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OUR COMMITMENT AT NORTHLAKE CHURCH

CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF PRAYER

GROWING INTO A FLOURISHING COMMUNITY

THE VALUE OF PRAYER

At Northlake, five values express and strengthen our vision to “Love Jesus, Bring Hope.” Prayer, Discipleship, Authenticity, Kingdom and Generosity are the practices we hold  dear. Prayer must be the foundation of all we do. Prayer is beyond just requesting things from God. We define prayer as intimacy with God that leads to fulfilling His purposes. Consequently, prayer expresses our relationship with God because he is worthy, and we are needy. Prayer fuels our mission of being Christ’s witness locally and globally.

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In the Gospels, there are numerous times Jesus modeled and instructed his disciples to pray. Jesus expected His followers to pray.  We see the pattern of the first church in the  Book of Acts. The Church began in a prayer meeting in Acts 1:14 “All these were continually united in prayer.”

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Prayer was a regular part of their daily ministry (Acts 2:42-47; 3:1; 6:4).  Thirty-two times prayer is mentioned in the Book of Acts.

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Studies show that only 5% of churches in America have a culture of prayer. It is the missing ingredient in the church today. We desire to be a praying church, not merely one that prays. A praying church has a culture of prayer. This translates into the church's habits, language, and everyday life.

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The Bible clearly teaches the necessity of personal and corporate prayer. Praying together was the practice of the New Testament Church. There is more demonstrated and taught in praying together than in private prayer. Thus, we include praying together as a regular part of our gatherings.

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PRAYING WITH YOUR CHURCH FAMILY

We believe that every age group should pray. Students pray together when they gather on Sunday nights and join with the greater church family. Our children will experience praying together when they meet. In our northlake@home lobby fixture, we have a family prayer guide resource to take home and use to make prayer an intentional part of your family's daily rhythm. Our resource store also has several books available for purchase on the topic of prayer for kids.

Our D-Groups gather regularly and include prayer as part of each meeting. One of the most  helpful practices for a married couple is praying together. In the gift bags for each couple who visits Northlake is a copy of the book 21 Days of Prayer for Couples. It is a helpful tool for couples to begin the habit of praying together. The book is also available for any couple in our church. We also recommend the book 21 Days of Transforming Prayer to enhance one’s prayer life. 

OPPORTUNITIES TO PRAY TOGETHER

  • THE NATURE OF GOD
    We believe in one God, creator and sustainer of the universe, who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and we affirm His desire to be intimately involved in the lives of men and women. God as Creator: Genesis 1:1; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalms 33:6, Psalms 102:25; Jeremiah 10:12; Acts 17:24-25; Hebrews 11:3 God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 28:19-20; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 20-21 Man Created in God’s Image for Fellowship with Him: Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 5:2; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3
  • THE SCRIPTURES
    We believe Scripture to be the inspired Word of God, without any mixture of error in the original writings, and that they are the complete and final authority for the life and practice of all who follow Christ. Exodus 34:27-28; 2 Samuel 23:2; Romans 15:4; Hebrews 1:2; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21
  • THE NATURE OF HUMANITY
    We believe all men and women to be created in the image of God for the purpose of fellowship with Him, and that we have all forfeited that fellowship because each of us, according to our nature and by acts of our wills, have rejected God. Man Created in God’s Image for Fellowship with Him: Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 5:2; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3 The Result of Sin: Psalms 14:1-3; Psalms 51:5; Romans 5:12-14;Romans 7:5; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:19-21; Ephesians 2:1-5; Jeremiah 7:9
  • THE NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST
    We believe in Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, who in His nature is both fully human and fully divine, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus’ Human Nature: Luke 2:6-7; John 1:14; Matthew 1:20; Luke 2:52; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 4:2. Jesus’ Divine Nature: John 1:1-4; 1 John 5:20; John 1:18, Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:25; John 5:18; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:5-6; Colossians 2:9-10; Hebrews 1:3; 2 Peter 1:1
  • THE NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST’S DEATH
    We believe that as an ultimate act of God’s love Christ came to earth, lived a sinless life and accepted upon Himself the penalty for our sin through His death on the cross. Isaiah 53:5-6; Matthew 20:28; John 3:14-15; Romans 5:6-8; Galatians 3:15; Colossians 2:13-15;1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2
  • THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
    We believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ and accept it as an affirmation of His power over death and promise of eternal life for those who place their faith in Him. Romans 1:1-4; Romans 4:25; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Ephesians 1:18-21; 1 Peter 1:3-4; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 28:1-11; Luke 8:31-33; Luke 24:45-47; Luke 2:19-22; Acts 2:24; Acts 13:31; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
  • ETERNAL LIFE
    We believe that God freely offers eternal life to anyone who would place his or her faith in Christ and that this comes as God’s gift to us apart from our own merits or standards of righteousness. We believe that all true believers, once they have placed their faith in Christ, are kept secure in Him forever. Eternal Life: Romans 6:23; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 5:24; John 11:25; John 20:31; Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 5:11-13; Titus 3:5; John 10:10 Eternal Security: John 10:28-29; John 4:13-14; John 6:35, 37, 39; Romans 11:29; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:13-14
  • THE HOLY SPIRIT
    We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who indwells, directs, and enables those who are in Christ and endows the body of Christ with supernatural gifts for the accomplishment of His purpose and ministry. Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 8:9, 11, 26; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 2:22; 1 Corinthians 12:2-11; John 14:16-18, 26; John 16:7-8; Acts 1:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
  • THE BAPTISM AND FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
    We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at the moment one places his or her faith in Christ and is the act through which a new believer is incorporated into the body of Christ. We believe that the fullness of the Holy Spirit occurs as a believer willingly turns from sin and yields to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in his or her life. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit: Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; John 7:38-39; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:3-6 The Fullness of the Spirit: Romans 8:9; Romans 8:13-15; Galatians 5:16-17,25; Galatians 6:7-8; Colossians 3:15
  • THE CHURCH
    We believe that the Church exists universally, is made up of all those who have come to faith in Christ and expresses itself in local congregations who have banded together to glorify Christ in their lives and ministry. Church as Body of Christ: 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 2:19-22; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Acts 2:42-47 Church Expressed in Local Bodies: 2 Corinthians 8:23; Galatians 1:2; Acts 8:1; Acts 13:1; Acts 18:22; Acts 20:17; Romans 16:1-5
  • THE ORDINANCES
    We believe that the Lord Jesus instituted the ordinances of baptism and Lord’s Supper (Communion) to be observed by all believers until His return. We believe that baptism is not necessary for salvation but is a public testimony of the believer’s personal relationship to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and is therefore an essential act of Christian commitment. Baptism: Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:37-41; Acts 8:12, 36-38; Acts 10:47-48; Acts 16:31-33; Acts 22:14-16; Mark 16:16 Nature of Water Baptism: 1 Peter 3:21-22; Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16, Acts 22:16 Lord’s Supper: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16; Luke 22:14-19; Acts 2:42
  • HEAVEN AND HELL
    We believe in a literal heaven and hell and that all men and women are eternal beings who either spend eternity in God’s presence as a result of their faith in Jesus Christ or separated from God because of their rejection of Christ. Heaven: Isaiah 66:1; John 14:2-3; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 23:6; Psalms 73:24-26; Matthew 6:20; Luke 23:43; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 21:23-27 Hell: Isaiah 66:24;Matthew 10:28; 25:46; Luke 16:23-26; Romans 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; Mark 9:43
  • RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST
    We live in anticipation of the Lord’s promised and bodily return. Matthew 16:26-27; Matthew 24:30-31; Matthew 25:31-33; Luke 9:26; Luke 12:40; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
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LEARNING MORE ABOUT PRAYER

Throughout the calendar year, we will offer different training settings to our church family. These may take place on a Friday evening and Saturday morning.

We believe meaningful prayer begins with Scripture. We call this time scripture-fed, Spirit-led worship-based prayer. Much can be taught about prayer but learning to pray comes by experience.

In our teaching sessions, we will pray because experience is necessary with information.

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MORE THAN OPENING & CLOSING PRAYER

One will observe that we have more than an invocation and benediction in our services. There will be several times in each service when we pray. Sometimes, we ask people to pray together if they are comfortable.

We instruct them to pray in short sentences or thoughts so that no one is intimidated by long prayers, giving more people the opportunity to pray. But, of course, we encourage people to pray by themselves if they are more comfortable.

We believe a worship service should be more than just listening and watching. Worship is participatory.

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SHARE YOUR HEART WITH NORTHLAKE CHURCH

JOIN THE PRAYER TEAM

Our prayer team is composed of people in our church who desire to pray over our weekly requests, pray with people, and be part of the prayer room during the service. Instructions are provided for those who join the team.

 

You may email Dennis@mynorthlake.com or call the office if you desire to be part of the prayer team. We provide regular training times to be on the prayer team.

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