Prayer Petition

A Prayer for Our Church Staff and Their Families

Scripture Reading
Nehemiah 9:5-6; II Chronicles 29:11; Ephesians 4:11-16; II Corinthians 6:1-10; I Timothy 3:1-13

Praise and Worship
O God, You are King over all the earth. We praise You with a psalm! (Psalms 47:7) Lord, there is no one like You! For You are great, and Your name is full of power. (Jeremiah 10:6) You made the earth by Your power, and You preserve it by Your wisdom. With Your own understanding You stretched out the heavens. (Jeremiah 10:12) We praise Your great and awesome name. Your name is holy! (Psalms 99:3) We thank You, God, for making us Your captives and for continuing to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Thank You for using our church staff to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. (II Corinthians 2:14) We, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will thank You forever and ever, praising Your greatness from generation to generation. (Psalms 79:13)

Praying God’s Will
Heavenly Father, You have enriched our church in every way – with all of the eloquent words You have given our church staff and all of their knowledge. We proclaim that they have received every spiritual gift they need as we all eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. We expect that He will keep our church staff strong to the end so that they will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. Father, You will do this, for You are faithful to do what You say, and You have invited us into partnership with Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (I Corinthians 1:5, 7-9) By Your power You make Your people strong, and by Your authority they will go wherever they wish (Zechariah 10:12a) to spread the Good News. We proclaim that people who work at the church will tell all the people about Your justice. They will not be afraid to speak out. We expect that no one in our church staff will keep the good news of Your justice hidden in their hearts. They will talk about Your faithfulness and saving power. They will tell everyone in the great assembly of Your unfailing love and faithfulness. (Psalms 40:9a, 10) They will praise You, Lord, for Your great love and for the wonderful things You have done for them. They will exalt You publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation. (Psalms 107:31-32)

Praying the Request
We pray, Father, for harmony in the church and that our church staff will build each other up. (Romans 14:19) May there be no divisions in the church. Rather, may our church staff be of one mind, united in the name of Jesus Christ in thought and purpose. (I Corinthians 1:10b) We pray, Father, that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower Your people in our church with inner strength through Your Spirit. May they experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then they will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You. (Ephesians 3:16, 19)

Praying for Forgiveness
Merciful Father, those on our church staff hold honorable positions in the church and must have lives that are above reproach. We pray, Lord, that they will keep a close watch on how they live and on their teaching. (I Timothy 4:16a) If they stray from the truth and from righteous living, Holy Spirit, convict them of their wrongdoing and counsel them to seek the Father’s forgiveness, repent, and stay true to what is right for the sake of their own salvation and the salvation of their children and those who hear them. (I Timothy 4:16b) Father, forgive both those who fail to discipline their children (Proverbs 23:13a), and those who provoke their children to anger by the way they treat them. (Ephesians 6:4a) Rather, Holy Spirit, encourage them to bring their children up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Praying for Protection
Holy Spirit, remind our church staff and their families not to yield to temptation, and that Jesus Christ has delivered us from the evil one.

Praise and Worship
Now all glory to You, God, for You are able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to You in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Church of the Week
Family Community Church, Pastor Marie Harrill and Pastor Gary Spell