Prayer service- ( 6 2ways to pray together)

Introduction

Tonight we are going to spend the hour in Prayer. But we will do this in a number of different ways.

Let me open up our time together with a pastoral prayer for the church.

Pastoral prayer for the church

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before you today with hearts full of gratitude and reverence. We gather as a body of believers, acknowledging your presence in our midst.

Father I pray for the church that you have entrusted me to shepherd. God I pray that tonight your spirit fills each one of us causing us to grow deeper in our knowledge and love for You.

God I pray that we will continue to be a place of refuge and hope for all who seek you.

God I pray for the leaders of this church that they will serve with wisdom, discernment, and a deep love for your Word. Help them to stand firm on your truths

God I lift up this congregation to You.

You know the joys and burdens that each member carries on their shoulders.

I pray for those who are facing challenges in their marriages, who are facing illness, and difficult circumstances in their lives.

Father I ask that you Grant them comfort, healing, and strength so that they may suffer well for your names sake.

Lord, I pray for our children and our youth.

Guide them in their walk with you, Lord Call them to yourself, protect them from harm, and help us as a church to nurture them in the way you would have them go.

God I pray that you do a work even tonight in our hearts as we come together as one body in Christ.

I pray that you change each one of us to be more like your son Jesus Christ.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Another way we can pray as a church is to pray the Scriptures.

Pray the Scripture ( scriptural prayer)

I have asked 3 people to pry the scriptures for us this evening. As they read each of the passages I encourage you to silently listen to the word of God and let it be the prayer of your heart,.

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 51:1–12 ESV

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 46 ESV

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Prayer in the Quiet Place ( personal prayer)

Psalm 139:23–24 ESV

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Take the next three minutes to quietly talk with God.

tell him about your troubles, Confess your sinfulness. lay your burdens at his feet. And ask him to do a work that only he could do in your life.

PRAYER IN SONG

Sing : Key g ( capo 5 C) Take my life and let it be

Prayer of Adoration (popcorn prayer)

Psalm 95:6–7 ESV

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,

I want us to take 5 minutes together to openly adore God for who he is.

We are going to just speak to God and Say I adore your for your _____ (goodness, righteousness

Prayer of Thanksgiving (written prayer)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Take a couple of minutes to write down a simple prayer of what you have to be thankful for in your life. ( in the margins of your sheet)

lord thank you for all the blessings in my life. I know I don’t deserve them. Thank

you for a wife who loves me and cares for me and encourages me to be more like Jesus. Thank for my kids who follow after you. Thank you for a church family that encourages me and is growing together in their walks

with you. Thank you for parents who love all of us kids example of godliness to follow. Thank you that you allow me to be part of your gospel plan in reaching lost sinners . Thank you for my health, thank you for always meeting my needs, thank you for friendships that build me up spiritually and encourage me in my walk wih JC.

thank you for the beauty of creation and the ability to go out in it and enjoy it.

Now share that prayer with someone sitting around you.

Prayer of intercession ( small groups)

James 5:16 ESV

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Share request

break up and pray with one another

Prayer sheet

for the church

for the pastor

for unity

for the lost

for the teachers

for our missionaries