As someone who loves the church, you want the church service to be an amazing time of praise, learning, fellowship, and communion with God. You may even be part of the church service and responsible for planning some of it.
As we seek to glorify God with this worship service, it’s important to be praying for it. These intercessory and opening prayer points for church service are prompts to help you start your prayers.
This article will cover prayer points for church service that you can pray as the church service approaches, in intercessory prayer. It will also suggest opening prayer points for church service, that you could pray if you are opening a church service in prayer.
Intercessory Prayer Points for Church Service
There are many details that need to be addressed in each week’s worship service, both by ministers and other staff members, as well as volunteers. We will pray for them, as well as those who will be attending the church service.
Praying for the Pastor or Guest Speaker
Pastors are often responsible for many duties besides delivering a Sunday message. Counseling, administration, mentoring, visitation, and more can fill the whole week, leaving little time for sermon preparation.
Pastor Prayer Points for Church Service: Pray for the pastor to have as much time as needed to prepare a message that will reach the people who will hear it. Pray for God’s provision. Ask the Lord to be with them today.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the pastor. We pray God’s blessings on the pastor, during Bible reading and study, prayer, and whatever else You have planned for the pastor this week. May this minister of God’s Word grow closer to You this week. May the sermon faithfully and dynamically proclaim Your truth.
Strengthen the pastor to persevere this week, and bless the good work of this faithful shepherd’s hands.
In the name of Chist Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for the Worship Leader and Worship Team
Those who lead the praise and worship time during a church service are using their God-given gifts to “sing unto the Lord a new song”! (Psalm 98:1 KJV) But they can be faced with lack of participation from the congregation, squabbles over song preferences, and burnout.
Worship Leader/Worship Team Prayer Points for Church Service: Pray for their Christian walk, for their inspiration, and for their endurance, by the grace of God.
O God,
Thank You for the worship leader and the worship team. We are blessed by the gifts that You have given them. Thank You for the hours they invest each week in leading us in worship through song, proclaiming God’s love.
We pray that they would walk closely with You each day. May they serve out of the abundance of grace and love that You have given them. May their joy be complete in You!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for the Audio/Visual Team or Tech Crew
Whatever you might call this group of people at your church, they are responsible for many of the behind the scenes details that support the people who are speaking or performing in some way.
They bear the brunt of criticism when something glitches that has worked perfectly during all the other Sundays. Plus, they often don’t receive thanks for all the other Sundays. Remember to say thank you to a tech crew member this Sunday!
Audio/Visual Team Prayer Points for Church Service: Pray for their patience, for their resourcefulness, and their encouragement.
O Lord,
We are thankful for those who volunteer on our audio/visual team, who run the sound board, the slide presentations, and many other aspects of the service.
We pray that You would encourage them today as they serve behind the scenes. Help them to be flexible when they need to adapt to a new circumstance. Give them strength for the long hours they spend at church.
May they draw closer to You each day,
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for others involved in preparing for the church service
The pastor, worship leader, and tech crew contribute a lot to the Sunday service, but they are not the only ones involved in helping the worship service come together. Associate pastors, ushers, greeters, church leadership, and many other people work together to put together a worship experience that glorifies the Lord.
All volunteers and staff prayer points for church service: Pray for people to experience the joy of serving the Lord wherever they are. Pray that schedules will be remembered. Ask the Lord to bring more volunteers and staff members where needed.
Dear Lord,
It is a joy to serve You! We pray that the volunteers and church staff members who are part of this week’s service, whether featured or unseen, would experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from serving You.
We pray for each person to experience spiritual growth in You each day. May they glorify You in their service. May they be equipped for their ministry this week.
In Your Precious and Holy name, Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for the Church Building
The physical meeting place of the church can take a lot of different forms! Maybe it is a house church, a rented space, or a 100 year old building. Wherever the church building is, it is good to ask God to let it serve its purpose for the church service.
Church Building Prayer Points for Church Service: Pray that the Lord will protect the building from theft, vandalism, and other negative conditions during the week. Pray for everything to be in working order for the weekend services. Pray for maintenance, repairs, and improvements to be done in God’s timing.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for providing a place for us to meet. We pray that You would have the building serve its purpose this week to bring us together for worship. Please help us to steward this meeting place well.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Protection for the Church Service
Churches are supposed to be a loving and accepting place, but it can also make them vulnerable to misguided or unstable people who want to harm others. We can use the powerful tool of prayer to ask God to protect the body of Christ at the church service.
Protection Prayer Points for Church Service: Pray that evil would not touch the church. Pray for nefarious plans to be thwarted. Pray for God’s hedge of protection around the church. Pray for wisdom for church leaders and others to take necessary precautions.
Dear Lord,
Thank You that we can come to You with our concerns, and that we do not need to live in fear. We pray that we would act wisely as a church and not take unnecessary or foolish risks. We pray that You would bind any evil spirits that want to cause us harm. Please protect us today.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for Children’s Programs and Youth Programs
Many churches have weekend programs for infants and toddlers in the nursery, as well as programs for students from elementary through high school. They get the chance to learn more about Jesus in a safe and loving environment. Praying for these programs should be a priority!
Children and Youth Program Prayer Points for Church Service: Pray for the volunteers and resources needed to have these programs. Pray that the teaching would be easy to understand and faithful to the Bible. Pray for safety and wisdom for the children and volunteers.
Dear God,
Thank You that we get to be part of these children and youth learning about You! We pray that we would faithfully teach them about You and Your Word.
Please provide for the children’s program, and help the kids to realize the love of Christ. Help them to be growing in a personal relationship with You. Please protect them.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Attendance for the Church Service
This might sound like it is about praying for hundreds or thousands of people attending Sunday services this week. But really, it is about praying that those who God has purposed to come this Sunday, that they would attend the church service.
Church Attendance Prayer Points for Church Service: Pray for good health, that people would be physically able to attend, or able to attend the online service. Pray for schedules to be clear, and that distractions or obstacles could be overcome. Pray for people to feel welcome when they do attend.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for our church service! We pray that You would draw people to come this week to learn more about You, and glorify Your name together with the church family.
Please help those who are deciding on whether or not to attend this Sunday morning, that they would attend and be blessed by the church service. If someone is too ill to attend, we pray that they would be able to connect to the livestream or a recording of the service, and still feel part of the church service.
Thank You for our church family!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Visitors for the Church Service
Whether someone has heard about the church service through a personal invite from a church member, the church website, an advertisement, or driving by, there are probably people out there each week considering attending your church for the first time. One great way to prepare for visitors is to pray for them!
Visitor Prayer Points for Church Service: Pray for a new visitor to have the courage to try something new. Pray that visitors will return, and find other encouraging aspects of the church. Pray for each person and family to find the church that You have called them to.
Dear Lord God,
Thank You for the people who decided to try our church for the very first time this week. We pray that You would help us in helping them feel comfortable. We pray that we will always be a church that welcomes others.
If there are any barriers that prevent us from making visitors feel comfortable, we pray that You would show this to us. Help each family to find the church where You want them to be.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Hearts to be Prepared for the Church Service
There are many ways people can come to church unprepared, but one way is to have a heart that is not prepared to hear the Gospel, or learn from it. It could be from not reading God’s Word all week. Or it could be living far away from God during the week.
It also could be someone who has never asked Jesus into their heart, or heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. Some come into a church service unwillingly, dragged in by a friend or family member. We want to pray for everyone to have a heart that is open to the Word of God.
Softened Hearts Prayer Points for Church Service: Pray that those who don’t know Jesus yet would be willing to listen and experience the church service. Pray for believers who need to hear this week’s message to be open to letting God change their hearts.
Dear God,
Thank You that You care about each one of us and having a personal relationship with each of us. It is amazing and humbling.
We pray that You would prepare each one of our hearts to hear Your Word this week. We pray especially that those who haven’t met You yet would be open to the Gospel. What a precious gift Your salvation is!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Printable Intercessory Prayer Points for Church Service
This guide is great for a prayer meeting, small group, or your own prayer time. It is free for ministry use.
Please do not sell the digital file or the printed copies. If you’d like to share this resource with someone, please send them the link to this post and not a link to the file. You can download it here.
Opening Prayer Points for Church Service
These prayer points for church service are here to help you if you have been called to open the service in prayer, but aren’t sure what to pray or you need new ideas. Each of these prayer points includes a Scripture and a few points that you can cover in powerful opening prayers, plus a sample prayer.
Prayer for the Presence of the Holy Spirit
“The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:52
Prayer Points: That we would be open to the Holy Spirit, and that we would not grieve the Holy Spirit.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, who lives within us. We pray that we would rely on Your strength through the Holy Spirit instead of our own.
Help us to worship joyfully and understand fully through the power of the Holy Spirit. May we not grieve the Holy Spirit this day. Help us to feel the Spirit’s presence today.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Our Church to be Prepared for Worship
“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” Psalm 95:6
Prayer Points: That we would humble ourselves before the Lord and worship Him through song.
Dear Holy Lord,
We want to worship You today! May we be humble before You, and sing your praises. May our worship please You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Our Hearts to be Ready for God’s Word
“But I trust in your loving kindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation.” Psalm 13:5
Prayer Points: That we would be trusting in God and His love, and ready to rejoice in His wonderful salvation.
O Lord,
Thank You that we get to worship together this day. We ask that You would ready our heart for Your perfect Word. May we put aside all distractions and concerns of our daily lives, and listen for what You want to say to us today.
In the name of Your holy servant Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for Our Church to be Obedient to God’s Word
“Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart. Direct me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in them.” Psalm 119:34-35
Prayer Points: That our church would be faithful in preaching the Bible today, and that we would be obedient to God’s Word.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your Holy Word! We pray that we would be faithful to the Bible in our songs, prayers, preaching, and everything else today. Please give us spiritual wisdom to understand Your Word.
In the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for Our Church to Receive What God Has For Us Today
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.” James 1:17
Prayer Points: That we would see how God’s hand has sustained us and blessed us, and that we would be open to what God has for us today.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the many blessings You have given to our church. We are thankful for Your provision and Your generosity to us. We thank You for helping us grow closer to You each day.
We pray, dear Father, that we would receive what You have for us today, that we would learn, and be challenged, and be open to Your will for us.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
If you haven’t already, be sure to download the Intercessory Prayer Points for Church Service. It’s a great addition to a prayer journal notebook or other quiet time prayer materials.
Whatever you choose to pray for today concerning the church service, we hope that these prayer points were helpful. See the power of prayer by praying for the church service this week!
If you liked “Intercessory & Opening Prayer Points for Church Service,” you may like “9 Powerful Bible Verses to Pray for the Church”, “How to Write a Prayer Request”, and “10 Prayer Points for the Church”. These are great resources for prayer for local churches. You may also want to check out “How to Develop an Effective Prayer Team.”