Week of Prayer 2021
We believe that God hears our prayer and He speaks when we listen. Join us for a week of prayer and fasting as we start 2021.
This week we are praying into The Oak’s vision for 2021 and beyond. Each day will focus on a specific part of that vision and this page is simply a guide to help us pray. Each day contains a short intro, a bible verse to meditate on, and some simple prayer points using the themes of UP (Thank God), IN (pray for one-another), OUT (pray for the world). There are also some ideas to involve the younger members of our family too.
We are committed to our church vision, to join God on His mission to see the world transformed through Jesus’ power to change lives. We are reliant on God for change, for salvation and healing in our cities, the nation and the nations of the world. For the year ahead, we are focusing on three specific areas using the UP, IN and OUT model within that bigger vision:
1. To grow UP - by discipling one another and investing in our devotional lives as individuals and as a church family.
2. To grow IN – by growing and multiplying our Community Groups and Life Groups.
3. To grow OUT - by serving our city and planting a new church in the city of Bradford.
There are various opportunities to gather together as one family to pray, worship and listen to God this week (unless stated, all are online on Zoom):
Monday 18th January
7.00am: 7:7 Prayers
7.30pm: Community Group (Ali's)
Tuesday 19th January
7.00am: 7:7 Prayers
7.30pm: Community Groups (Lucy & Will's, Brian & Barbara's, Andrew & Elspeth's, Faye & Nick's)
Wednesday 20th January
7.00am: 7:7 Prayers
7.30pm: Community Group (Jack and Mez's)
Thursday 21st January
7.00am: 7:7 Prayers
7.30pm: Community Group (Luke & Katie's)
Friday 22nd January
7.00am: 7:7 Prayers
7.30pm: Church Prayer Gathering
We'd also encourage you, if you are meeting up with anyone from The Oak during the week for your daily walk, to spend some time praying together and encouraging each other with what God is saying.
Monday
Video for families:
Pray for one another
Being a disciple is simply following Jesus - with everything you have. Jesus said "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matt 28:19) - that means the normal life of a disciple of Jesus is a maker of other disciples - we help one another to build lives focused on God. Take some time today to pray for God to be central in the lives of our church family. Pray for those you know in our church family who are in need or struggling in this season. Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal more of God's grace to each member of our church family.
Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23
Pray (Up): Thank God for our church family.
Pray (In): Pray for one another, by name.
Pray (Out): Pray for those who have begun to connect with us as a church, those new to faith and those checking us out online to encounter God and come to know Him.
Tips for families: Popcorn Prayers: Make time to pray together and let everyone pray aloud. It's simple: one person starts and when he or she is finished, he or she says another person's name. Then that person goes. You keep calling names until everyone has prayed.
Tuesday
Video for families:
Pray for our Community Groups to grow and multiply
Our Community Groups are places of connection and growth. Pray for our group leaders (listed above) and for each group to grow. We'd love to see new groups started with new believers this year. Let's pray for that.
Scripture: Acts 2:42-47
Pray (Up): Thank God for your Community Group and the Community Groups in our church.
Pray (In): Pray for the members of your Community Group.
Pray (Out): Pray for ways to share about your Community Group with those new to faith, those interested in Jesus and those in our church community not yet part of one. Could you invite someone new to come along?
Tips for families: "Create a simple prayer pot, perhaps have this on your kitchen table. All you need are some lolly pop sticks, sharpie marker, and a pot to hold the sticks in. Then, write on the sticks names of government leaders, family, friends, leaders, those serving God in the nations, etc. Whoever you want or wish you could remember to pray for regularly, but don’t. After dinner, each family member pulls a stick from the pot. Then, you take turns praying for the person on your stick."
Wednesday
Video for families:
Pray for our cities
Leeds & Bradford are beautiful cities. We have served the people in our cities through different ministries over the years. Many of those are on pause at the moment. Pray for ways you can serve and love the cities, and also ways we as a church family can, together, serve the cities.
This week is also a National Week of Prayer for church unity with ‘Churches Together in Pudsey’ encouraging all the churches in Pudsey to lift our voices in prayer together for Pudsey this evening at 7pm - for God to bring revival and for the strengthening and growth of his church. We encourage you to think about setting an alarm to pray for the area of the city where you live and join with God’s local church in seeking him together.
Scripture: Isaiah 54:10-14
Pray (Up): Thank God for Leeds and Bradford.
Pray (In): Pray for our existing ministries to the city (Foodbank, Boxes of Hope/Light, Coffee & Chaos, Connect Lunch) and for those who work in serving our cities.
Pray (Out): Pray for those in need. Pray for ways to meet people's needs in our cities.
Tips for families: Dinner Time Prayers. Everybody goes round the dinner table and chooses something they would like to thank God for and something they would like to ask God for. Take it in turns to go round the table and bring your thanks and requests to God.
Thursday
Video for families:
Pray for our lives with God
Before any revival in a nation, comes a revival in the church - not in the building but in the people of God. Pray about your own walk with God. How are you doing? What does your devotional life (the time you take each day to spend with God in prayer, worship and bible study) look like? How would you love to grow this year? What could you do each day to help make this a reality? Share your thoughts with another member of the church.
We're also taking today to fast together
Jesus said in Matthew 6 “when you pray” – his expectation is not if you pray but when. A few verses later Jesus says “when you fast”. Fasting and prayer go together. Fasting is simply going without something in order to feast on God. Going without food for the day is a declaration to God that we are surrendered to Him – that we need him more than we need anything else. When you are not eating, pray. If you’ve never fasted before, try fasting a meal. If you’ve done a meal before, try the day. Enjoy. For more information about fasting, please click here.
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8 & Matthew 9:14-17
Pray (Up): Thank God for your new life in Him.
Pray (In): Pray to be filled again with his presence, the Holy Spirit.
Pray (Out): Pray for ways to share the hope you have in God with others. Look for opportunities today and go for it.
Tips for families: Family devotions. Could you try praying the Lord's Prayer together as a family today day (or maybe everyday!). See what God does through this time of prayer together.
Friday
Video for families:
Pray for a new church in Bradford
Every church was planted at some point. The Oak was planted 10 years ago by a team led by Chris & Lisa sent from Mosaic Church in Leeds. We have the privilage of sending them again to start a new church in a city we love - in bradford. God loves it when we send that which is precious to us, in fact churches that multiply often also grow and multiply again! Church planting is both costly and hugely rewarding. Pray for Chris & Lisa and their family. Pray for a team. Pray for the city. Pray that The Oak would grow as we bless Bradford.
Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7
Pray (Up): Thank God for The Oak and the privilege of joining in God's mission by planting new churches.
Pray (In): Pray for Chris & Lisa and their family as they prepare to plant. Pray for a team to be raised up from our church and across our Catalyst Hub. Pray for wisdom and faith.
Pray (Out): Pray for the city of Bradford and for existing churches in the city to be blessed by the planting of a new church.
Tips for families: Prayer through art. First grab some colours and sheets. Second decide what you will pray for with each colour. For example: Use purple when praying aloud for animals, green for family members or blue for the earth and the environment. Have fun and create something beautiful.
Saturday
Video for families:
Pray for our Life Groups to grow and multiply
Life Groups are groups of 2-3 people leading one another to God and praying together for our friends, colleagues, families and neighbours. Take some time today to pray together in your Life Group for those you know who don't yet know God. Pray for opportunities to share the good news of Jesus with the people around you.
Scripture: 1 John 1:5-9
Pray (Up): Thank God for one another. Thank God for friendship and for church family.
Pray (In): Pray for one another to be bold and courageous in living lives for God.
Pray (Out): Prayer walk around your local area - praying for God's blessing and for His kingdom to come in your street.
Tips for families: A prayer journal is a great tool to write to God everyday (or often). You could write a bit about each day, and an emoji to show how you are feeling or write your top 3 parts of the day to focus on the positives. Thanking God for them.
More prayer ideas for families...
Ideas for children in The Nest
Chat and catch
Singing grace
My very first prayers
