Praying for your local church: growth, practical needs, building up
Your local church is not a building, nor an organization: it is a family of real people, with their strengths and weaknesses, whom God has gathered around Jesus. You receive a lot there, you sometimes criticize it, and you rarely pray for it. This quest invites you to carry it before God: its unity, its growth, its practical needs.
What it looks like in your day
Take a moment. Five minutes are enough. You can sit down with the membership list, the bulletin, or simply your memories of Sunday.
Pray along a few lines:
- The people. Think of faces: the elders, the young, the families, the newcomers, those who have left. “Lord, bless each one.”
- Building up. That the church would grow in love, in knowledge of the Word, in maturity.
- Growth. That new people would come to faith, that the Gospel would be proclaimed in the neighborhood.
- Practical needs. A suitable place of worship, finances, volunteers for the children, leaders for the youth, a stronger welcome team.
- Trials. The sick, the bereaved, the unemployed, families in difficulty.
- Local mission. That the church would serve its city and its neighbors.
Also pray about its flaws. Without hiding them: “Lord, you know our divisions, our lukewarmness. Heal us.”
Give thanks. For what God is already doing: changed lives, services rendered, fellowship lived.
Take a step. Prayer can lead to action: offering your help, inviting someone, writing a note.
If you are short on time, name three people and one need. If you are shy, this is a discreet service. If you are disappointed with your church, pray anyway: this prayer can change your outlook.
What the Bible says
Paul explains the purpose of the gifts given to the Church:
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”: the Church is made to grow, up to maturity. Praying for it means joining in this project. The book of Acts describes a living community, where people are added every day:
“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
“The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved”: growth is his work. And Paul gives thanks for the churches he remembers with gratitude (Colossians 1:3-4).
Pitfalls to avoid
Praying for an ideal church. No church is perfect. Pray for yours as it is.
Praying like a consumer. “Lord, improve what doesn't suit me” is a self-centered prayer. Ask instead what you can bring.
Turning prayer into criticism. If you have remarks, bring them to the leaders with respect.
Neglecting unity. A divided church loses its strength. Always include this request.
Limiting yourself to prayer. Let it lead you to a concrete action.
Today, pray five minutes for your local church: its people, its growth, one practical need.