Pray for your church
Your primary mode of interacting with your world
I was raised to believe that the church was the place you go on Sundays.
Now, let me be clear here, that this wasn’t the intention of my parents (and I think they worked to undo some of that throughout my later years).
However, it was a common lesson taught by a few members of my extended family.
The church building and its resources were considered sacred.
And yet…Jesus spent a lot of time teaching his disciples how to take care of those on the “outskirts” of society and Jewish laws and customs.
Peter and Paul both did the same.
So the idea that a church, which is not simply the building, but the people who gather under the banner of Christ, should go out and serve the world…isn’t so farfetched.
In fact, it is at the very core of our teaching.
And praying for your church means praying for the people in your church, the resources available to your church, the ability your church has to impact your local community.
I could go on and on, but the heart of what I’m getting at here is this: praying for your church means praying for the impact of your church community to better serve the world as a whole.
To pray for your church is to pray for your own eyes to be open to how to serve your world around you alongside others in your church.
And praying for your church can go in a lot of different ways, but in this global mindset, this way of praying about how to serve your world, means seeking the Spirit’s guidance on where your church can make the most impact with the total resources made available.
For one church that might look like a food pantry. For another, that might look like a benevolence ministry. And for another it might look like a co-working space.
My prayer for today
Our Father, give us the eyes to see how our church can serve the world. Jesus, make the resources available to us crystal clear. Spirit, give us a push in the right direction and encourage us to take the necessary steps to make it happen. Amen.
Remember
Start praying about how your church can serve your community with its unique people, resources, and location. Then, have a conversation with others in your church and see if there is any interest in pursuing those ideas and prayers. You never know what might happen!