Praying for the advancement of the Kingdom...

What then should we pray for as we begin to work for the health and holiness of the church? What more appropriate prayers could a pastor pray for the church he serves than the prayers of Paul for the churches he planted (; ; ; ; )? Allow these prayers to be a starting point for praying Scripture more broadly and consistently.

(A.)Pray that the transforming power of the Gospel to be unleashed on the lives of church members.

God’s Word is powerful because He chooses to exercise His power through it and to be present in it.

By His word God brought the world into being (), and

Jesus is the Word by whom “all things were made” (; ) and

Who continues “sustaining all things by His powerful word” (). The Word uses his word to reveal His person and to carry out all His purposes.

Who continues “sustaining all things by His powerful word” ().

The Word (John 1:1) uses His word to reveal His person and to carry out all His purposes.

Christ’s redemptive power and the power of His Word come together in the New Testament, with Logos (the incarnation of God) and logos (the message about God) becoming so automatic as to form a amazing identity.

As the work of the original creation comes through the spoken word of God, so the work of new creation (i.e., redemption) comes through the living Word of God.

James says, "By His [GOD] own choice, He gave us birth by the word of truth...” ()

The phrase “word of truth” reflects the message about salvation and the One who gives the new birth.

The same play on words is used by Peter: "because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.” ()

In these passages, the message about Jesus and Christ Himself are unified. Both are the “living and enduring [W]ord of God” by which we have been born again.

So we pray that Jesus might be please to pour out His converting power, through His Word, upon all our gatherings - praying for...

Praying for...

That the gospel continues to grow into the hearts of all the members of our church in the same way that seed grows in the ground (Phil. 1:6,11).

The unconverted attenders that are in our church circle.

For the conversion of all our children.

Chapell, B. (2005). Christ-centered preaching: redeeming the expository sermon (Second Edition, p. 28). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Opportunities to love our neighbors leading to gospel conversations.

For the many hearts that will be addressed at the Jasper County Fair and the Touch of Dutch.

(B.) Pray that your preaching of the Gospel would be faithful, accurate, and clear.

(C.) Pray for the increasing maturity of the congregation, that your local church would grow in corporate love, holiness, and sound doctrine, such that the testimony of the church in the community would be distinctively pure and attractive to unbelievers.

(D.) Pray for sinners to be converted and the church to be built up through your preaching of the Gospel.

(E.) Pray for opportunities for yourself and other church members to do personal evangelism.

Dever, M., & Alexander, P. (2005). The deliberate church: building your ministry on the gospel (pp. 35–36). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.