KCC Prayer Ministry

As Disciples, we greatly value frequent individual and communal prayer as the most rewarding and effective path to closeness with God. Our prayers include both personal and outward focus as we do all possible to remain faithful and strong in our faith and actions as taught by by our Lord through the BIble.

The KCC congregation is often brought together in prayer service throughout the week with communications from our Church office, Elders and Ministers regarding individuals and circumstances needing our support. If you know of a situation needing this most personal and powerful ministry, please contact the Church office or one of the KCC Elders.

6 February 2012

A Reading from the Book of Acts John 3

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Some Thoughts from Dawn Weaks

A guy named Nicodemus was curious about Jesus. He was a wealthy, religious man who was supposed to know everything about God already…Jesus told Nicodemus that if he wanted to know more about God, he had to be born again…Nicodemus took him literally…

Of course, what Jesus meant was, you’ve got to start fresh…

Maybe it’s easier to become a follower of Jesus if you don’t have anything to lose. But when you’ve already established yourself in the world and you’ve spent a lifetime becoming who you are, that’s a lot to risk.

What if the new things you learn about God mean you have to change some things in your life? What if you need to start over in the way you spend your money? What if you have to begin again in the way you relate to your enemies? What if this means a whole new path for your career?

Eventually, Nicodemus became a follower of Jesus…He chose to start over…But Nicodemus had to think about this for a while. Maybe you do, too.

A Time of Prayer for You

Find a picture of yourself as a small child.

As you look at it, can you remember that you were once eager and open to learn all you could about God, the world, and your place in it? If necessary, can you pray about the opportunity to be that way again as an adult?

Do you need to ask for the courage to start over with God wherever you need a new beginning?

18 January 2012

A Time of Prayer

A Reading from the Book of Acts Chapter 5

26At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the (leading followers of Jesus). They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

27Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin (religious council) to be questioned by the high priest. 28"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."

29Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!

30 “The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

Some Thoughts from Dawn Weaks

After Jesus was killed, many of his followers proclaimed that they saw him alive again… Seeing Jesus alive again empowered Jesus’ followers to act very boldly. They stood up against government and religious authorities that tried to silence them (as seen in the passage above)… They believed that no one but God had true authority over them.

Who has authority over you? Or, what has authority over you?

Here’s one way to tell who is in charge of your life. Look at three things: what you spend your money on, what you spend your time on, and what you worry about…

Imagine being employed but not knowing who your boss is…Not knowing who your supervisor is would cause a great deal of stress. “Am I supposed to do what this person says, or what that person says?”…

Christians take the bold stance that only one Authority is truly worthy to be ultimately in charge of us: God, who is revealed in Jesus Christ…So when Christians say, “Jesus is Lord!” that means out of all the people and things that want our loyalty, our loyalty is to Jesus first. We are free to follow Jesus no matter what anyone else says! The Bible calls this freedom being “saved.”

A Time of Prayer for You

Get out your calendar, your checking account statement, and your credit card statement. Looking at what you find there, what are some of the allegiances competing for your loyalty?

Take what you notice to God in prayer.

17 November 2011

Below is a simple guide to reflection and prayer. Each guide contains a Scripture passage, an excerpt from a respected book chosen for its topic, and a leading question or two for you to consider in thought and prayer.

Kingwood Christian Church is part of the denomination called the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Disciples are a mainline denomination trying to re-envision ourselves for the 21st century. Michael Slaughter is the pastor of a United Methodist mainline congregation that has engaged in a process of re-envisioning and revitalization. Slaughter’s reflections are drawn from his book “Spiritual Entrepreneurs”.

A Time of Prayer

A reading from Luke 9 (The Message)

(Jesus) went on, "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the religious leaders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and on the third day be raised up alive."

Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?”

A Thought from Michael Slaughter, lead pastor of Ginghamsburg Church

It costs something to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It costs something to be committed to his Body…

Jesus was always telling people to calculate the cost. He was not a pop psychologist, hawking a gospel of individualistic positive thinking. He was calling people to be part of a covenant community, a counter culture. Membership would involve forsaking individual goals and agendas for the sake of a higher purpose – the kingdom of God…

Many churches today see membership in the church in the same context as membership in a community club…The Son of God did not give his life for (this)…When a church gets serious about renewal, it begins to ask new questions about the responsibilities of membership…(and) the costs of discipleship.

A Time of Prayer for You

What does it cost to become a doctor or an architect?

What does it cost to become a skilled chef or quarterback?

What does it cost to become an eagle scout or a marine?

What does it cost to become a faithful, giving, positive member of a family?

What does it cost to become a healthy, growing member of Christ’s people?

What good gifts have been put into your life to enjoy and to share with others as you seek to follow Jesus and represent him well?

Seek God’s guidance and love for all you are and all you hope to be.

Previous Guides to Reflection and Prayer