What Does it Mean to "Partner in Gospel Work"?
That’s our focus at Fellowship this Spring. As we’ve pursued partnership (koinonia) together over the past year, we’ve grown in understanding what it looks like to Partner with Jesus as He forms us into His image, and had opportunity to do so. We’ve looked into Partnering with Others through friendships, group relationships, and mentoring, taking up the challenge to partner with each other in being shaped by Jesus. Now, we turn outward to the world, partnering with Jesus - and one another - in the Gospel Work Jesus is doing in our families, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, city, nation, and world!
We’re going to sharpen our focus, however, on those right around us. Our challenge over the next few months is to take a next step to partner in gospel work by opening our lives and homes to our neighbors and serve the community.
We’ll start by asking God to show us where He is moving, and we will do that with by prayer walking our neighborhoods, apartment complexes, schools, or workplaces.
Prayer Walking
Prayer walking is about getting out into the communities where we live and praying for God’s Kingdom to come. When we are out and about, we are connected with the physical places where people live, work, play, and spend their lives. Here God can show us His heart and desires for those who are physically around us. As we walk, we notice our neighbors around us and the person sitting in the cubicle next to us.
How to Prayer Walk
PREPARE
Decide whether to go it alone or bring a friend.
If you’re in a familiar place, doing it on your own is fine. But why not bring along a spouse, another FCC person who lives in the area, someone from your Life Group, or another believing friend? Perhaps 3 of you might live out Jesus’ words, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20).
Choose a route
Ask God for some direction here. Will you prayer walk your neighborhood? The local school near your home? The outdoor mall? Town Hall? If it’s an unfamiliar place, take a look at a map and select a route. Then set a date and time, grab some friends, and get to it!
Prepare your heart
Ask God to guide, direct, lead and impress you with ways to pray. And be sure to pray for your prayer walk before you go, during, and after.
PRAY
Go where you were led and get to walking!
- Walk and pray discreetly, whether on your own or in groups of 2-3. We’re doing this to see, not to be seen.
- Invite the presence of God to be made known wherever you walk
- Consider utilizing Scripture in your prayers, whether memorized or read as you walk.
- Be sensitive to the thoughts and ideas God may be speaking to your heart. You don’t have to spend the whole time talking (out loud or silently); make time to listen to the Lord.
- Be open to “interruption.” Feel free to make conversation and get to know the people you are prayer walking for. If they’re known and neighbors, there’s already a relationship to build on. If they’re new to you you might say something like…
- To those who ask what you are doing...
“We are praying for God’s blessing in Jesus’ name for our neighbor/ those living/working near here. Is there any specific way we might pray for you? - To those who ask who you are…
“We are people who have been rescued and blessed by Jesus. Today we wanted to bring some of our prayers a little closer so that we might pray a little clearer. - To those who may be open to your offer to pray for them...
“Perhaps you are facing a situation which defies a human solution. We would be happy to pray with you about any of your specifics concerns. How can we pray particularly for you? - If you pray with people, pray briefly in the simplest, non-religious language possible. Pray for their specific need and pray a blessing of God’s love on their life. Don’t feel compelled to explain the gospel at this time. In fact, it may be more powerful in the long run for you to leave them with a blessing and give God opportunity to bring an answer to your prayer. Ask God to send someone who will introduce them to the joy of living as a follower of Christ.
Suggestions for Prayer
- Ask God to Reveal - Ask God what He’s already doing in this place, what the needs are, where He is moving. Invite God to help you see true spiritual needs of people who need a breakthrough
- Slow down while walking through your environment. This will help you pick up on different things to pray about. Maybe you notice chalk drawings on the sidewalk. If so, pray for the family in the house. Maybe you notice nametags outside of office space. If so, pray for that person. Pay attention to the little things you see or hear as you walk. Follow the Holy Spirit’s lead to pray for those things.
- Ask God to Renew and Bless - Pray a blessing for each home, each family, each person. Pray with hope, dreaming of the good things that God desires to do for the people you see. Try to express what’s in God’s heart with your words.
- Ask God for Revival - Ask the Lord to move in the heart of believers in the places you are prayer walking; ask Him to start with you. Pray for believers to live lives that demand a Jesus explanation and that Jesus would be made much of in this place.
DEBRIEF & GIVE THANKS
When you finish your time, reflect on what you heard and experienced. Consider writing some of those reflections down for the next time you prayer walk this area. And be sure to take some time to thank God for the work He is doing and has done.
SEND US YOUR STORIES!
Let us know how your prayer walking experience(s) went! You can email a short account or video to office@fcchurch.org.
Want a Resource for Your Prayer Walk?
Download the Holy Here app on your mobile platform of choice. Track your walks, see where others are walking or have walked, leave notes, and more.
