CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS

Teach Us To Pray — “Father In Heaven” Introduction: Why We Need to Learn to Pray Coleton begins with a simple but relatable picture: his son Teddy not enjoying golf because he doesn’t know how to play. “I’d enjoy it more if I knew how to hit it.” That insight becomes the doorway into the entire series—many people don’t enjoy prayer because they don’t know how to do it. The goal of this teaching is not just to inform people about prayer, but to help them experience joy in it. Coleton introduces the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) as the foundation—a short, 31-word prayer in its original language, yet deep enough to shape a lifetime of communion with God. Key Quote: “The Lord’s prayer is simple enough to be memorized by small children and yet profound enough to sustain a whole lifetime of prayer.” — Justin Welby Coleton explains that this prayer is both: A pattern (Matthew: “pray like this”) A prayer to be repeated (Luke 11:2: “when you pray, say…”) Key Quote: “We can either use each phrase as a handrail… or pray exactly these words thoughtfully.” — Frederick Dale Bruner This series will walk through the prayer line by line, beginning with the first phrase: “Our Father in heaven.” 1. Remember Who You’re Talking To (Matthew 6:9) Coleton emphasizes that Jesus begins prayer by reshaping our understanding of God. Before anything else, we must remember: we are speaking to a Father. A Radical Shift in Prayer Jesus adapts a traditional Jewish prayer (the Kaddish), which begins by magnifying God’s name—but instead of starting there, Jesus begins with relationship: Father. This is intentional. Jesus is not removing God’s holiness—He is making Him personally accessible. Key Quote: “Pray to God more intimately than you think you’re allowed.” — Tyler Staton The word Abba reflects deep closeness—not childish, but deeply personal. Coleton illustrates this with his son calling him “pop-pop”—a name that reflects relationship, not just title. Why This Matters How we perceive God determines how we pray: If we think He’s angry → we become guarded If we think He’s disappointed → we withdraw If we think He’s distant → we disengage Key Quote: “Most people’s biggest problem with prayer is God Himself… scowling, perpetually disapproving…” — Pete Greig Jesus corrects this: you are approaching the safest, most loving presence you’ve ever known. If we don’t start here, we won’t pray freely, consistently, or joyfully. 2. Because He is Father — It Shapes How We Talk to God Coleton addresses a common barrier: “I don’t know what to say.” Through a deeply personal story about his son’s speech delay, he reveals a powerful truth: a father doesn’t care how polished the words are—he just wants to hear his child’s voice. That becomes the central image Jesus wants us to carry into prayer. Freedom Over Formula While tools like A.C.T.S. or P.R.A.Y. can help, Coleton warns against turning prayer into a rigid system. We don’t talk to people we love using formulas—so why would we do that with God? Prayer is meant to be: Natural Relational Honest Free You can: Talk about your day Share your highs and lows Express frustration or confusion Sit in silence Even biblical examples support this: The Psalms are full of raw emotion Job questions and wrestles with God Coleton makes a key distinction: Complaining to God is prayer Complaining about God is grumbling God desires the first. 3. Because He is Father — It Shapes What We Expect from God Coleton then shifts from how we speak to what we expect. Expectation #1: We Should Expect More Scripture: “How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” — Matthew 7:9–11 Jesus teaches that God’s generosity surpasses even the best human parents. Coleton challenges a common hesitation: feeling guilty for asking God for things. Many people hold back because they think their needs are too small or too selfish. But a loving father doesn’t shame his child for asking. He shares a po

Learning to Pray Introduction: Coleton begins by sharing personally that 10 years ago he didn’t know how to pray—and honestly didn’t think it mattered. But everything shifted when he encountered people who genuinely loved prayer and believed this simple truth: People who pray will experience more from God and with God than people who don’t. That statement reframed everything. Coleton points out that prayer is not something we naturally know how to do—it must be learned. But the encouraging truth is: it can be learned. He highlights something powerful from the Gospels: the disciples never asked Jesus to teach them how to preach, perform miracles, or lead—but they did ask Him to teach them how to pray. Why? Because they saw something in Jesus’ relationship with the Father that they wanted. Over the past 10 years, Coleton shares that he has experienced more of God than in the previous 29 years of his life—and he attributes that largely to learning to pray. Quote: “The greatest undiscovered area in the resources of God is in the place of prayer… you cannot estimate the power of prayer. Prayer is as vast as God because God is behind it.” — Leonard Ravenhill This sets up the main idea: Jesus wants to teach us how to pray, and in doing so, invite us into a deeper experience with God. 1. God Wants to Actually Meet with You Coleton’s first point is simple but profound: Prayer is about relationship, not performance. Main Idea God is not distant or disinterested—He is eager to meet with you anytime you intentionally turn your attention toward Him. Bible Passage “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen…” — Matthew 6:6 Coleton explains that Jesus is not giving a rigid rule about location but emphasizing intentionality. The “room” and “closed door” represent focused, personal connection. Key Insight: God gives His attention to any place of intention. Any moment you intentionally turn toward God—whether in a quiet room, your car, during chores, or even a quick pause in a stressful meeting—He meets you there. Coleton illustrates this with real-life examples, including stepping away during a difficult meeting just to “steal a moment” with God. Even a few seconds becomes sacred when it’s intentional. He also shares the story of Susanna Wesley, who used her apron over her head as a “prayer closet” while raising 19 children—showing that the “secret place” is less about location and more about focus. Quote: “The Father has a special affinity for ‘the secret place’… He is continuously watching there.” — Frederick Dale Bruner Takeaway You don’t have to go somewhere special to meet with God.Any place becomes sacred when you choose to seek Him. 2. Your Prayers Can Be Very Short The second thing Jesus teaches is deeply freeing: Prayer does not need to be long to be effective. Bible Passage “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans…” — Matthew 6:7–8 Main Idea You don’t have to earn God’s attention with long, impressive prayers—you already have it. Coleton contrasts Jesus’ teaching with pagan beliefs of the time, where people thought they had to “fatigue the gods” with long prayers to be heard. Quote: “The pagan rule to get your prayer heard is ‘much.’” — Frederick Dale Bruner Jesus completely dismantles this idea. God is not reluctant—He is a loving Father who is already attentive. Key Insight Because God already hears you, prayer can be as simple as: “Help.” “Thank you.” “I’m sorry.” “I need you.” Coleton shares a relatable analogy: if every phone call with a friend required an hour, you’d hesitate to answer—but if it could be brief, you’d engage more often. Prayer works the same way. When we realize prayer doesn’t require long stretches of time, we actually pray more. Quote: “It is a relief to know that the Father… is not a reluctant listener.” — Frederick Dale Bruner“Much prayer is not the mediator to God; Jesus is.” Coleton also addresses persistence in prayer, clarifyin

From our April 12, 2026 service. 

Sermon Summary: The Resurrection Changes Everything1. A Case for the ResurrectionColeton begins by challenging the assumption that belief in Jesus’ resurrection requires blind faith. Instead, he invites us to consider the evidence—to think critically and honestly about why the resurrection of Jesus has endured throughout history.He introduces a fascinating comparison: the Roman emperor Nero. Nero was powerful, widely known, and ruled the known world—yet today, almost no one has heard of any “resurrection story” about him. In contrast, Jesus was a poor, obscure Jewish carpenter with a short ministry, no political power, and no army—yet His resurrection is known worldwide.Coleton’s point is simple but profound:If false resurrection stories fade into obscurity (like Nero’s), why has Jesus’ resurrection endured and spread across the globe?This forces an honest question:Is it possible that the reason we still talk about Jesus’ resurrection… is because it actually happened?He emphasizes that Jesus does not call people to blind faith. In fact, Jesus rebukes His own disciples—not for lacking blind belief—but for refusing to believe credible eyewitness testimony.Key Scripture:“He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.” (Mark 16:14)Jesus expected them to weigh the evidence.Coleton connects this to how faith grows:Supporting Scripture:“Consider the lilies of the field… consider the birds of the air…” (Matthew 6)Faith is not anti-thinking—it is formed through considering. Jesus invites us to look at evidence, reflect, and respond.Key Quote:“The question we should all consider is why we’ve ever heard of Jesus… Christianity rose from the dead because Christ did.” – Glen ScrivenerMain takeaway:Faith in the resurrection is not a leap into the dark—it’s a step toward the light based on compelling evidence.2. What the Resurrection Inaugurated in the WorldColeton shifts from proving the resurrection to explaining its meaning.He points to a prophetic vision of the world found in Isaiah—a future where everything broken is restored:Key Scripture:“The wolf will live with the lamb… they will neither harm nor destroy… for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:6–9)This is a picture of a restored world—like Eden renewed:● No injustice● No violence● No sickness● No chaosKey Insight:The resurrection of Jesus is not just proof of life after death—it is the beginning of that restored world breaking into our current one.When Jesus speaks after His resurrection, He uses similar imagery:Key Scripture:“These signs will accompany those who believe… they will drive out demons… speak in new tongues… place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:17–18)Jesus is describing a reality where:● Evil is pushed back● Healing happens● Restoration beginsKey Quote:“A fresh, wise, healing, restorative order had come to birth.” – N.T. WrightColeton’s main idea here:The resurrection didn’t just promise a future heaven—it launched a new reality now. Those who follow Jesus begin to experience glimpses of that future restoration in their present lives.He points to examples:● The early church sharing resources so no one was in need● Social barriers breaking down (rich/poor, male/female, slave/free)● People being healed, freed, and transformedEven today, lives are changed—addictions broken, identities restored, relationships healed.Main takeaway:The resurrection means the future kingdom of God is already breaking into the present—and believers can experience it now.3. How We Should Respond: Expect and Pursue RestorationIf the resurrection inaugurated a new reality, then our lives should reflect that.A. Pray with ExpectationJesus taught us to pray for God’s kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven.” That means we should:● Pray for healing● Pray for restoration● Pray expecting God to moveWe are not working against God’s will—we are stepping

The Death of Jesus Coleton begins by grounding this moment in something deeply human: watching someone die changes you. He shares the memory of watching his grandfather pass away—the sights, the sounds, the emotions—and how it stayed with him. That kind of moment doesn’t fade; it marks you. That’s exactly what happens to the Roman centurion in this passage. He watches Jesus die, and it changes everything. For the first time in the Gospel account, a human being—an unlikely one at that—declares: “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39) Up to this point, only God Himself has called Jesus His Son. Now a hardened Roman soldier sees it—and worships. Coleton’s main idea: we are meant to be marked by the death of Jesus in the same way.And to help us see that, he draws out three realities revealed in Jesus’ death. 1. God is Demonstrating His Love for Us What We See in the Text Coleton points to verses 16–32, where Jesus is: Mocked Beaten Spit on Lied about Crucified Insulted even while dying And who is doing this? Religious leaders (hypocrites) Soldiers (abusers) Criminals (rebels) Bystanders (mockers) His own executioners These are the people Jesus is dying for. “Christ died for the ungodly… While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6–8) “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) Coleton’s Main Point This is not just Jesus being loving—this is God demonstrating His love. God is showing, in the clearest possible way, what He feels about sinners—not after they clean themselves up, but while they are still broken, rebellious, and undeserving. Application You do not have to earn God’s love. His love is not based on your behavior—it cannot be, or the cross makes no sense. He already loves you at your worst. Coleton presses into a common lie:We often believe God doesn’t really love us. He traces this lie through Scripture: Genesis – The serpent convinces Adam and Eve that God is holding out on them. Numbers – Israel believes God is trying to harm them, not bless them. The Rich Young Ruler – He walks away from Jesus, not trusting His love. In every case, distrusting God’s love leads to missing life. Key Insight The cross is meant to be a permanent marker in your life: God loves you this much. So when God leads, commands, or corrects—it is always coming from love, not control or cruelty. 2. God is Being Incredibly Merciful to Us What We See in the Text (vv. 33–37) Darkness covers the land Jesus cries out:“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus breathes His last These are not random მოვლენ—they are loaded with meaning. Coleton Connects This to the Bigger Story Exile from God’s Presence In Genesis, sin leads to exile. Here, Jesus experiences that exile:“Why have you forsaken me?” Judgment Through Darkness In Exodus, darkness was a plague of judgment. Now darkness falls again—this time as Jesus bears judgment. The Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:6–9) People sinned → were bitten → dying God said: Look at the symbol of judgment lifted up, and live Jesus connects this to Himself: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake… so the Son of Man must be lifted up…” (John 3:14–18) Coleton’s Main Point Jesus is taking the full judgment and punishment for sin. Not part of it. Not most of it.All of it. Application Most Christians say: “Jesus died for my sins.” But Coleton challenges: we don’t live like we believe that. We still think: “God is punishing me for that mistake.” “This bad thing happened because I sinned.” “I’m not sure God will forgive me this time.” But Coleton makes it clear: God already punished sin—fully—in Jesus. There is nothing left for you to pay. Quotes to Drive This Home “He lives for this… When you come to Christ for mercy… you are going with the flow of His deepest wishes.” — Dane Ortlund “I am a sinner… but my Savior has died for all my sins… His blood is sufficient.” — (Martin Luther, paraphrased) Key Insight Jesus is no