9-27-26 // First Things First: The Priority of Prayer in Gospel Ministry // 1 Timothy 2:1-7 // Why Must Prayer Come First?

Bay Leaf Baptist Church Weekly Sermons · Sep 29, 2026 · 45m

Drawing from 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Pastor Jared Richard opens with a pointed and convicting question: do we actually value prayer, or do we simply say we do? Much like a gym membership that never gets used, many believers confess the importance of prayer while their lives tell a different story. Paul's charge to Timothy — "first of all" — was not merely the beginning of a to-do list, but a declaration of priority. Prayer must come first because the work of gospel ministry is spiritual work, and no amount of human effort, strategy, or cleverness can tear down spiritual strongholds. As Paul reminds…