-25
John 13:34-35
1 Peter 4:10
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Malachi 3:8-10
Matthew 6:19-21

Things to ponder as you read the passages…

When reading God’s Word, ask questions like these to help bring understanding & insight:

What is happening here?
What is this saying about how to live or not live?
What do I need to do or not do to follow what God’s Word is saying?

End of Week Reflection…

Take time to reflect on the passages you read, & what God showed you about your relationship with Him.

How is your WALK with God’s people?
- Are fully engaged in the church family & in authentic community with a group of other believers, or are you an intermittent casual attender to services?
- If you aren’t fully engaged &connected what has kept you from that?
- What needs to change or what do you need to deal with for you to grow & become fully engaged & connected this year?
How well do you contribute to God’s WORK?
- Are you engaged & serving, or do you let everyone else do that?
- Are you faithfully giving your tithe & offering to God through your local church, or is that an area you need to grow in this year
- What needs to change or what do you need to deal with for you to grow & begin serving &/or begin faithfully giving this year?

Where is God calling you to grow in your faith and relationship to His Family?

The church – your brothers & sisters in Christ – need you. We are better together. God’s design it that way. The church becomes the beautiful, vibrant, authentic place where people find faith-hope-love when we each are engaged living our part.

Take time to pray to God & surrender yourself to Him anew to grow your faith in these areas this next year. Journaling this prayer is a great extra step.

Thank God for all He has given, & how He has provided, & for what He has in store this year as you grow in your relationship with Him.

Get ready for a great time of worship on Sunday, January 16,

Then get ready for our ALL-CHURCH CELEBRATION & DEDICATION EVENT on January 23.

OVERVIEW

The purpose of taking 21 days to pray & fast at the beginning of the year is to stop from the normal routines & busyness of our lives & intentionally take time to focus on God & reflect on where we are with Him. That puts us in a great place to hear from God about what He wants for us, & then we can dedicate ourselves to a renewed journey forward to grow in our faith & life.

During this time, our prayer is that you will —

understand more of God & what His plan is for you,
reflect on where you are in your journey,
identify where God wants you to grow next in your faith,
dedicate yourself with renewed passion to grow in your faith in 2022.

IMAGINE all of us doing this & then committing to walk the journey forward together supporting, encouraging, & challenging one another to be all that God has called us to be – as individuals & the church. That is our prayer – please pray that this will be us.

The 21 days of prayer & fasting will culminate with a special ALL CHURCH DEDICATION & CELEBRATION on Sunday, January 23rd.

TCAL FOUNDATIONS…

As we take these 21 days to encourage our church family to pray & fast, it is valuable to be reminded of some of the foundational faith statements God has given us as a church family.

We have a mission that is clear…

The TCAL Mission

We are a family of faith, united on mission to change our world by SHARING CHRIST, BUILDING BELIEVERS, and SENDING RESCUE.

We have a belief about people that is clear…

NO PERFECT PEOPLE ALLOWED

We use this phrase often to help people new to our church know that God accepts them where they are, & so do we. Where you are is where you are, & that is okay; you are loved right there.

However, on the other side of that statement, is another important follow-up,

“…but God doesn’t want you to stay there.”

Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10,13

When you come into God’s Family

His goal is to take you on a journey from where you are, no matter where that is, & mold you & shape you to be more & more into His image.

His goal is to transform you into realizing & then living as the beautiful masterpiece He has designed you all along to be.

This is a lifelong journey of continually growing in your faith & being a disciple.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 2:8-10

When you are a part of the TCAL Family

Our goal is to help you on that journey. God has called us to make disciples who grow into being fully developing followers of Christ who:

· WORSHIP God – honestly

· Live by God’s WORD – fully

· WALK with God’s people – authentically

· Contribute to God’s WORK – faithfully

· Impact God’s WORLD – intentionally

These 5Ws are built around the 3 key life relationships:

o Relationship with God

o Relationship with God’s Family

o Relationship with the World

When we each grow in these areas, we are becoming the masterpiece God has created us all along to be, & together we will be the authentic, vibrant church God has designed for His church to be. Then we will be the church that displays the beautiful love of Jesus to the world that is thirsty & in need of the rescue the Savior offers.

This will be our focus over these 21 days.

Week 1: January 2-8

Focus: Relationship with God

The 2 Ws with this are:

WORSHIP God

Live by God’s WORD

Week Overview

In this first week, spend your time intentionally focusing on the first & most important relationship you have – the relationship you have with God. The 2 Ws that go along with this relationship are how we WORSHIP God & how we live by God’s WORD.

It all starts here. EVERYTHING else in your life will flow from how healthy or unhealthy your relationship is with God.

If you are not close or are superficial in your relationship, you will not be able to know, experience, and draw from all that God has for you to help you, guide you & encourage you through life.

If you have a negative or dysfunctional relationship with God, all the above will be true, but it will go a step further as you will have a critical spirit against God, and that will greatly hinder your life.

How is your WORSHIP? How well do you know His Word & are committed to living by it?

This week take a fresh look at these things & what God’s desire is for your relationship with Him.

Daily set aside time to read and meditate on the passages below.

Pray about what you read.
Ask God to show you in the passage what He wants you to see.
Consider journaling writing down insights, thoughts, & prayers to God.

Passages to look over that connect about WORSHIP & God’s WORD.

· Romans 12:1-2 (take note of 11:33-36 that led to these 2 verses)

· Matthew 22:37-38 (34-40)

· Micah 6:8

· Psalm 1

· Psalm 119:1-18

· 2 Peter 1:3-11

· 2 Timothy 3:16-17

· 2 John 4-6

· Romans 10:17

· James 1:19-25

Note: When reading the Bible take note of what is happening before & after the verses you are focusing on.

Ask questions

When reading God’s Word, ask questions like these to help bring understanding & insight:

· What is happening here?

· What is this saying about how to live or not live?

· What do I need to do or not do to follow what God’s Word is saying?

At the end of the week

Take time to reflect on the passages you read, and what God showed you about your relationship with Him.

· How is your WORSHIP to God?

· How well have you been living by His WORD?

· What do you need to do differently in either, or both areas, to be faithful & honoring in this most important relationship you have?

Take time to pray to God & surrender yourself to Him anew to grow your faith in these areas this next year. Journaling this prayer is a great extra step.

Thank God for all He has given, & how He has provided, & for what He has in store this year as you grow in your relationship with Him.

Get ready for corporate worship on Sunday, January 9th, and then week 2.