Prayer For Church Planting
Lord, draw people to our church this weekend who need salvation. Then draw them into a relationship with you. Then enable us to connect each new believer into a discipling relationship and cause them to become fruitful followers of you!
Jesus, remind every member of our church of the importance of worship. Motivate them to be here this weekend, and receive honor from everyone in attendance.
Father, as you speak through each speaker, change the life of every listener! Cause them to leave their meetings more like Jesus than when they came in.
Lord, anoint every teacher in every room of our church this week! Place your Spirit upon the preacher, youth teacher, and every Small Group and Sunday school leader as they communicate truth from your Word.
When Billy Graham was asked about the most important steps in preparing for an evangelistic outreach, he always answered that there were three things that mattered most: prayer, prayer and prayer. Prayer is the hardest activity in which to remain committed, when so many other important activities compete for our time and energy, yet it is also the most indispensable ingredient for church planting.
Church planters are under non-stop attack by the Enemy. Jesus referred to himself when he said, Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered (Matthew 26:31). This is true of the local flock as well. We shudder every time we read about a pastor who has been taken down by the Enemy. Satan uses every opportunitygood and badto weaken the messenger of God's people. Paul begged the Roman church, I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf (Romans 15:30).
Paul asked the Ephesian church to specifically pray for him, praying at all times in the Spirit and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak (Ephesians 6:18-20). To open the mouth is an idiom that means to communicate something gravely important. Jesus opened his mouth and taught them the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:2). An open mouth is a bold, courageous message spoken from the authority of God's word. Martin Luther said, Preach as if Jesus was crucified yesterday, rose from the dead today, and is returning tomorrow. Pray against fear, which may keep us from proclaiming the Gospel boldly. John Calvin said, Fear hinders us from preaching Christ openly and fearlessly.
Pray that the church planter would be given the time and space to feast heartily on the Word of God, so that he or she may proclaim it boldly out of a rested, nourished, and satisfied soulnot the weighty burdens of secondary matters (Acts 6:4).
Church planting is a demanding job, and it is an ongoing temptation to become anxious and concerned for the many good things, rather than choosing the best. God wants the church planter and the church planting team to be in close relationship with him. Everything that the new church accomplishes will come from that oneness with the Father. Jesus said, I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me, and I in him, produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me (John 15:5, CSB). We need to pray for our church planters to abide in Christ, to know oneness with him through the Holy Spirit.