09/10/2025
Changing our world through Prayer
Article
35 Scriptures to pray for your Church
Every church faces different challenges. How do we pray for our church to be safe from spiritual attacks? How do we pray in times of trial or leadership challenges? How do we pray Scripture in a way that is pleasing to the Father? Following are some Scripture references that you can use to pray for your church in your weekly home groups.
Pray for the church to…
1. Have a passion for the unsaved like Jesus did (Luke 19:10)
“…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
2. Evangelise within every sphere of influence (Mark 16:15)
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
3. Worship God in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:22-24)
“For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
4. Love God with all our hearts, minds, souls, strength (Luke 10:27)
So he answered and said, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND,’ and ‘YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'”
5. Become more like Jesus (John 3:30)
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
6. Be radical followers of Jesus (Luke 9:23-26, 57-62)
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
7. Grow strong in faith, trusting God for great things in His kingdom (Romans 4:20-21)
He (Abraham) did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God…
8. Become disciple-makers, teaching all things that Jesus taught (Matthew 28:19-20)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
… pray without ceasing.
9. Learn to pray – fervently and effectively (Hebrews 4:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Heb 4:16 – Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing…
1 Timothy 2:1-2 – Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
10. Preach “the Word.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
11. “Admonish” one another daily (Hebrews 10:25)
…not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
12. Surrender our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
13. No longer behave like children, but grow up (Hebrews 5:12-14)
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
14. No longer live for ourselves alone, but for Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:15)
…and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
… not love the world.
15. Stop loving worldly things (1 John 2:15-17)
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
16. Become a glorious church without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27)
…that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
17. Be holy for God is holy (Matthew 5:48, 1 Thessalonians 4:3,7; 1 Peter 1:16)
Matthew 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
1 Peter 1:15-16 …but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
18. Live sexually pure and have healthy marriages and families (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
19. Be willing to share what we have with one another, breaking bread, having fellowship in homes (Acts 2:42-46)
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
20. Train, equip, send and support missionaries (Acts 13:2-3; 16:5-10)
Act 13:2-3 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
…be filled with the Spirit!
21. All be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
22. Bring our children up in ways of God’s kingdom (Ephesians 6:4)
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
23. Take special effort to minister to “little ones.” (Matthew 19:14)
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
24. Identify and exercise our gifts without holding back (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4)
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all..
25. Sing whole-heartedly to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16)
Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Eph 5:20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…
26. Give thanks in every situation, whether good or bad (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Ephesians 6:19-20)
Eph 6:19-20 …and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
… give cheerfully.
27. Give to the Lord cheerfully and liberally without holding back (2 Corinthians 9:6-10)
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “HE HAS DISPERSED ABROAD, HE HAS GIVEN TO THE POOR; HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.”
28. Trust God for healing in our bodies (James 5:14-16)
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
29. Confess our faults, failures, and weaknesses to one another (James 5:16)
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
30. Be able to answer questions regarding our faith (1 Peter 3:15)
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…
31. Resist the devil until he flees (1 Peter 5:8-9, Ephesians 6:10-18)
1 Peter 5:8-9 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
… forgive men their trespasses.
32. Forgive one another and make right what is wrong (Matthew 6:14-15, Ephesians 4:29-32)
Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
33. Partake of the Lord’s table (communion) worthily (1 Corinthians 11:26-30)
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
34. Love one another so sincerely that the world sees and believes (John 13:35)
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
35. Walk in unity with God and one another (John 17)
John 17:21-23 “ …that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.“
