Vision Sunday 2026

Mark 11:15-19 

¹⁵ And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. ¹⁶ And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. ¹⁷ And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” ¹⁸ And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. ¹⁹ And when evening came they went out of the city.

 I. The Church Must Be a House of Prayer

Mark 11:17 . ¹⁷ And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 

A. Prayer Is Foundational, Not Optional 

Jesus did not say My house should include prayer. He said My house shall BE a house of prayer. Prayer is not a ministry of the church, it is the identity and fuel  of the church.

B. Prayer Must Be the Priority

When prayer is not first, everything else gets out of order.

C. A Passionate Desire Must Remove Unholy Hindrances

Jesus didn’t casually rearrange the temple, He cleansed it. Anything that competes with prayer must be confronted.

D. The Church Must Be a Place Where All Can Encounter God

Jesus said, “for all nations” Prayer removes barriers. A praying church is an inviting church.

E. The Church Must Be Identified by Prayerful Communion

 Our identity marker is relationship, not religious activity.

F. A Devotion to Prayer Must Be Intentional

Acts 2:42

 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Prayer does not automatically become elevated. It is chosen and practiced. 

“Churches would not see significant improvement until prayer meetings occupied a higher place in the hearts of believers.”

Charles Spurgeon

II. Prayer Must Be Cultivated in the Individual Temple

A. Corporate Power Comes from Personal Communion

You must develop your prayer life to be an effective follower of Christ.

If there is no communion in private, there will be no power in public.

“I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.”

Charles Spurgeon

III. Prayer Releases the Heart of Heaven on Earth

Acts 4: 23-24 & 28-31

²³ When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,….²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰ while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

A. The Early Church Knew Who They Had Access To

They did not pray out of panic; they prayed out of confidence in a sovereign God.

B. Three Things They Prayed For

1. Renewed courage and boldness to preach the Word

2. Continuous filling of the Holy Spirit

3. Healing power, signs, and wonders

C. The Results of a Praying Church

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

1. The place was shaken

2. They were filled with the Holy Spirit

3. They spoke the Word of God with boldness

Prayer did not just change the atmosphere; it activated the mission.

Application: Measuring a House of Prayer

Vision must be measurable or it is still inspirational Rhetoric.

Personal

A minimum of 15 minutes daily in individual prayer with the Lord

Family

Families setting aside one intentional time of prayer each week

Church

Every department from Kids to Youth, Small Groups to Adults elevates prayer.

100 people prioritizing the monthly prayer meeting

20 new baptisms in the Holy Spirit

Community

Pray for one person in the community each week

Increased salvations through community encounters

Closing:  

1.Will you commit to participation in making this house a house of prayer this year?