Welcome to week two of 40 Days of Community!  (Week three if you've been reading since the "pre-week.)  I hope you'll join us in worship at New Life today (or already have!) as we focus on REACHING OUT TOGETHER.  This week's memory verse is:    "You've been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ."  Philippians 1:5 (NLT) It's a short and simple verse, but it's vital.  The Apostle Paul wrote those words to the church at Philippi.  Paul recognized that spreading the Good News about Jesus was not a solo activity.  He needed PARTNERS.  We all do.  In fact, we know from Jesus' own model that He always intends for us to share the Good News together.  He sent His followers out by twos wherever they went to share the Gospel.

In this week's daily readings we're going to use the word, partner, as an acrostic, and each day we'll look at one of the letters of that word as a means of partnering in spreading the Good News about Jesus to others.  For today, let's look at the first letter:  PARTNER -- P is for Pray Together! One of the best ways to reach out together is to pray for those who don't yet know Jesus, AND to pray for God to give us opportunities to tell people His message.  The Apostle Paul asked the Colossian Christians to do precisely that:  "Pray for us that God will give us an opportunity to tell people His message." Colossians 4:3 (NCV)  Praying for lost folks won't mean God will force them to believe.  God gives each person the opportunity to respond to the Good News, or not, but when we pray for our friends, relatives, coworkers and classmates--even strangers--the prayers DO impact them in ways only God knows at the moment, and that impact may be openness to the Gospel!  

Our prayers for God to give us opportunities to tell people His message, work with our prayers for the people we care about.  As we pray for opportunities, we must also open ourselves to act when the opportunities arise.  For example, if you just prayed for a coworker to come to know Jesus, and that coworker approaches you today and wants to talk about "religion," or God, or even just needs you to listen, then it could well be that God is answering your prayer with an opportunity.  Remember, prayer is not a substitute for action.  It's an action for which there's no substitute!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, we thank You for who You are--the almighty God of all creation and the Redeemer of our souls!  We do pray for opportunities to tell people the message about Jesus.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that when the opportunities come we may discern them and act in faith that You want to use us to bring our loved ones and acquaintances to You.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.