Praying Like Paul
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Sermon text: 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
We pray to a triune God
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. -Nicene Creed
We pray to God, who is also our Father
Jn 1:11-12 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Sonship to God is not, therefore, a universal status into which everyone enters by natural birth, but a supernatural gift which one receives through receiving Jesus. - J.I. Packer
We pray persistently after failures
1 Th 2:18 “We wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.”
We pray for others
Ministers who seldom pray for their spiritual charges, or parents who seldom pray for their children, reveal either a callous indifference to the souls of those under their care or a foolish reliance on human strength. -Richard D. Phillips
The most significant thing happening in history is the calling, redeeming, and perfecting of the people of God. God is building the church of Jesus Christ. The rest of history is simply a stage God erects for that purpose. - Eric Alexander
There will come a day, when God will pull down the scaffolding of world history. Do you know what he will be pointing to when he says to the whole creation, “There is my masterpiece?” He will be pointing to the church of Jesus Christ. -Eric Alexander
Discipleship Questions:
Sermon text: 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
We pray to a triune God
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. -Nicene Creed
We pray to God, who is also our Father
Jn 1:11-12 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Sonship to God is not, therefore, a universal status into which everyone enters by natural birth, but a supernatural gift which one receives through receiving Jesus. - J.I. Packer
We pray persistently after failures
1 Th 2:18 “We wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.”
We pray for others
Ministers who seldom pray for their spiritual charges, or parents who seldom pray for their children, reveal either a callous indifference to the souls of those under their care or a foolish reliance on human strength. -Richard D. Phillips
The most significant thing happening in history is the calling, redeeming, and perfecting of the people of God. God is building the church of Jesus Christ. The rest of history is simply a stage God erects for that purpose. - Eric Alexander
There will come a day, when God will pull down the scaffolding of world history. Do you know what he will be pointing to when he says to the whole creation, “There is my masterpiece?” He will be pointing to the church of Jesus Christ. -Eric Alexander
Discipleship Questions:
- How is your prayer life lately?
- What is your biggest struggle regarding prayer?
- Paul prayed he could come see them, even after Satan prevented him from coming (1 Thes. 2:18)…
- Have you seen Satan chalk up a win lately?
- If yes, how are you responding to that?
- How much of your prayers are for spiritual growth in others?
- When we are mindful of the second coming of Jesus, how does that affect our prayers?
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