Calvary M. B. Church

09/01/2026

Join us for a celebration of Men who worship the Lord through song.

08/30/2026

08/29/2026

From my sermon: God Has NOT FORGOTTEN YOU. Pastor Wil Goatley

08/29/2026

This Sunday is District Dialog Sunday. We ask you to sit with your District. Remember the official name of this ministry is Calvary in Community Districts. Not only do we want to provide Congressional Care with each other, we also want to be our church where we live. With this in mind, this Sunday we ask you to talk with your fellow member these four questions:
1. What is one thing you appreciate about your district?
2. What is one need or concern in your district?
3. What would make the greatest difference in your district?
4. What is one thing Calvary could do to help?
We want to become The Church at the Heart of the City.
We want to grow deeper in Christ and wider in impact. So this coming Sunday is:
District Dialogues Sunday
We want to hear From You.
Calvary Listens → Calvary Learns → Calvary Acts.
We Want To Be The Church at the Heart of the City.
We invite members to look at Calvary and the surrounding community with fresh eyes.
Imagine Calvary: “What could God do through us?”
Speak. Listen. Imagine. Act.
Your Voice Matters.
District Dialogues Sunday is an opportunity for Calvary members to talk with one another about our church, our neighborhoods, our families, and the future God is calling us to pursue together.
Calvary Listens. Calvary Learns. Calvary Leads.
“The Church at the Heart of the City.”

08/29/2026

Calvary M. B. Church-St. Louis
Rev. Dr. Wilbert H. Goatley, Jr., Pastor

Wednesday Evening Bible Study by Phone
Week 3 of Unit on Prayer – A Special Study Unit on Prayer
THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER
September 2, 2026
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
314-325-9019 (No access code)

OBJECTIVES
1. Examine Direct Access to God
• Intimate relationship: Study how prayer lets you approach God as a loving Father instead of a distant stranger.
• Bold confidence: Look at biblical examples showing that believers have open, welcoming access to God's presence.
• Personal communication: Learn how speaking honestly with your Creator fulfills a deep spiritual need
2. Explore Partnership in Divine Work
• Co-laboring with God: Discover how God uses your prayers as a tool to accomplish His good purposes in the world.
• Shared purpose: Study how prayer invites humans to take part in what God is already doing, much like a parent working alongside a child.
• Active power: Understand that praying allows you to rely on divine strength rather than human limits.
3. Shift Perspective from Duty to Delight
• Removing obligation: Contrast the feeling of forced religious rules with the freedom of getting to talk to God anytime.
• Exchanging burdens: Study how approaching God trades your daily stress and confusion for peace and wisdom.
• Fulfilling joy: Explore how asking and receiving through prayer makes your spiritual joy complete.

THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼ ▼
1. DIRECT ACCESS 2. DIVINE PARTNERSHIP 3. DUTY TO DELIGHT

• Open door via Christ • Invited into Holy work • Relational, not legal
• High Priest's invitation • Co-laboring with God • Exchanging burdens
• Boldness at the Throne • Earthly intercession • Finding deep peace

INTRODUCTION

Essential Question: WHY PRAYER IS A PRIVILEGE? Prayer is a profound privilege because it grants believers direct, personal access to the Creator of the universe through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
• Direct Access to God: Because of Jesus' sacrifice, the barrier of sin is removed, and we no longer need an earthly priest to speak to God for us.
• Adoption as Children: Believers are welcomed into God’s family, giving them the right to call the Almighty "Father".
• A Source of Comfort and Help: We are invited to bring our worries, praises, and deepest needs to a compassionate God who actually listens.
• Partnership with the Creator: Prayer is a designated means by which God chooses to work in and through our lives to accomplish His good purposes.

Key Scriptures on the Privilege of Prayer
• Hebrews 4:16: "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need". Highlights the bold, unhindered access we have to God.
• Ephesians 2:18: "For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father." Explains the role of Christ and the Holy Spirit in our communication with God.
• John 1:12: "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God". Connects our identity as God's children directly to our relationship with Him.
• Philippians 4:6: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Shows the invitation to share every burden openly with our Father.
• Romans 8:15: "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" Emphasizes the intimate family bond that fuels our prayers.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. Examine Direct Access to God
A. Intimate Relationship: Galatians 4:6 – God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Romans 8:15 also confirms we received the Spirit of adoption, eliminating the fear of a distant stranger.
Intimate Relationship
1. “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” — Galatians 4:6 (NKJV)
2. “For you did not receive the spirit of bo***ge again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’” — Romans 8:15 (NKJV)
B. Bold Confidence: Hebrews 4:16 – We are instructed to come boldly to the throne of grace to find help in time of need. Ephesians 3:12 emphasizes our bold, confident access through faith in Him.
Bold Confidence
1. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)
2. “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” — Ephesians 3:12 (NKJV)
C. Personal Communication: Psalm 62:8 – Trust Him at all times and pour out your heart before Him, as God is a refuge for us. Psalm 65:2 underscores that God specifically hears prayers.
Personal Communication
1. “O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.” — Psalm 65:2 (NKJV)
2. “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”
— Psalm 62:8(NKJV)

II. Explore Partnership in Divine Work
A. Co-Laboring with God: James 5:16 – The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much and carries great power. Luke 10:2 demonstrates using prayer to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers.
Co-Laboring with God
1. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” — James 5:16 (NKJV)
2. “So, He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” — Luke 10:2 (NKJV)





B. Shared Purpose: 1 John 5:14-15 – If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and grants our petitions. John 15:7 highlights that abiding in His words aligns our desires with His outcomes.
​Shared Purpose
1. And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
-—1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)
2. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
— John 15:7 (NKJV)
C. Active Power: Ephesians 3:20 – God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think according to His power at work within us. Jeremiah 33:3 invites us to call out so He can show us great, mighty, and hidden things.
Active Power
1. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us...” — Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)
2. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)

III. Shift Perspective from Duty to Delight
A. Removing Obligation: John 15:15 – Jesus no longer calls us servants but friends, sharing His Father's business with us. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 calls for unceasing prayer, reflecting a continuous relational bond over empty rituals.
Removing Obligation
1. “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” — John 15:15 (NKJV)
2. “Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) (Reflecting a lifestyle of connection over ritual)
B. Exchanging Burdens: Philippians 4:6-7 – Be anxious for nothing, but through prayer let your requests be known to God, and His peace will guard your heart. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our cares upon Him because He cares for us.
Exchanging Burdens
1. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
2. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)
C. Fulfilling Joy: John 16:24 – "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." Psalm 16:11 connects His immediate presence with the absolute fullness of joy.
Fulfilling Joy
1. “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” — John 16:24 (NKJV)
2. “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” — Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)


Ten Life Lessons on the Privilege of Prayer
1. Prayer is a relationship first: It begins before any request, anchoring us to a living God who invites us to call Him Father.
2. It is simple communication: Prayer does not require elaborate rituals or complex words; it is simply talking to a holy Person.
3. Sharing beats memorizing: While formal or memorized prayers have a place, true prayer is about honestly sharing your heart.
4. It is a two-way street: Effective prayer involves listening for God's guidance just as much as speaking our own thoughts.
5. Desperation deepens dependence: Some of the most profound lessons and breakthroughs in prayer are learned when life drives us to our knees.
6. Access is unfettered: Believers have direct, confident access to God's presence, moving past religious barriers into intimacy.
7. It changes the person: Prayer is not only about altering external circumstances; it transforms our character, calms our thoughts, and renews our spirit.
8. It has a corporate dimension: Jesus taught His followers to pray using plural pronouns, emphasizing unity within the community of believers.
9. Intercession is a mandate: Praying for others extends our focus beyond personal needs, supporting our neighbors, leaders, and community.
10. Presence is the ultimate reward: Even when answers take time or look different than expected, drawing near to God is the greatest gift of prayer.

In short, the power of prayer teaches us humility, trust, gratitude, and unity—qualities that not only connect us to God but also transform how we live, act, and relate to others.

Looking Ahead:
Date

Lesson Topic
September 9
Unit on Prayer – A Special Study: THE PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER

September 16
Unit on Prayer – A Special Study: THE PERSISTENCE OF PRAYER

September 23
Unit on Prayer – A Special Study: THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER, 1

September 30
Unit on Prayer – A Special Study: THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER, 2

October 7
Unit on Prayer – A Special Study: HOW GOD ANSWERS PRAYER


NOTE: All scripture references and the text used primarily for this class are from the New King James Version. The New King James Version (NKJV) is widely used because it balances the traditional literary beauty of the original King James Version (KJV) with contemporary language that is easier for modern readers to understand. The following reasons highlight why many readers and churches choose the NKJV:
o Modernized Language & Readability: It replaces archaic 17th-century pronouns like “thee,” “thy”, and” thine” with modern equivalents. It also updates outdated vocabulary and sentence structures while striving to maintain a word-for-word translation philosophy.
o Preservation of Literary Beauty: The NKJV deliberately retains the poetic cadence and rhythmic flow that made the KJV famous. This makes it a popular choice for public reading, memorization, and liturgical use.
o Textual Basis (Textus Receptus): Unlike most modern translations that rely on the Critical Text, the NKJV is based on the same Greek and Hebrew sources used for the KJV, primarily the Textus Receptus. This appeals to readers who prefer these traditional manuscript traditions.
o Comprehensive Textual Footnotes: It provides detailed footnotes that inform readers of significant variants found in other manuscript traditions, such as the Majority Text (M) and the Critical Text (NU).
o Translational Transparency: Like the original KJV, the NKJV uses italics to identify words added by translators to ensure grammatical clarity in English, which were not present in the original languages.
o Balanced Translation Philosophy: It follows a “complete equivalence” approach, aiming for a literal translation while recognizing various literary genres like poetry and parables to ensure the intended sense is conveyed.
o Stability for Teaching: Because the NKJV has not undergone frequent revisions since its publication in 1982, it provides a stable text for consistency in preaching, teaching, and congregational reading.
Should the session end before we can read, discuss and review the lesson in its entirety, please feel free to continue in your own independent study of this chapter and submit the answers to the questions at the end of the outline to Rev. Blondel I. Rall through the same or a compatible method that you received this outline.

Resources used and quoted herein are not entirely of the teacher’s own, Dr. B.I. Rall. In addition to those authors and resources included herein, information used for this compilation are found at: https://biblehub.com; https://faithgateway.com;www.theexaltedchrist.com; www.executableoutlines.com; bibleref.com

08/28/2026

CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
CALVARY CALL LINE 314-325-9019
REV. DR. WILBERT H. GOATLEY, JR., PASTOR
WEEKDAY BIBLE STUDY

MONDAY AGUST 31ST THRU FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4TH 9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.
REV. ORA J. CLARK-LEWIS & REV. CALVIN THOMAS, III FACILITATORS
ZECHARIAH CHAPTERS 8-10

ZECHARIAH 8:1-6
Zechariah 8, a pivotal chapter in the Old Testament, marks a shift in tone
from the preceding chapters. It presents the passionate love of God for
Zion and His grand promises of the city's restoration and prosperity. It is a
chapter filled with hope, encouragement, and a call to righteousness and
justice.

The Restoration of Jerusalem
Verses 1–2 – The LORD’s Burning Jealousy
God speaks again, declaring that His zeal for Zion has not cooled but
blazes with protective love.
Verse 3 – The Return to Zion
The LORD announces He will live in Jerusalem; the city will be called
“Truth” and His mountain “Holy.”
Verses 4–5 – Safe Streets, Happy Children
Elderly people will sit in the squares, and boys and girls will play there—a
picture of lasting peace.
Verse 6 – Too Wonderful to Believe?
Though the promise sounds impossible, God insists nothing is too hard for
Him.
Verses 7–8 – Gathered from East and West
He will rescue His people from every direction and make them His own in
truth and righteousness.
Verses 9–13 – Strength for the Builders
Those rebuilding the temple must stay strong; God will reverse previous
hardships and turn Judah into a blessing.
Verses 14–15 – From Anger to Goodness
Just as He once resolved to judge, the LORD now resolves to do good—His
plan has shifted.
Verses 16–17 – Truthful Living
Speak truth, judge fairly, reject evil schemes, and love peace—these are
the terms of life in the restored city.
Verses 18–19 – Fasts Turn into Feasts
Four sad fasts will become joyful festivals, so love truth and peace.
Footnotes
Fasts Become Feasts (8:18–19)
The four traditional fasts marked national disasters:
• 4th month (Tammuz 17): walls breached (Jeremiah 39:2).
• 5th month (Av 9): temple burned (2 Kings 25:8-10).
• 7th month (Tishri 3): assassination of Gedaliah (Jeremiah 41).
• 10th month (Tevet 10): siege began (2 Kings 25:1).
God will flip sorrow to joy (Psalm 30:11). Isaiah 25:6 pictures a feast for all
peoples; here the joy begins at Zion and spreads outward.
8:19 Hebrew in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months. The fourth
month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occurs within the
months of June and July. The fifth month usually occurs within the months
of July and August. The seventh month usually occurs within the months
of September and October. The tenth month usually occurs within the
months of December and January.
Verses 20–23 – Nations Seek the LORD
People from everywhere will travel to Jerusalem, grasping the robe of a
Jew and saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with
you.”

ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 9
DEVOTIONAL READING ZECH. 1-6
Zechariah 9 stands as a captivating chapter in the biblical narrative,
blending vivid illustrations of divine judgement, the promise of Israel's
restoration, and the humble arrival of a future king. The text is a radiant
display of the intertwining of divine judgement and mercy, demonstrating
God's irrefutable sovereignty and unfailing promise of deliverance for His
people.
Zechariah prophesied after the Babylonian exile (late 500s BC). Chapters
9–14 shift from temple-rebuilding concerns to future deliverance. The
nations listed—Hadrach (Syro-Aramean region), Damascus, Hamath,
Tyre, Sidon, and the Philistine cities—formed a crescent of political and
military threats around Judah.

Zion’s Coming King
Verses 1–2 – Word Against Syria and Phoenicia
God’s message lands on Hadrach, Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, and Sidon—
centers of power that think themselves secure, yet their “eyes … are on
the LORD.”
Verses 3–4 – Tyre’s Fortress Falls
Tyre heaps up silver like dust, but the Lord strips her wealth and throws
her strength “into the sea,” burning the proud city.
Verses 5–8 – Philistia Trembles, Zion Shielded
Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Ashdod quake; their kings vanish, mixed
peoples move in, and Philistine pride is broken. While armies pace back
and forth, God camps around His house—no oppressor can storm
Jerusalem under His watch.
Verses 9–10 – The Humble King Brings Peace
“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! … See, your King comes to you,
righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey.” War gear is cut
off, and He proclaims peace to every nation, ruling “from sea to sea.”
Verses 11–13 – Covenant Rescue and Return
Because of the “blood of My covenant,” prisoners are freed from a
waterless pit and called back to a stronghold with a double restoration.
Judah becomes God’s bow, Ephraim His arrow, aimed against Greece.
Verses 14–17 – The LORD’s Victorious Parade
The LORD appears, His arrow flashes like lightning, and the ram’s horn
sounds. He shields His people, who sparkle like jewels in a crown while
grain and new wine make the land flourish.

ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 10
DEVOTIONAL 10:1-6
In Zechariah 10, the prophet underscores the importance of seeking
guidance from God rather than relying on false prophets and idols. He
also foretells the restoration of Judah and Ephraim, led by the divine
Cornerstone, and speaks of God's power over nations, reinforcing the
promise of a triumphant return from exile for God's chosen people.
Zechariah’s audience had returned from Babylon around 520 BC. The
temple foundation was laid but life still felt fragile—fields depended on
rain, and foreign powers loomed. The chapter looks past immediate
survival toward a fuller restoration God had promised since Deuteronomy
30:3–5.
Judah and Israel Will Be Restored
Verses 1–2 – Ask the LORD for Rain, Reject Empty Counsel
God invites His people to pray for needed rain; He alone sends “showers
of rain” and “vegetation in the field.” False gods and fortune-tellers
promise help but mislead the people, leaving them wandering “like sheep
without a shepherd.”
Verses 3–4 – The LORD’s Anger and His Coming Leader
The LORD rises against dishonest shepherds yet tenderly visits His flock.
Out of Judah He promises to raise up “the Cornerstone, the Tent Peg, the
Battle Bow”–a single leader who will anchor, unify, and defend the nation.
Verses 5–7 – Victorious, Joy-Filled People
With the LORD at their side, Judah’s fighters trample enemies “in the mud
of the streets.” Ephraim and Judah alike become mighty, their hearts
rejoicing “as with wine,” and their children see it and celebrate.
Verses 8–10 – The Great Summons and Return
God whistles, gathers, and redeems His scattered people from Egypt,
Assyria, and beyond. They swell in number until “there is no more room
for them,” occupying the lands of Gilead and Lebanon.
Verses 11–12 – Pathway through Trouble, Strength in His Name
The LORD makes a highway through “the sea of distress”; waves are
subdued, Egypt and Assyria humbled. Strengthened by Him, His people
“will walk in His name,” secure and confident.
Rain, Agriculture, and Dependence on God
• “Ask the LORD for rain” (10:1). Without the early and latter rains
(Deuteronomy 11:14) grain, olives, and grapes failed.
• Rain is presented as a gift tied to covenant faithfulness;
compare Jeremiah 14:22 and James 5:7.
• The exhortation reminds readers to turn first to God, not to human
schemes.
Idols, Teraphim, and False Diviners
• Verse 2 mentions “household gods” (teraphim) and diviners.
Archaeology has uncovered small clay figurines across Judah—evidence
of lingering superstition.
• Psalm 115:4-8 and Jeremiah 10:5 mock such statues: they “have mouths
but cannot speak.”
• Zechariah contrasts these powerless images with the living Lord who
actually sends clouds and harvests.
The Shepherd Motif Across Scripture
• God calls leaders “shepherds” (v. 3). Bad shepherds exploit; good ones
feed and protect.
• Ezekiel 34:11-16 foretold that God Himself would shepherd the flock.
Jesus applied the title to Himself in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd.”
• The contrast challenges every leader—spiritual or civil—to care for
people, not profit from them.
Cornerstone, Tent Peg, Battle Bow—Three Images, One Leader
1. Cornerstone – the first and load-bearing stone (Psalm 118:22; Matthew
21:42).
22:23).
3. Battle Bow – the weapon that wins the fight (Zechariah 9:13).
All three converge in a promised ruler who anchors, shelters, and
defends—ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah (Ephesians 2:20; Revelation
19:11-16).
2. Tent Peg – the central stake that secures the whole dwelling (Isaiah

SOURCES
https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/zechariah/8.ht
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%208&version=NKJV;NLT;MSG
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%209&version=NKJV;NLT;MSG
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%2010&version=NKJV;NLT;MSG
https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/zechariah/9.htm
https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/zechariah/10.htm

08/27/2026

Calvary Family we want to learn from you.