Mark 10:1-12

10 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.

Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

“What did Moses command you?” he replied.

They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

Prayer Focus for Czech Republic – Sunday, May 29

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Challenges for Prayer

There are new ministry challenges in the new Czech Republic. With many younger people leaving to work in other lands and a low birthrate, the population is increasingly aged. This requires new and specific approaches to ministry. Likewise, increasing numbers of immigrants are coming into the country – especially Russian speakers and East and Southeast Asians. These groups also need loving and focused outreach tailored to their needs and communities.

Special ministries can potentially touch almost every aspect of society:

a) Young people ask questions unanswered by traditional religion. SU (primary schools), IFES/VBH (groups in several universities) and Youth Outreach, an indigenous ministry, focus on the younger generation. Also, teaching English and summer camps (speaking Czech, German and English) impact young people. Pray for enthusiastic workers and much fruit.

b) Christian literature is increasing in distribution and scope. The Bible Society sells large numbers of Bibles and NTs and has opened its first permanent Bible House. Navrat Domu, Nova Nadeje and other publishing houses increasingly produce Christian materials in Czech; discipleship and apologetic materials are important, as is development of Czech Christian authors. The Bible in Czech is available (text and audio) on the Internet. A new Czech Bible translation in everyday modern language (called Bible21) was completed in 2009 and became a national bestseller that year. The vision is to see one million copies distributed in coming years. Pray for the fulfilment of this ambitious vision.

c) Christian radio and TV programmes are going from strength to strength. There is now a Czech Christian TV station (TV Noe); Christian programmes are increasingly aired on state television. Pray for continued growth and funding. TWR (transmitting globally and locally), HCJB Global (via Internet) and Radio 7 all provide excellent programming in Czech and other languages. The JESUS film has been translated into these languages as well and has enjoyed a wide viewership.

Mark 9:38-50

Mark 9:38-50

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Prayer Focus for Cuba – Sunday, May 22

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Cuba, The Caribbean: Foreign missions are largely restricted to tactful support and occasional visits from outside the country. A few workers remain in low-profile teaching ministry; others visit to train church leaders in all aspects of ministry. The government blacklisted dozens of foreign organizations, one way of denying precious resources to the national Church. Pray that wise input from abroad will serve Cuba in an effective way. For more information, go to www.operationworld.org.

Mark 9:30-37

Mark 9:30-37

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Prayer Focus for Croatia – Sunday, May 15

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Croatia, Europe: Evangelicals are one of the few groups that straddle the ethnic divide. Many Bosnians, Croats and Serbs have been won to Christ and brought into fellowship together. The churches’ and missions’ care and love for those who suffered in the war won much credit for the gospel. Pray that evangelicals would continue to demonstrate the boundary-breaking, universal love of God.

Believing churches are spreading. Though still relatively small in size and number, new fellowships are popping up around the country,

For more information, go to www.operationworld.org.

 

Prayer Focus for Cote D’Ivoire – Sunday, May 8

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Cote d’Ivoire, Africa: Christian literature. Pray for the bookstores and depots of various missions, including The Bible Society, Maison de la Bible, CLC, CDM and others. Pray for the inter-mission/church Evangelical Publication Centre (CPE) and other publishers, that they might find the means to print books locally at a suitable quality. Currently, many books are printed in Asia or elsewhere. Well-intentioned efforts by outside ministries to sell their literature at subsidized prices keep African authors from publishing more relevant Christian works – because they cannot compete with these lower-priced books. Also needing prayer: lack of qualified staff (especially French-speaking), financial pressures and lack of good distribution outlets and marketing strategies. For more information, go to www.operationworld.org.

 

Mark 9:14-29

Mark 9:14-29

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

 

Prayer Focus for Comoros – Sunday, May 1

Comoros, Africa: The quiet witness of Christian medical and veterinary workers in the Republic and on Mayotte has won credit and public honor as well as opportunities to share the Lord Jesus with the people. Pray for continued and increased opportunities for witness and that such may bear fruit.

Christian resources. The JESUS film is available in Shimaore and Shingazidja. The NT is available in Shimaore, and portions are available in Shingazidja. Radio has been effective in introducing Comorians to Christ and discipling them, although programs are not yet available in Comorian. Pray that all these tools will be a blessing to Comorians, and pray for two more film translations that are needed but not yet started. For more information go to www.operationworld.org.

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Mark 9:1-13

1 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”