Sermon Notes from 12.30.12

Here are the sermon notes from Sunday, 12.30.12.  I normally preach on prayer the Sunday after Advent ends, and so it is again this year.  You can find these notes in PDF and the sermon audio at sermons.heritagepark.org.  You can also download the sermon audio on our podcast via iTunes.

Expectant Prayer

Prayer Sermon 2012

Acts 12.1-17

Why be Expectant in Prayer?

God does hear

• The testimony of the Bible teaches us that God hears. 
• The story of our experience reminds us that God hears.
• His willingness to hear reveals His heart.

God will answer

•  He will answer for those not expecting it.
• Objection:  If God is going to act anyway, why pray? 
• Prayer is the means by which God acts.
• He will answer in surprising ways.
• Objection:  Why didn’t God answer the way I prayed? 
• We do not pray so that He’ll be good to us but because He is.
• There is a clear distinction between praying with expectations and praying with expectancy.

o   One counsels God on how to act – one confidently believes He will