Month: July 2020

Pray that OCC and other churches in Orillia will be known for their love.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14

Prayer that every person at OCC will as Paul says in Ephesians 4, “be built up… become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13

Prayer that as God’s people we will minister together with humility, gentleness and patience, showing love to each other in the bond of peace.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3

Pray that God’s church will understand that God encourages and celebrates diversity within the body of Christ.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work… Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 12

Jesus prayed for his followers to be one in him and the father. Pray that this will be true for God’s people here in Orillia and around the world.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 17:20-21

Pray that the church (OCC, in Orillia, around the world) be free from division and reflect what it means to be “united in mind and thought” in Jesus.

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 1:10-13

May we, as individuals, as OCC, as the church in the city, do nothing from selfishness or foolish pride, but have the same mind, same love as Jesus.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:1-4

Announcing the gospel is about the whole gospel, may we do this with boldness and gentleness.

You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Acts 20:20-21