Do you know WHY?

Easter Sunday is only a few days away... DO YOU KNOW WHY we celebrate it?  Does your neighbor or your family member know why YOU celebrate it?

Do they (or even you) know why YOU go to church?  Why you worship? Serve?  Give?  Make Disciples?  Connect in small groups?  Participate in communion or get baptized? 

The question WHY is one that is asked by all people of all ages from all walks of life.  If you really think about it, the answer to the questions of WHY have helped shape us to who we are right now.

We are going to dive into the WHY's starting on Easter Sunday and then look deeper into them weekly until summer... but even before then, here is a question that I think everyone asks...

WHY PRAY?

It is a valid question and we even have a Connection Group devoted to the topic.  Why do you pray?  Why should we pray?

Here’s the short answer: because Jesus told us to. In Luke 18:1 we read, “And he (Jesus) told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. ”

Of course, Jesus himself provided us with an example. Though He was God in human form, Jesus had a very deep prayer life. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39). On the cross, Jesus prayed... And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).

Look at the raising of Lazarus.  Before doing anything, Jesus prayed.   “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”  (John 11:41-43)

Before Jesus fed the five thousand, Jesus prayed (Matthew 14:19).

And these are just a few examples throughout scripture.

If Jesus felt the need to pray, then how much more should we feel the need to pray? He gave us an example to follow.

And here is another thing to consider. Even if prayer were extremely difficult, which it is not, even if prayer were painful to engage in, which it isn’t, and even if we never received answers, which isn’t the case, we still should pray. Why? Because we are commanded in the Scriptures to do so.

You will see on our BE THE CHURCH weekend we have opportunities to pray for people "driving through" as well as walk neighborhoods and pray.  We need to do this... and we need to be praying in advance for this event and the week leading up to Easter...

WHY - because Jesus told us to and gave us a great example to follow.