Fruit trees are for fruit. Pretty straightforward, right? We plant fruit trees because we want fruit.
What are churches for? Why do we plant churches?
The answer according to Mark 11 is prayer. “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
When Jesus said that, he was quoting a passage from Isaiah 56:6-7.
And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord
to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.”Isaiah 56:6-7
I see 4 qualities in the prayer described here for the house of God:
- It’s diverse “foreigners . . . all nations”
- It’s obedient “who hold fast to my covenant”
- It’s joyful “give them joy in my house of prayer”
- It’s God centered “to minister to him”
One of the primary places we pray together is at the building Sunday mornings at 9:20AM. Join us this Sunday and fill up the Lord’s house with joyful prayers!
Tom Brown is the planting pastor of Vintage Faith Church in Wichita. Tom and his wife, Mandy, have worked together in ministry for 18 years and have four children. More about Pastor Tom Brown