15 Intercessory Prayers for Sunday Service to Praying for Your Church and Community on the Lord’s Day

Sunday is a special day for Christians, as it is the day that we commemorate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is also the day that we gather together as a church to worship God, hear His Word, and fellowship with one another.

But Sunday is not only a day of celebration and joy, it is also a day of intercession and supplication. As we come before God’s throne of grace, we have the privilege and responsibility to pray for our church and our community, to seek His will and His glory in all things.

Intercessory prayer is the act of praying on behalf of others, especially those who are in need, in trouble, or in danger. Intercessory prayer is a powerful way to express our love and compassion for others, as well as our faith and trust in God. Intercessory prayer is also a way to join God in His work of transforming lives, healing wounds, restoring relationships, and advancing His kingdom.

In this articlet, we will share 15 intercessory prayers for Sunday service that you can use to pray for your church and your community on the Lord’s Day. These prayers are based on biblical principles and themes, and they cover various aspects of the church’s life and mission. You can use these prayers as they are, or you can modify them according to your specific needs and situations. You can also use these prayers as a guide to inspire your own personal prayers.

1: A prayer for the Holy Spirit

Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit, who is our Helper, Teacher, Comforter, and Guide. We ask You to fill us with Your Spirit today, as we gather together as Your people. We pray that Your Spirit would move powerfully among us, convicting us of sin, revealing to us Your truth, empowering us to worship You in spirit and in truth, and enabling us to serve You with joy and faithfulness. We pray that Your Spirit would also equip us with spiritual gifts, fruits, and graces, that we may edify one another and glorify You. We pray that Your Spirit would also lead us into all truth, sanctify us by Your Word, and transform us into the image of Christ. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

2: A prayer for the pastor and church leaders

Lord Jesus, we thank You for calling and appointing our pastor and church leaders to shepherd Your flock. We pray that You would bless them with wisdom, courage, humility, integrity, and love. We pray that You would protect them from the attacks of the enemy, from temptation, from discouragement, from burnout, and from any harm or danger. We pray that You would anoint them with Your Spirit, that they may preach Your Word with power and clarity, teach Your people with sound doctrine and application, lead Your church with vision and direction, care for Your sheep with compassion and gentleness, and model Your character and conduct in their lives. We pray that You would also provide for their needs, support their families, strengthen their marriages, and refresh their souls. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

3: A prayer for the church members and congregation

Gracious God, we thank You for saving us by Your grace through faith in Christ Jesus. We thank You for making us Your children and Your body. We pray that You would help us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We pray that You would help us to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love one another as ourselves. We pray that You would help us to bear one another’s burdens, to forgive one another as You have forgiven us, to encourage one another and build one another up, to serve one another in love, to pray for one another without ceasing, to admonish one another in wisdom, to comfort one another in affliction, to rejoice with one another in gladness, and to live in peace and harmony with one another. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

4: A prayer for the church’s worship service

Holy God, we thank You for inviting us into Your presence today, to worship You in spirit and in truth. We pray that You would accept our worship as a pleasing sacrifice to You, as we offer You our praise, our thanksgiving, our confession, our supplication, our dedication, and our obedience. We pray that You would speak to us through Your Word today, that we may hear Your voice, understand Your message, apply Your teaching, and obey Your commands. We pray that You would also bless us through the sacraments today, that we may remember Your grace, celebrate Your covenant, partake of Your body and blood, and renew our commitment to You. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

5: A prayer for the church’s outreach and evangelism efforts

Mighty God, we thank You for sending us Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We thank You for commissioning us to be Your witnesses, to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that You have commanded us. We pray that You would empower us with Your Spirit, that we may be bold and faithful in sharing the gospel with others. We pray that You would open the hearts and minds of those who do not know You, that they may hear and believe the good news of salvation in Christ. We pray that You would also add to Your church daily those who are being saved, that they may be baptized and discipled in Your name. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

6: A prayer for the church’s spiritual growth and development

Loving God, we thank You for giving us Your Word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We thank You for giving us Your Spirit, who guides us into all truth and helps us to pray according to Your will. We pray that You would help us to grow in spiritual maturity, that we may attain to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. We pray that You would help us to study Your Word diligently, to meditate on it day and night, to memorize it in our hearts, and to obey it in our lives. We pray that You would help us to pray without ceasing, to seek Your face always, to confess our sins regularly, and to intercede for others fervently. We pray that You would help us to exercise our spiritual gifts, to use them for Your glory and for the common good. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

7: A prayer for the church’s financial health and stability

Generous God, we thank You for providing for all our needs according to Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. We thank You for entrusting us with Your resources, that we may be faithful stewards of Your grace. We pray that You would help us to honor You with our finances, that we may give cheerfully, generously, and sacrificially to Your work. We pray that You would bless the offerings that we bring today, that they may be used wisely and effectively for Your kingdom purposes. We pray that You would also meet the needs of our church, that we may pay our bills, support our staff, maintain our facilities, fund our ministries, and extend our mission. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

8: A prayer for the church’s unity and love

Merciful God, we thank You for making us one in Christ Jesus, who is our peace, who has broken down the wall of hostility between us, who has reconciled us to God and to one another, and who has made us members of one body. We pray that You would help us to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, that we may be one as You are one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We pray that You would help us to love one another as Christ has loved us, that we may lay down our lives for one another, that we may serve one another humbly, that we may accept one another graciously, that we may honor one another sincerely, and that we may show one another kindness. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

9: A prayer for the church’s impact on the local community

Compassionate God, we thank You for placing us in this community, where we can be salt and light, where we can be a city on a hill, where we can be a witness to Your grace and truth. We pray that You would help us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to do good to all people, to seek the welfare of our city, to share the gospel with boldness, to serve with excellence, to partner with other churches and organizations, and to make a positive difference in our society. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

10: A prayer for the church’s influence on the world

Sovereign God, we thank You for creating and sustaining this world, where we can see Your glory and power, where we can enjoy Your beauty and bounty, where we can fulfill Your purpose and plan. We pray that You would help us to be good stewards of Your creation, to care for it responsibly, to use it wisely, to protect it from harm, and to share it generously. We pray that You would help us to be faithful ambassadors of Your kingdom, to proclaim Your gospel to all nations, to make disciples of all peoples, to plant churches in all places, to support missionaries in all fields, and to pray for Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

11: A prayer for the next generation of believers

Faithful God, we thank You for giving us the privilege and responsibility of raising the next generation of believers. We thank You for the children and youth in our church and in our families, who are a gift and a blessing from You.

We pray that You would help us to teach them Your Word, to train them in Your ways, to model them Your love, and to nurture them in Your faith. We pray that You would also protect them from the evil one, from the world’s influences, from peer pressure, from false teachings, and from any harm or danger. We pray that You would also fill them with Your Spirit, that they may grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. We pray that You would also use them for Your glory, that they may be a light to their generation, that they may serve You with passion and purpose, and that they may fulfill Your calling on their lives. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

12: A prayer for those who are lost and hurting

Compassionate God, we thank You for Your great love and mercy, that You sent Your Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification. We thank You that You are not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and faith in Christ. We pray for those who are lost and hurting in our community and in our world, who do not know You or who have rejected You. We pray that You would open their eyes to see their need for a Savior, that You would open their ears to hear the gospel of grace, that You would open their hearts to receive Your love and forgiveness, and that You would open their mouths to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. We pray that You would also heal their wounds, comfort their sorrows, supply their needs, restore their hope, and give them peace. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

13: A prayer for those in positions of authority

Sovereign God, we thank You for ordaining the authorities that exist, for they are appointed by You for our good. We pray for those in positions of authority in our community and in our world, such as our government leaders, our law enforcement officers, our judges, our teachers, our employers, our pastors, and our parents.  We pray that You would grant them wisdom, justice, integrity, courage, humility, and grace. We pray that You would guide them by Your Word and Your Spirit, that they may rule according to Your will and Your ways. We pray that You would also protect them from corruption, from deception, from violence, from oppression, and from any harm or danger. We pray that You would also bless them with success, with favor, with honor, and with joy. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

14: A prayer for peace and justice in the world

Righteous God, we thank You for being the King of kings and the Lord of lords, who reigns over all the nations, who judges the peoples with equity, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry, who sets the prisoners free, who opens the eyes of the blind, who lifts up those who are bowed down, who loves the righteous, who watches over the strangers, who upholds the widow and the fatherless, and who frustrates the plans of the wicked.

We pray for peace and justice in the world, that wars may cease, that violence may end, that oppression may stop, that poverty may be alleviated, that hunger may be satisfied, that sickness may be cured, that freedom may be enjoyed, that rights may be respected, and that dignity may be restored. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

15: A prayer for God’s glory to be revealed

Glorious God, we thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Your creation, through Your Word, through Your Son, and through Your Spirit. We thank You for showing us Your power, Your wisdom, Your holiness, Your grace, Your love, and Your glory.

We pray that Your glory would be revealed more and more in our church and in our community, that we may see Your beauty, that we may feel Your presence, that we may hear Your voice, that we may know Your will, and that we may do Your works. We pray that Your glory would also be revealed more and more in the world, that all people may acknowledge You as God, that all nations may worship You as King, that all creation may praise You as Lord, and that all things may reflect You as Creator. We pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 Bible verses about intercessory prayer

The Bible contains many examples and instructions about intercessory prayer. Here are some Bible verses that can inspire and guide you as you intercede for others:

• I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
• Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
• For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-10)
• And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)
• I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3-5)
• If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. (1 John 5:16)
• But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)
• Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1)

My Words of Conclusion

We hope that these 15 intercessory prayers for Sunday service have inspired you and equipped you to pray for your church and your community on the Lord’s Day. We encourage you to use these prayers regularly, either individually or corporately, as you seek God’s face and His favor. We also invite you to share these prayers with others, who may also benefit from them.

When we pray for the church and the community, we are not only independent individuals but also members of the church and the community. To better unite our faith and strength, We make Custom Pins for churches and communities to engrave prayer words or church or community symbols and also provide powerful publicity for the prayer activities of the church and the community to expand our family.

Remember that God hears and answers our prayers, according to His will and His timing. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.