This final Sabbath should be a time of great rejoicing in all that God has done for you and your church during the Ten Days of Prayer. Design your day to celebrate God’s goodness and mighty power. Consider how you have experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the past ten days. This Sabbath is an opportunity to rejoice in what He has done, is doing, and will do.
So Jesus said again, “I am telling you the truth: I am the gate for the sheep. All others who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Those who come in by me will be saved; they will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.
“I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep. When the hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away; so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. The hired man runs away because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me. And I am willing to die for them. There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them, too; they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock with one shepherd.” (GNT)
The needs of each congregation are unique, so please work with local leaders to develop a specific plan for your church. Some suggested items to include in your final Sabbath church service:
Biblical Teaching on John 10:7-16: This could be a sermon or homily, or the passage could be used as a basis for weaving together stories of how God has worked during the Ten Days of Prayer.
Testimonies: Include ample time for testimonies of answered prayer. Those who have participated in the Ten Days of Prayer should have many stories they can share with the congregation, but encourage them to be brief so that everyone can participate. Others may also have stories. It might be good to have some testimonies pre- planned, in addition to having an open sharing time.
Prayer Time: Invite the whole congregation to join in a time of united prayer. You could lead the congregation through an interactive prayer similar to what you have used throughout the week. You can pray over a specific passage together. This could be done with people in small groups or with everyone praying together. Another option would be to have several different kinds of prayer throughout the service—praying the Scriptures, small-group, individual, congregational, silent, and so on.
Singing: This is a day to rejoice in all God has done, and music is a great way to celebrate. If there is a song that has become a theme song for your group, make sure to sing that with the whole congregation.
Future Plans: If God has led you toward a special outreach or ministry through the Ten Days of Prayer, let your church family know about your plans and invite them to join in.
Children/Youth: A children’s story about prayer would certainly be appropriate. Also, if you have had any children or youth involved with the regular prayer meetings, have them share their testimonies and/or lead out in a prayer time.
Flexibility: Make sure to be flexible in your plans so that you can follow the Holy Spirit’s leading throughout the service.
