About Our Church Prayers
Why have Church Prayers?
Some churches follow a (business) model of formulating a vision statement with set annual targets for growth, offertories and attendees. With a vision statement in place the church is mobilised to action.
We prefer to think of the church as a family united in heart and action, not by targets, but by Christ and his word. As a church we are the special work of God in this world (Mat 16:18, Eph 1:9-11, Eph 3:10). We have a particular mission to see all nations evangelised and discipled (Mat 28:19). We are therefore not a business (not even a not-for-profit one), but God’s appointed agent for ministering the ‘gospel of grace through Jesus Christ’.
- And yet how are we to go about our task of being the God’s church in Petersham?
- Into what kind of a church will God shape us?
- What matters particularly apply to us at Petersham over and against another church a few suburbs away?
The church prayers are an attempt to answer these questions. In effect, the prayers are the equivalent to our vision statement, but with one crucial difference. In these prayers we are not asserting what we will become according to some ‘target’, instead they humbly constitute what we are asking God to make us become.
What are they about?
The prayers cover 7 areas of All Saints life. They ask God to make us into a church that honours him (1), serves others (2), proclaims the gospel (3), who are numerous (4), generous (5), mission minded (6) and a light in a dark world (7). They are not an attempt to cover everything a church should be praying. For example there is no confession of sin here, nor prayers for government, not because they are inappropriate but because they are appropriate for all churches.
What are they?
1.Glorious Father, fashion us into a people that live to bring honour to your Name.
It is possible to be a church that dishonours God. In the following prayer we pray to the contrary that we would honour God in all we do. We pray for all our meetings that the practice of our faith would be heartfelt (against nominalism), regular (against a spirit which sees church as a product to be consumed at my convenience), intelligent (against shallowness), applied (against intellectual-only or moral-only views of faith). The prayer prays for those dimensions of our meetings which involves everyone so that all in all we ‘rejoice in’ and ‘exalt’ our God.
In our gatherings both large and small, through heartfelt and regular prayer, by the intelligent and applied study of your Word, in our conversations, songs and our deeds, make us a church which delights in your word, rejoices in you and exalts your Name always.
2. Merciful God, teach us to love one another in practical ways.
Our world is a particularly selfish one, and everyone is taught to look out for number 1. This prayer redefines our behaviour according to Christ’s own word and example (eg: Mk 10:45, Phil 2:3-5), namely the need to be practical servants of others.
Against the selfishness of our hearts and culture, may we value each other’s company, wisdom and friendship. Mindful of Christ’s offering of himself for all, teach us to care deeply for those in need, so that there might be none among us that suffers unassisted from sorrow, sickness, loneliness or material need.
3. Enable us, mighty Lord, boldly, relevantly and prayerfully to advance the gospel of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The resources God gives to his church are its members (1 Cor 12:27-31). This prayer asks God to give us gifted people who are prepared to be trained and serve in various ministries (see Eph 4:11) in our church. In addition, the prayer seeks God’s blessing in always having at All Saints people training for full time ministry. Further, we pray that all would have confidence and feel no embarrassment about the gospel (Rom 1:16) or ashamed to answer peoples questions about it (Col 4:6, 1 Pet 3:15). In sum, we pray that we will all advance the gospel.
Grant us a great number of people within our congregation who are gifted, trained and active in the tasks of evangelism, teaching, pastoring and serving. Be always training people amongst us for the ministry. Enable us all to use our gifts to promote the gospel and to stand tall and firm upon the unchanging truth of your Word, and graciously to answer for our faith whenever opportunity allows.
4. Sovereign Lord, increase the number of those that worship you.
Our obligation is to be faithful not numerous (1 Cor 4:2), yet the outcome we seek is the same as Jesus’ desire: the salvation of all (2 Pet 3:9). This prayer assumes a right motive and asks that the fruit of our evangelism is a great many people who worship Jesus.
May our meetings, and churches around the world, overflow with new and established believers. And may our ministries expand to welcome them, so that ‘your name might be hallowed’ in our midst.
5. Gracious God, thankful for your many blessings, make us an extraordinarily generous people.
The character of God and the gospel are both places where we find God’s unbounded generosity (2 Cor 8:9). This prayer asks God to form the same character in us, and seeks to apply it to areas inside and outside the congregation.
Help us always to grow and meet our church’s financial goals. Make us ever willing to give regularly to the ongoing costs of our church and missionaries, and occasionally to all kinds of events and opportunities of worth.
6. Lord of the world, may our church be international in its concern.
The Kingdom of God is bigger than the four walls that define All Saints Petersham. God is at work throughout the world. In particular All Saints has undertaken to support three CMS missionaries and has a special relationship with Petersham Evening Church. Changing detail will need to be added to these prayers, yet we pray that our attitude towards them is always prayerfully concerned and supportive.
Help us always to pray for, always to support and always to be mindful of your people throughout Australia and around the world. In particular, make effective our partnership with Petersham Evening church and our link missionaries Paul and Lyndal (Eurasia), Andrew & Sarah Lubbock (Italy) and Kellie Nicholas (Japan).
7.Our great God, make us into a ‘city on a hill’ and a ‘light on its stand’.
If All Saints was to be famous for something, let it not be a scandal, or for a false gospel, or division, or ill will but let us be renowned for all the qualities above so that we might live up to Jesus’ expectation of being a ‘city on a hill’ and a ‘light on a stand’ (Mat 5:14-16). The world needs a clear light to follow. This prayer asks God to make us that ‘light’ and ‘city’.
May we be known in the community for our teaching, church services, friendships and loving care. Grant us also opportunities to share the good things of All Saints with congregations throughout our region: may we offer resources to others, help with the training of others, and send out our people to serve the wider church.
Above all, may we present to others an example of lives lived, in the power of your Holy Spirit, after the pattern of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in honour of You, our Creator and our Redeemer. Amen.
Call to Prayer
Would you like to be part of a church where God is answering these prayers?
Then please pray them, for we will not be that kind of church unless we ask God to make us so.
How to use these Prayers
There are many opportunities to pray these prayers as a church. Those leading in church may include one of them each week. The weekly prayer sheet will have one printed on it each week for you to use in your personal devotions. Furthermore, Prayer and Bible study groups may like to use them from time to time.
“Pray without ceasing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17
