1 Thessalonians 5:25-28

📖 Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

-1 Thessalonians 5:25-28

📖 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

- Acts 2:42 NLT

📖 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

-Romans 15:30-32

📖 …for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ

- Philippians 1:19

📖 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

- 2 Corinthians 1:10-11

📖 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

- Ephesians 6:18-20

📖 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

- Colossians 4:2-4

📖 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

- 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

📖 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

- Philemon 1:22

📖 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

- Hebrews 13:18-19

📖 “Brethren, pray for us.”

- 1 Thessalonians 5:25

 The churches were so passionate about prayer that Paul simply presumed they were praying for him!

 Do we have that kind of community among us?

 What would it take to create that kind of prayer community?

 Before a church can create a community of prayer, there has to be a culture of prayer.

 What starts out as a few seeing the value, becomes a family embracing a vision.

📖 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:26

 Encyclopedia of religion & ethics: Kissing is a universal expression in the social life of higher civilizations, of the feeling of affection, love and veneration.

“anthropological writer Ernest Crawley.”

 The church had this way of welcoming one another as they shared this experience of being the “family of the forgiven”!

 Have we ever tried to hide in church?

 So many miss this most important pillar of “relationships within the church.”

 How many of us appreciate this season of Coastal Christian because we actually look to know and love each other?

 Thank you for the sacrifices you have made to make this Coastal Christian what it has now become.

 75% of our people signed up in Connect Groups!

[outrageous applause, please!]

 Accept the challenge to give the warmest hello from your heart.

 Please be a Christian that creates the connecting culture of this community!

📖 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.