5/20/2026

Mid-Week Prayer Service

Acts 3:11-26

Bold faith sees the moment.

Bold faith speaks the truth

Bold Faith points others to Jesus.

Discussion Questions

Why do you think Christians often struggle to be bold about Jesus in everyday conversations?

The sermon talked about seeing people as opportunities instead of interruptions. Why is that so difficult in real life?

Peter was incredibly direct about sin, but he was also compassionate. How do we balance truth and grace when talking with people today?

Why do you think repentance is often misunderstood in church culture today?

Why do you think repentance is often misunderstood in church culture today?

Who was someone God used in your life to boldly point you toward Jesus?

What would bold faith look like for you specifically this week?

If someone watched your life and listened to your conversations for a week, what would they say you believe deeply in?

Time of Prayer

So tonight, we are going to pray in four directions:

Upward in reverence

Downward in response

Inward with requests

Outward in readiness

And then we’ll close together with thanksgiving.

UPWARD — REVERENCE

Acts 3:13

“The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus…”

Peter begins with God.

Before he ever addresses the crowd’s sin… Before he calls them to repentance… Before he explains the miracle…

He points upward.

He reminds them who God is.

And church, that is where prayer begins too.

Not with our problems. Not with our requests. Not with our frustrations. But with worship.

Jesus taught the same thing when He said:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Prayer begins with reverence.

And honestly, I think one of the reasons many of us struggle in prayer is because we rush straight into the need list without slowing down long enough to behold the greatness of God.

Peter says: “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…”

That means: He is the covenant-keeping God. The faithful God. The unchanging God. The God who keeps every promise.

And then Peter says God glorified Jesus.

The same Jesus they rejected. The same Jesus they crucified. The same Jesus who rose from the dead.

So tonight before we ask God for anything, let’s just worship Him.

Prayer Prompt

Take a few moments and praise God for:

His holiness

His faithfulness

His mercy

His patience

His sovereignty

His salvation through Jesus Christ

Guided Prayer

“Father, tonight we praise You because You alone are worthy. You are holy, righteous, faithful, and good. Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to save sinners like us. Thank You that the grave is empty and the gospel is still changing lives today. Lord, help us never lose our wonder at who You are.”

DOWNWARD — RESPONSE

Acts 3:19

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out…”

Peter’s sermon now moves into response.

Because whenever we truly see God rightly, it always reveals something about us.

It reveals our need for repentance. Our need for surrender. Our need for grace.

And Peter boldly tells the crowd: “Repent.”

Turn back. Stop running. Stop resisting God. Stop trusting yourself. Surrender to Christ.

And honestly, this is one of the hardest parts of prayer sometimes.

Because surrender requires honesty.

It means allowing the Holy Spirit to search our hearts. It means laying down pride. It means yielding control. It means saying: “God, not my will, but Yours be done.”

And church, this is important: Repentance is not punishment. Repentance is mercy.

God calls us away from sin because He loves us.

Prayer Prompt

Tonight, ask the Lord:

Where have I been resisting God?

Where have I grown spiritually cold?

Where do I need to surrender?

Is there sin I need to confess?

Is there an area of obedience I’ve been avoiding?

Guided Prayer

“Lord, we confess tonight that so often we want control instead of surrender. Forgive us for our pride, our fear, our silence, and our disobedience. Search our hearts and reveal anything in us that does not honor You. Help us respond quickly in obedience when Your Spirit speaks.”

Quiet Reflection

Take a few quiet moments to sit before the Lord in surrender and confession.

INWARD — REQUESTS

Acts 3:16

“And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong…”

Now we bring our requests before the Lord.

But notice the order.

We have worshipped. We have surrendered. Now we ask.

Because prayer is not about demanding our will from heaven. It is about trusting our Father.

Peter says this man was healed through faith in the name of Jesus.

That means Jesus is still the source of strength. Still the source of healing. Still the source of peace. Still the source of hope.

And because of Christ, we can boldly bring our needs before the Father.

Some of you tonight are carrying heavy things. Stress. Anxiety. Family burdens. Health concerns. Financial struggles. Spiritual exhaustion.

And God invites you to bring those requests to Him.

Not because He doesn’t already know. But because prayer reminds our hearts where our dependence belongs.

Prayer Prompt

Spend time praying for:

Personal spiritual growth

Family needs

Physical healing

Wisdom and discernment

Marriages and relationships

Church needs

Students and children

Strength to follow Christ faithfully

Guided Prayer

“Father, we bring our needs before You tonight trusting that You are a good Father who cares for His children. Strengthen those who are weary. Bring peace to anxious hearts. Provide wisdom where it is needed. Heal where healing is needed. And above all else, help us trust You fully.”

OUTWARD — READINESS

Acts 3:15

“And you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.”

Peter understood something: He was called to be a witness.

And church, so are we.

We are living in a spiritual battle every single day. There is a real enemy. There is real temptation. There is real spiritual warfare.

And Jesus taught us to pray:

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Why? Because we cannot fight spiritual battles in our own strength.

We need the power of the Holy Spirit. We need the armor of God. We need spiritual readiness.

Peter stood boldly in front of a hostile crowd because the Spirit of God empowered him.

And we need that same boldness today.

Boldness at work. Boldness at school. Boldness with family. Boldness in conversations. Boldness to stand for truth. Boldness to speak the name of Jesus.

Prayer Prompt

Pray for:

Spiritual protection

Boldness in sharing the gospel

Victory over temptation

Strength against spiritual attacks

Readiness to obey God daily

Pray specifically for people in your life who need Jesus.

Guided Prayer

“Lord, strengthen us for the spiritual battle around us. Protect our hearts and minds from temptation and distraction. Fill us with the Holy Spirit and make us bold witnesses for Jesus Christ. Open doors for gospel conversations this week and give us courage to walk through them.”

THANKSGIVING

Acts 3:26

“God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Before we finish tonight, let’s simply thank God.

Because every one of us who belongs to Christ has experienced the grace of God personally.

We were sinners. We were separated from God. We could not save ourselves.

And yet Jesus came for us.

He lived the life we could not live. Died the death we deserved. Rose again in victory. And offers salvation freely through grace.

Church, that ought to produce gratitude in us.

Thanksgiving Prayer

“Jesus, thank You for the cross. Thank You for mercy and grace. Thank You for forgiveness. Thank You for pursuing us even when we were far from You. Thank You for the empty tomb and the hope we have because You are alive. Lord, thank You for saving sinners like us.”

Closing