Login / Signup

Free Access

Wilderness God...

Intercession
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Wilderness God, I'm so geared towards success that I always try to sweep my failures under the carpet. I push those painful memories of hurt and rejection as far away from me as I can, and set about enjoying life. Yet you expect me to revisit those desolate places, to deliberately seek out the dark places of my inner being. How can I face the pain of that?

Wilderness God, help me to understand that it's only when I've allowed you to peel away the layers of comfortable self-deception, that you can find me. And help me to realise that the pain is nothing compared to both the amazing and everlasting experience of resurrection that it heralds, and to the incredible freedom that it brings.

Wilderness God, you expect me to deliberately seek out the dark places of my inner being. Help me to understand that it's only when I've allowed you to peel away the layers of comfortable self-deception, that you can find me. And help me to realise the amazing and everlasting experience of resurrection and the incredible freedom that that brings.

Wilderness God, we thank you for the Retreat Movement within your worldwide Church and for all who are able to experience something of the wilderness through a retreat. We pray particularly today for those churches situated within bustling city areas, where it is difficult to find moments of solitude and quiet. Give all Christians the courage to face silence alone with you, that they might also experience the overwhelming joy of your presence.

With Christians world-wide we pray especially today for your Church in Nigeria with Archbishop Joseph Adetiloye and your Church in Sheffield (UK) with Bishop Jack Nicholls.

Wilderness God, we thank you for all who are able to experience something of the wilderness through a retreat. Give all Christians the courage to face silence alone with you, that they might also experience the overwhelming joy of your presence. With Christians world-wide we pray especially today for your Church in Nigeria with Archbishop Joseph Adetiloye and your Church in Sheffield (UK) with Bishop Jack Nicholls.

Wilderness God, we hold in your loving and understanding presence all those who live in constant fear of death, especially those who live in war zones or areas targeted by terrorists. Give them a sure faith and the certainty of your strong and everlasting arms around them. At this approaching season of peace and goodwill to all, we pray for those with hearts full of hatred and thoughts of revenge, that they may learn the freedom and release of forgiveness. We pray especially today for...

Wilderness God, we hold in your loving and understanding presence all those who live in constant fear of death, and we pray for those with hearts full of hatred and thoughts of revenge. We pray especially today for...

Wilderness God, in our community we pray today for any who are forced into the wilderness because they are shunned by most people. We pray for any who are different, and for all who are lonely or isolated. We remember especially those who are vulnerable, particularly the elderly who live alone. May they be safe in their homes and look forward to Christmas love and cheer. In our own community we pray especially today for ...

Wilderness God, we pray for any who are forced into the wilderness because they are shunned by most people and for all who are lonely or isolated. We remember especially those who are vulnerable, particularly the elderly who live alone. In our own community we pray especially today for ...

Wilderness God, as we continue in this Advent season of darkness, we pray for those who are constantly in darkness because they are sick. We ask you to touch all whose quality of life is poor because of illness, and we bring them into your presence as we name them before you ...

Wilderness God, we ask you to touch all whose quality of life is poor because of illness, and we bring them into your presence as we name them before you ...

Wilderness God, we pray for those who know they have a limited time left to live on this earth. Give them the reassurance that there is life after death and that they will enjoy it with you. May they be able to use aright the time that is left to them, learning to love you more with each passing moment. We pray too for all those who have suffered a death of family or close friends recently, and we name them before you ... And we remember all for whom this time of year brings not the excitement of anticipation, but the dread of re-awakened pain because it commemorates the anniversary of the death of a loved one.

Wilderness God, we pray for those who know they have a limited time left to live on this earth. May they love you more with each passing moment. We pray too for all those who have suffered a death of family or close friends recently, and we name them before you ... And we remember all for whom this time of year commemorates the anniversary of the death of a loved one.

We ask these prayers through Jesus Christ, master of the wilderness experience.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)
Ascension of the Lord
25 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
19 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
25 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 7
27 – Sermons
130+ – Illustrations / Stories
20 – Children's Sermons / Resources
19 – Worship Resources
22 – Commentary / Exegesis
2 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Pentecost
33 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Signup for FREE!
(No credit card needed.)

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
Elena Delhagen
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For May 12, 2024:
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
Mary Austin
Katy Stenta
Elena Delhagen
Quantisha Mason-Doll
For May 12, 2024:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A sheet large enough for your children to stand around it. A dozen or so golf balls, or other small unbreakable balls. If you have a large number of children you could use two sheets to make room, or just ask for volunteers to play the game.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! But we’re not starting with the story today. I have something else I would like you to try. (Lay the sheet on the floor and put the balls in the middle of it.)
John Jamison
Object: A piece of clothing that a superhero might wear. I used a simple cape made from a sheet, but you could also use a belt, a ring, or anything else your favorite superhero might wear.

* * *

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Over the Christmas season, I saw a picture of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes with his wife Brittany and their two young children. Like many people, the Mahomes’ took their kids to see Santa Claus. Patrick, Brittany, and Santa are all smiles, however, two-year-old daughter Sterling and one-year-old Bronze looked just like thousands of other kids, scared, and wanting to be somewhere else. It reminded me of how alike people are.
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Frank Ramirez
Bill Thomas
Acts 1:1-11
As I write this, world events have inspired any number of Christians in my area to speculate that these are clear signs of the end. By the time you read this those great events will be history, but don’t worry, stuff is happening as you read this that is causing some to speculate those current events are clear signs of the end.
Frank Ramirez
Today’s scriptures call upon us to listen carefully — to Jesus, through his words in the New Testament, and to the Spirit helping us to interpret that word and speaking directly in our hearts. And sometimes God is also speaking to us in the created universe. But make sure it is God we are listening to, and not ourselves.

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Mark Ellingsen
The lessons for this Festival of Ascension all testify to the heavenly power and cosmic presence of Christ. 

Acts 1:1-11

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
…God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his son. (v. 11b)

Have you ever experienced the presence of God? Have you felt, seen, heard, smelled, tasted or known in some way that the Creator was near?

My colleague Becky Ardell Downs, pastor of John Knox Presbyterian Church in Houston, tells of a time forty years ago when she was attending the funeral of her uncle in the Chicago suburbs. He had died of multiple sclerosis at a relatively young age.
Frank Ramirez
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9)

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51)

Defying gravity! What a concept? Is there anyone here who has not dreamt at one time or another that you were actually flying? Or floating? Or in some way defying gravity?

SermonStudio

John Jamison
Have you ever come across a piece of scripture that you really just didn’t know what to do with? Everything you read before it makes sense, and everything after it, but that one passage just sits there staring at you, almost defying you to understand why it is there and what it means.
Stan Purdum
Both Psalms 47 and 93 (the alternative psalm for this day) are enthronement psalms, praise hymns celebrating God's rule over the nations. They were most likely used on festal occasions when Israel again declared that God was its king.

While Psalm 47 was for Israel's celebration, verses 1-2 call all the nations of earth to recognize God as their monarch as well. Verses 3-4, however, return to the specific relationship between God and Israel.

David H. Webb
Today is Ascension Sunday.

Today we commemorate the day when Jesus bid farewell to his followers and friends and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.

In some ways it's an anxious day. "How will we go on without him?" they surely whispered among themselves. "How can we possibly maintain the strength and perspective -- the motivation to live according to his teachings and promises? How can we live with determination and purpose if he is not here to sustain us?"

John T. Ball
One of the blessings of God is the gift of writing, of putting our thoughts and observations on clay tablets or jars, on parchment, or on paper. Scholars are not certain when humans first began to write. Many think it happened in Samaria, the civilization between the Tigris and Euphrates, now modern-day Iraq. It may have happened about 3000 B.C.E. Nor is there a consensus on how writing was first used. It may have come from Shamans using it to pass on their skills and secrets. Or writing could have originated as a means to inventory the goods of merchants.
Mark J. Molldrem
Mark -- warlike

Shirley -- bright meadow

Jennifer -- fair lady

Jeffrey -- God's peace

Jesus -- God saves

What's in a name? Ever since God gave Adam the privilege of naming all the creatures, humankind has had a fascination with names. Names are important. Parents take great care when they select a name for their baby. They know the name will be with this new person for a lifetime and will identify him or her to other people.
Jerry L. Schmalenberger
It simply was unthinkable that the appearances of Jesus should grow fewer and fewer after Easter until they finally 'petered out' and melted away. That would have effectively weakened the faith of all people who had seen him. There had to come a day of dividing -- when Jesus of earth became Christ of heaven.
Richard E. Gribble
Many years ago one of the most popular shows on weekly television was Mission Impossible. Each episode of the show opened in a similar way. The head of the Impossible Missions Force, or IMF for short, would be found alone in some isolated office, home, or similar space. He would find a large manilla envelope, generally hidden in a desk drawer or possibly in a safe. Inside the envelope he would find materials that described the next mission of his IMF team. There would be lots of printed material, photographs of the principal people involved, and often maps to show various locations.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Sandy wasn't very good at prayer. Privately he thought it was probably a waste of time, although when things went really wrong he always found himself praying. He wasn't sure that God ever heard his prayers.

Special Occasion

Wildcard SSL