What is this?

• A little primer and guide to help you prepare for the congregation prayer during Sunday Worship
• If you’re reading this, then you most likely have been invited to pray or consider praying during the worship
• It can feel daunting and it is an important moment during service. However, I would encourage you to first think about the person you are directing the prayer and then secondly the people who will be listening. When we mix up this order, then we usually get nervous and do not want to pray publicly.
• Yet, praying and sharing your prayer is a wonderful act of service. Prayer does not need to be perfect for the strength of a prayer is not about you nor the level of perfection in your prayer. Prayer’s strength is that our loving Heavenly Father is listening and moving. It is about the one we are praying to.
• It is also a wonderful blessing because it is a moment for the congregation to hear your heart for them as well as to teach others to pray.
• By using this guide, I think it’ll help you prepare a prayer that will be faithful and true.
• You can also write down your prayer and read it. I often do this especially when I think I’ll get nervous like at weddings or special events.

Background on Congregational Prayer

• Prayer is an act of faith
• It is a way for us to claim the promises of God
• God has given us some guidance about public prayer (1 Tim. 2)
• There are several prayers recorded throughout the Bible (Eph. 1 & 3, Col. 1, John 17)
• Jesus teaches us to pray in Matt. 6

How to craft a congregational Prayer

• Open by acknowledging Our Heavenly Father
  • Use Scripture to claim who he is - rather than making up your own words, why not use the Scriptures that tell us about him
• Think About Circles Starting from Yourself
  • Pray for the Individual
    • What do we need? What are we worried?
    • Confess that we have fallen short and need Christ.
    • Acknowledge that we have forgiveness and blessing in Christ.
  • Pray for our Church and Community
    • Next we move on to our brothers and sisters. Pray for our church. That Christ will be our lead and guide. That we will be a faithful church of Christ true until the end. That we will be a place of love. That we will be a place where the gospel is proclaimed in our message and in our deeds.
    • Pray for anything happening in our church or local community. Perhaps some people are suffering from illness or there is a local issue like a major disaster or an election coming up.
  • Pray for Our Nation and the World.
    • In 1 Timothy 2, Paul tells us to pray for our leaders. It is often through our prayers that God provides common grace to our leaders who would otherwise make very secular and selfish decisions. Pray that God sovereign hand will guide our leaders in his wisdom and ways.
    • Pray for the world. Think about the current world missions that are happening. Pray for our missionaries or countries that God has put on our hearts. Pray that God will raise more leaders for the church and to send out. Pray that we will be a sent and sending church as well!