About

This is a compilation of different prayer books from various traditions in the Judeo/Christian world. The aim is to synthesize them all into a helpful daily prayer guide throughout the year that is focused on a Jewish, 1st century view of our world and history that the early followers of Jesus (or Yeshua) embodied and taught, not to mention Jesus himself. This worldview can be encapsulated into the phrase: Cruciform Jewish Apocalypticism. This encapsulation is the Gospel that they preached, lived, and died for.

The goal of this prayer book is to help disciple hearts through connection with God into the hope of Israel. The name, CommonWealth Prayer, reflects this synthesis. It is a book of common prayer, a siddur, that draws from the wealth of liturgy throughout the ages. Also, it is a prayer book for all of the coming Commonwealth of Israel (Eph. 2:12), both jew and gentile, while upholding the uniqueness of the calling of all blood born Israelites. This distinction of calling is encouraged to be preserved, as natural born Jews to continue in Torah (or Law) observance as Jews (most of which this prayer book does not cover), and gentiles as gentiles. May the King of the Jews come quickly! Maranatha!

What is the Gospel?

The Gospel is the message of the Bible. As the scriptures progress, they become increasingly Apocalyptic. That is, they tend to increasingly push themes and history to their ultimate conclusion in the end. Thus, the message of the Gospel starts with a proclamation of the end being a restoration of the beginning through means of the covenants, the Messiah, and God’s own Spirit. So, the Gospel is good news to Zion when God comes to reign there and restore all things (Isaiah 40:9; Acts 3:21; Matt. 19:28). The Gospel is the upheaval of the current systems of man by the establishment of His kingdom, the restoration of the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand” is at the forefront of this message (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15). The death and sacrifice of the Messiah then fits squarely within this Apocalyptic framework. The Messiah’s death being the means by which entrance into the kingdom is granted (Acts 2:38; 10:43). Only by believing on (trusting in, obeying) the message and His Messiah will one be able to escape the wrath of God against the corruption of all that He created good (Acts 16:31; 2 Peter 1:4; Rev. 11:18). There is coming a Day when even death itself is overturned, as attested to by the resurrection of the Messiah Himself, Him being the first fruits of all that would rise from the dead, bringinging all of creation back into harmony with God and each other (1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Romans 8). God’s ultimate future is good news indeed, full of all the harmony, peace, and everything good and pleasurable (Isaiah 11:1-10). Who wouldn’t want to do whatever God asks to be a part of it? This is our hope and the reason for prayer: to form our lives around these things. We long for eternal life in the age to come (Mark 10:30), so we conform our lives to the life and death of the Messiah (2 Corinthians 4:11; Philippians 3:9-11), to embody and share the Gospel like He did. (To dig deeper, go to Resources.) We access grace for this by the Holy Spirit through prayer (Luke 11:13; Romans 8:26). Hence, this prayer guide.

How To Use

The prayers are split into 4 weeks with the liturgy rotated through each day. Once the rotation is done, you can start over again at week 1. The scriptures are designed to be able to read through the Bible in one year (Bible Reading Plan); and throw in some readings from the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, and writings of early followers of Jesus. All of these liturgies are just suggestions. You can play around with the order and timing and add to or take away depending on the circumstances and culture. Also, it is designed to go through as quickly or slowly as time allows or fits with personality and temperament. If need be, definitely slow down and focus on just one section if the Holy Spirit leads or if connecting really well in that moment. Also feel free to make art, poetry, or music around the prayers. Be creative and remember the goal: discipleship through connection with God into the hope of Israel!

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