Growing a church is not easy. It is no surprise that you are seeking prayer for church growth. I’m sure you have made prayers before for your church to grow with little success.
In this article, I will not only show you how to pray for church growth but I will also help you understand how God ordained the church to grow.
Once you understand how God ordained the church to grow, you will have an easy time growing your church.
Understanding Church Growth
Misunderstanding church growth is a terrible mistake that will cause your church to stagnate. Humble yourself and know what God wants from you.
First of all, you need to understand that the church is the body of Christ. Everyone who believes in Jesus is part of the body of Christ.
In the eyes of God, the church already exists. The church was built by Jesus Christ Himself. Do you remember when Jesus said He would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days and people laughed at Him?
When Jesus died and resurrected, He started the church. In His own words, He said a seed must die first before it grows and produces many seeds of its kind.
It was from the moment of resurrection that the church began to grow. That growth continues to this day. All we have to do in assist in the growth as God enables us.
Apostle Paul acknowledged this truth in 1st Corinthians 3:6-8. This is what the Bible says: I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
What we call churches today are fellowships. God gives some people the responsibility of starting fellowships. Apostle Paul started many fellowships as He testifies Himself in the scripture above.
For others, God has given them the grace to work in the fellowships to make them grow. When you do the work God ordained you to do, He brings growth to your fellowship.
Most importantly, the Bible mentions in 1st Corinthians 3:11 that no other foundation can be laid other than the one which has already been laid which is Christ Jesus.
This means that every fellowship that you start must be laid on the foundation of Christ or else it won’t grow.
How to Grow a Church according to the Pattern of Christ
Since we cannot do anything new other than what Christ did, we have to follow the example of Christ when raising our own churches.
Jesus gave birth to the church by perfecting Himself. He set an example of serving God and being faithful. Through His example, many were convicted to leave their unfaithful ways and become faithful.
As the person in charge of a young church, you have to set an example for others to follow. The members of your church will be faithful to the extent that you are faithful to God.
If your faithfulness to God waivers, so will the faithfulness of your members. Even if you have a handful of members, your faithfulness to God will marvel them and they will invite many more.
I hope you remember how the Samaritan woman at the well was impressed by the words of Jesus that she called others to witness ‘the man who told me everything I ever did’.
That is the perfect way to attract members to your church; through your faithfulness to God.
How to Pray for Church Growth according to Scripture
1. Pray for the Love of God to abound
“Love one another as I have loved you” John 13:34. “All a man desires is unfailing love…” Proverbs 19:22.
The Bible is full of scriptures that emphasize the importance of love in our lives. It is love that draws us to God. For a church to grow, members must feel loved.
But loving people is not easy. That is why you need to pray that the love of God may abound in your church. Your duty apart from praying for the love of God to abound is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.
You can only love others when you feel loved yourself. If the love God has for you is very clear to you, loving the members of your church will not be hard.
Instead of trying to generate your own love for the members of your church, soak in the love of God and it will automatically flow to your members.
With more love in the church, you won’t have to lift a finger to attract members to your church.
2. Pray for the Gift of Faith
You cannot grow a church without faith. This is why when praying for the growth of your church, you have to ask God to give you faith.
Faith is the gift that will make you preach to three members with joy and vigor. Without faith, you will struggle to preach when members are few.
Faith enables you understand that growth takes time and the assurance that your church will grow will motivate you to keep going even when things look unpromising.
The few members you will get in the beginning will ride on your faith. If you lose your faith, you will lose the few members you have.
Remember that all things in your church reflect you. If you have deep faith in God, your members will have deep faith in you.
3. Pray for Wisdom and Understanding
When praying for the growth of your church, you have to pray for wisdom and understanding. Wisdom and understanding are important in the administrative department.
You need wisdom to govern people. The Bible tells us of the night King Solomon slept and the Lord offered to give him whatever he asked for. King Solomon asked for wisdom that he may govern the people of God perfectly.
The request of King Solomon was pleasing to God that He was added more benefits that he had not asked for.
When you pray for the growth of your church by asking for wisdom, God will be pleased and He will do for you more than what you asked for.
Having a desire to govern God’s people in uprightness is a prayer that God cannot overlook.
Sample Prayer for Church Growth
Lord Almighty, there is none like you in heaven and on earth. Great is your power and sweet is your salvation. How delightful is it for those you have chosen to serve you Oh Great King!
I have desired in my heart to be counted among your servants. I offer myself to your service Oh Lord. Teach me how to serve you faithfully. With the gifts you have given me I have started a church and I would love to see it grow that your name may be glorified in the fellowship the same way it is glorified in my life.
Teach me love that I may share it with the people you will give to me. Build my faith that I may encourage many to also have faith in you. Bestow upon me wisdom and understanding that I may lead people to you.
Help me to remember you always. May I never love my church more than you! Do not let me be a slave to the object of my own making. Save my soul from the deception of the wicked one.
You are the God who makes things grow. I have planted a seed and I am watering it but only you can make it grow. Give me the strength and ability to see the fulfillment of my heart’s desire.
Thank you Lord Jesus for setting an example for me! Help me follow it all the days of my life. To you be all honor, glory and power forever and ever.
Amen!