Reach Community Church

Today marks the final day of our 21 days of prayer and fasting, as well as the conclusion of our Pray series. Throughout this journey, we have heard the words of Jesus as He taught His disciples to pray, recognized the importance of withdrawing to pray, and told not to give up but to keep praying. This morning, we will seek to understand what it means to lament in prayer. To lament is to express deep grief or sorrow passionately. This is an art that has been largely lost in the modern church, partly because we do not teach or practice it. Interestingly, 40% of the Psalms are prayers of lament, and there is an entire book of the Bible called Lamentations. I believe today’s prayer topic has the potential to transform our relationship with our Heavenly Father. We must learn to bring the storms of pain, suffering, anxiety, and conviction that rage within us to the right place—God. Whether we realize it or not, we are doing something with these painful emotions. Let us learn the practice of lament.

Welcome to week three of our series on prayer. Quick questions have you been praying? In week one, we started with the Lord’s Prayer, where Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. Last week, we looked at the importance of withdrawing to pray, learning that if Jesus needed to step away and spend time with the Father, so do we. We all know we should pray and take time with God, but what about when it feels like prayer isn’t working, or life isn’t going our way? Over the next two weeks, we’ll tackle the hard parts of prayer. Today, we’ll explore what it means to pray persistently, trust God’s timing, and align our hearts with His will. Persistent prayer isn’t about wearing God down—it’s about deepening our trust in His character and promises. Let’s dive into Luke 11 and discover how Jesus calls us to "ask, seek, and knock" with bold faith and unwavering persistence.

Good morning, church family! Last week, we began our Pray series by diving into the Lord’s Prayer, where Jesus taught us how to pray. Today, we’re focusing on why prayer is so vital by looking at the example Jesus Himself set. Throughout the Gospels, we see that Jesus frequently withdrew from the crowds to pray and spend time with His Father. This wasn’t just about finding a quiet place—it was about prioritizing intimacy with God in the midst of a busy and demanding life. If the Son of God, who was constantly surrounded by people and responsibilities, made space to connect with His Father, how much more should we? This morning, we’ll explore what it means to follow Jesus’ example of withdrawing to pray—how it refreshes our souls, strengthens our faith, and helps us stay aligned with God’s will. Let’s dive in and learn how withdrawing to prayer can transform our walk with God.

Today, we begin a new series called Pray. Historically, Reach has started each new year with 21 days of prayer and fasting as a way to prepare our hearts and align with God’s purpose. This year is no different. The key ingredient to the next 21 days is prayer. Over the next few Sundays, we’ll dive into the significance of prayer—something that, for many, has become a source of guilt for not doing enough rather than the incredible gift God intended for His children. For the next few weeks, we’ll focus on this transformative truth: God is our source of clarity, vision, purpose, hope, peace, and joy. If that’s true, the big question is: How do we get to this place of clarity? If prayer isn’t part of the process, you won’t experience these blessings fully. If you’re seeking clarity in your life, ask yourself, What are you willing to do to achieve it? Clarity doesn’t come without a cost. Consider a common New Year’s resolution, like losing weight—it takes effort, sacrifice, and discipline to see it through. A 2018 study by Strava, a social network for athletes, revealed that January 12 is the day most people abandon their New Year’s resolutions. Why? Without commitment and intentionality, we lose momentum. Now, let me ask you this: Is your spiritual health not far more important than your waistline? So I’ll ask you again, What are you willing to do to pursue clarity in your life? Let’s step into these 21 days with purpose, leaning into prayer and allowing God to shape our vision for the year ahead.

When God entered this world, He did so in a way no one could have expected. It wasn’t in a palace or with great fanfare, but in a small, unremarkable town, in a barn surrounded by animals, born to poor parents under circumstances that seemed questionable to others. Yet, in this humble arrival, God made His way into our world so that we could experience God with us. No longer would there be a great divide between the Creator and His creation. God chose to put on flesh to bridge the gap, offering you and me the chance to reconnect with the very source of life itself. Through Jesus, He invites us into a kingdom life filled with purpose, hope, and a future. But this invitation often comes through an interruption—an interruption meant for our ultimate good. Jesus entered this world to show us the depth of His love—His love for the world, and His love for you.

Today, we continue exploring the God-ordained interruptions that led to the birth of the Savior of the world. This week, we turn our attention to a lesser-discussed character in the birth narrative of Jesus—Joseph, the adoptive father of our Savior. While not much is written about Joseph, his role is no less significant in the story that has captivated hearts for over 2,000 years. Sometimes, being a supporting character rather than the star of the show can still lead to an extraordinary and meaningful ending.

Today, we continue our Christmas series, Life Interrupted, with another visit from the angel Gabriel—this time to a young woman named Mary. God had been planning this moment from the beginning of time. As Galatians 4:4–5 says: "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

God’s purpose was to fix what was broken by the first sin. That sin stained every one of us, making us unfit for life with the one thing our hearts truly long for: connection with our Father. In fact, I would go so far as to say that every longing in your heart can be traced back to the desire to know and be known by God. This moment marked the beginning of the end of that separation. God put on flesh, walked among us, and became the final Lamb sacrificed for the forgiveness of sins for all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. But for this to happen, God had to interrupt someone else’s life. Remember, every child of God has committed themselves to this: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.”

This week, we’re starting our Christmas series called Life Interrupted. We’ll walk through the birth narrative of Jesus and see that when God is on the move, your life will be interrupted. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that if you’re a disciple of Jesus and your life hasn’t been interrupted, something has gone horribly wrong. Before we met Jesus, we were doing our own thing, living life the way we thought was best. But on the other side of salvation, we see how much of our life was heading down the wrong path. Jesus loves His children so much that He’s willing to completely interrupt our old lives to give us what we really need—Him! This interruption doesn’t stop at salvation; it continues as He leads us into the fullness of life. So, here’s the question: Are you ready to be interrupted?

Reach Community Church

Today, we come to a passage that calls us to examine the foundation of our relationship with God and with one another. The writer of Hebrews takes us on a journey, urging us to consider the holiness of our lives, the weight of God's presence, and the unshakable kingdom He is establishing.This is a text that challenges complacency and reminds us that the God we serve is not to be approached lightly. It calls us to see His grace not as a license for apathy but as a reason for reverence and gratitude. As we open our hearts to this Word, may we be stirred to live with purpose, pursue peace, and worship God with awe and wonder. Let us prepare ourselves to hear and respond to His voice.