Eighteen Things to Pray for this Sunday
Sam Katchikian
Over the last few years, my prayer life has been enriched by regularly using Jonathan Leeman’s list of supplications to intercede for the flock under my care. This tool has been an invaluable resource, allowing me to prioritize the gospel over the tendency to default to generic prayer requests that can sometimes lack deep gratitude for my church. Paul's familiar exhortation to the Philippians rings true for our prayer lives today: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4).
Inspired by Leeman’s list, I’ve prepared 18 specific things to pray for this Sunday as we consider our place in the body of Christ. I compiled this primarily for my own church family, with the conviction that part of my role as a faithful shepherd is to teach my congregation how to pray. I also hope to model a habit of prayer that considers the significance of the Lord’s Day gathering—the 'main event' of the week for the church. Some of these requests are drawn from books I’ve read on ecclesiology (specifically corporate worship), while others come from conversations with fellow believers. They represent the most pressing needs that came to mind as I put pen to paper.
Feel free to adopt as many of these items as you see fit, and use them in your own prayer life this week as you prepare for Sunday. Who knows what our sovereign God may be pleased to accomplish in our churches for His glory if we approach the Lord’s Day with prayerful anticipation?
Pray…
That our gathering would set the tone for a collective pursuit of holiness throughout the week, from Monday to Saturday.
That newcomers would be welcomed as an extension of the loving embrace Jesus offers to His bride.
That Jesus—in all His excellencies—would be the main attraction, captivating the church’s entire worship.
That every element in the order of worship would foster greater unity around the glorious gospel of God’s redeeming grace.
That the Spirit of God would use the Word to expose our sins and lead us to confess them with honesty and godly sorrow.
That our pastor(s) would not aim to impress with eloquence or performance, but faithfully expound the Scriptures and apply them to our lives.
That fellowship would be cherished by every believer, not treated as an optional activity.
That unbelievers among us would encounter the love, mercy, and patience of Christ, fleeing to Him in saving faith.
That members would use their spiritual gifts to serve others with genuine love.
That we would refrain from showing favoritism among fellow believers.
That our gathering would be an essential pathway to discipleship, where members take responsibility to speak the truth in love to one another.
That the distinction between the church and the world would be unmistakable to every worshiper.
That our worship would guard the gospel from errors, distortions, and extraneous sentiments.
That members would humbly submit to biblical discipline, confident that “all Scripture is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
That members would not just “show up” for corporate worship but joyfully participate in magnifying our triune God, side by side.
That we would be well-rested, both physically and spiritually, to fully engage in worship on the Lord’s Day.
That every eye would be fixed on things above, where Jesus reigns with all power and authority.
That God would do immeasurably more than we could ask or think through our ordinary gathering.
May God graciously hear and answer these prayers as we gather to worship Him this Sunday.
Read Jonathan Leeman's 18 Reasons