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February 22 Lenten Week 1 Week 7 of Quest 52 1. Luke 19:10: "For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” NLT As we’ve read this week in Quest 52, Jesus led a life of purpose. As we reflect on our purpose, pray that God will soften our hearts for those that do not know Him. Pray that God will instill within us a desire to take a special interest in the marginalized in our community, showing us how to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 2. Luke 15:4: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?” NLT As we continue to study the life of Jesus, pray that God will instill within us a passion for the one lost sheep. Just as Jesus cares about the ninety-nine in the fold, that one lost lamb gets his attention every time. Pray that God will give us the tenacity to not give up praying for the lost and to prioritize the one lost sheep, not the ninety-nine. 3. John 3:16: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” NLT Father God, during this season of lent as we reflect on your love for us, help us to love others as you have first loved us. That love may take the form of forgiving others who have wronged us or maybe that love sends us to the ends of the earth to those that don’t know about you. Father, help us to boldly show your love to others.

February 26 Lenten Week 2 Week 8 of Quest 52 1. Luke 18:31-33: “Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’” NIV Jesus talked with His disciples about what was going to happen to Him, the very purpose for which God sent Him into the world. The disciples, however, did not understand what He was talking about. Pray that God will give us hearts that can understand what Jesus did for us. Ask Him to help us share what we understand about His death, burial, and resurrection with others in our community who have never heard that Jesus died for them. 2. Mark 10:45: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” NIV Jesus had a two-fold purpose in coming to earth: (1) to serve and (2) to give his life as a ransom. Pray that God will transform us from self-serving individuals to people who delight in serving others. Ask God to thrust us out into the community to serve our neighbors in the greatest way possible -- that of sharing the Good News that Jesus died for their sins. 3. Matthew 20:25-27: “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.’” NIV Dear God, please teach us to be servant-hearted, and to put others before ourselves. Help us to incorporate in our lives the servant leadership that Jesus practiced. Give each of us a servant’s heart like the heart that took Jesus to the cross. Please change our hearts to want what You want rather than what we want. Teach us to serve by interceding for others around the block and around the world…until the entire world knows that Jesus saves. Give us a passion to see the Great Commission fulfilled.

March 5 Lenten Week 3 Week 9 of Quest 52 1. Luke 5:10-11: " . . . then Jesus said to Simon, 'Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.' So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him." NIV As we read in Quest 52 this week, we have been called by God, not just for salvation but for service. We have been called to seek and save the lost. This is our purpose, our mission. Pray that we may be like the disciples, cast our fears aside, and leave everything that entangles us to fulfill our purpose. Pray that we too may be fishers of men. 2. I Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” NIV We are called and are chosen to declare His praises, the One who brought us out of darkness into His wonderful light. May we remember the contrast between the darkness of our past lives and His Wonderful Light. Pray that we will be in continual praise for our transformation from darkness to light. Pray that we will share this transformation with others so that they too can experience His Wonderful Light. 3. 1 Peter 4:10: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." NIV Father, we thank you for our call to salvation, and may we never forget our call to service. Give us a servant’s heart to serve others with the gifts you have given us. Help us to be faithful in our service. Help us to seek ways that we can serve you and share your love with those around us and around the world.

March 12 Lenten Week 4 Week 10 of Quest 52 1. 1Corinthains 12:12-13: “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” NIV84 We read this week in Quest 52 that Jesus’s family, the Church, is composed of many types of people from a variety of backgrounds with a multitude of gifts and abilities. But despite the differences, all believers have one thing in common - faith in Christ. In this essential truth, the Church (family) finds unity. All believers are baptized by one Holy Spirit into one body of believers, the church. Let us pray that this body of believers here at OCC come together as one big family using our gifts and abilities to build each other up and welcome all into Jesus’s family, the Church. 2. Ephesians 2:14: “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” NIV 84 Ephesians 3:6: “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” NIV84 Christ has destroyed the barriers people have built between themselves. Because these walls have been removed, we can have real unity with people who are not like us. This is true reconciliation. Because of Christ’s death, we are all one. Let us pray for real unity of God’s people. Pray that, as members of God’s household sharing together in the promise of Christ Jesus, we may help to spread the word of God to all people groups all over the world, thus building a bridge to connect all God’s people together as one family in Christ Jesus. 3. Colossians 3:11-14: “Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” The Christian church should have no barriers of nationality, race, education level, social standing, wealth, gender, religion, or power. Christ breaks down all barriers and accepts all people who come to him. Nothing should keep us from telling others about Christ Jesus or accepting into our fellowship any and all believers. Pray that we clothe ourselves with these virtues every day making them who we really are so that we can help others find and follow Jesus.

March 19 Lenten Week 5 Week 11 of Quest 52 1. Romans 8:1: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” NLT The forgiving message of Christ is that our shame is gone, and our past no longer burdens us. We are not condemned! We are saved through the blood of Jesus. Give thanks for Jesus’ sacrifice that sets us free. 2. Luke 7: 48: “Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” NLT Give thanks to God that He has freed us from lives of sin and shame but realize that there is a world of sinners who have not yet heard that Good News. Ask our Father to instill in each of us a passion for the lost here in our community and around the world so that they may know that same freedom in Christ. 3. I Timothy 1: 15: “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.” NLT Father, give me your heart for sinners. Grow within me a passion for the lost and then prompt me to act on that passion. I am so grateful for your forgiveness. Help me to share that same joy with others.

March 26 Lenten Week 6 Week 12 of Quest 52 1. John 19:38: “Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders) …”. NLT As we’re learning this week in Quest 52, trying to be a disciple secretly doesn’t work in relation to Jesus. His sacrifice demands our total allegiance. As we go to God in prayer, ask God to forgive you for times when you have backed down from your witness. Unlike Joseph of Arimathea, pray for a bold faith and willingness to GO wherever He may lead. 2. John 3:3: “I tell you the truth unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” NLT This week we’ve learned that Jesus demands that we all be born again, humbling ourselves and putting our faith in him. Pray for humble hearts. Pray for God’s will to be done and not our own will. If submission through baptism has been a barrier, pray for open minds and for God to clearly reveal His will for you. 3. Romans 2:11: “For God does not show favoritism.” NLT Father God, we’ve learned this week that despite all of Nicodemus’ credentials, he still failed to follow you. Father, we know it is level ground at the cross and you don’t need our status or influence. Father, you desire that all people come to know you. Help us to be about your business in spreading the gospel to all parts of the globe.

April 2 Lenten Week 7 Week 13 of Quest 52 1. John 4: 29: “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” NLT As we read this week in our Quest52 Study, the Woman at the Well was not shy about sharing the Good News of Jesus. Pray that we will have the same kind of excitement about the Good News. 2. 2 Corinthians 5: 20: “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” NLT Father, show us those who need You and your redeeming grace and give us the courage to appeal to them on Your behalf. May we broadcast Your saving power to everyone that we encounter, pleading for their salvation. 3. Romans 1: 16: “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.” NLT As we approach Easter Sunday, pray that this Good News that is free for all will be proclaimed throughout the Earth and that many will come to know Him as Lord and Savior. May this proclamation begin with each of us!

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