Lead in Prayer

Why does this matter?

Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God as individuals and as a church community. In public prayer you lead us in bringing our corporate concerns to God. What you pray for and how you pray powerfully models how we should relate to God.

What is involved?

Join those who are serving up the front in a time of prayer at 10:15am in the auditorium.
Know when you are on so there isn’t a gap while we wait for you to walk up the front. If you pray straight after a song it is your job to be there in time to tell people to sit down.
Stand in front of the microphone before speaking.
Introduce yourself and invite people to join you in prayer.
Take a breath and pause to settle yourself. Speak slightly slower than the pace that feels natural.
Sit down.

First and Second Prayer

There is a workshop on Leading in Prayer run from time to time. What follows here is a brief summary of how prayer is organised at Scots.

Different elements of Prayer are covered in First and Second Prayer. First Prayer focusses upon Praise/Adoration and Confession. Second Prayer follows the talk and makes specific requests and thanks God for who he is and what he has done.

First Prayer Details

Please compose and pray your own prayer of Praise/Adoration (thanking God for what hes like, perhaps using an idea in the song that immediately precedes your prayer, or from the Bible verse used in the Call to Worship). This prayer should be about 100-250 words long.

Then lead the congregation in prayer of confession. Elvanto will specific whether its Prayer A, B or C, these are set prayers we pray together, or whether its “no set prayer” in which case you are expected to compose and pray your own prayer, in which case your prayer should be about 100-250 words long.

The read out to us the set Word of Assurance – a Bible passage that speaks of God’s forgiveness.

If you don’t wish to use the set prayer, or use a different text for the word of assurance, please check with Craig first.

See Text of: Prayer of Confession (A) Prayer of Confession (B) Prayer of Confession (C)

Second Prayer Details

Each Week in our “Second prayer” it would be good to cover the following 4 things:

Pray for our financial giving each week. Because we don’t physically take up an offering each Sunday it is even more important that we pray about it, lest our giving become “invisible”. Pray that it will be used for Gods glory and the growing of the gospel.
Pray in response to the Word. What can we pray for in the light of the Bible Talk today? What can we thank God for that he has done or promises to do? What can we ask God to change about us in the light of the passage? (Talk to the preacher if you need to get a clearer idea on this. Leave space in your notes to jot down 2-3 sentences as you listen.)
Pray for our City, Nation and World. Our prayers should not express a selfish, insular concern for only ourselves. What is happening in the world (Australia or overseas) that would be important to pray about?
What is happening at church: upcoming events, prayer for leaders, new groups starting, etc.

To help us regularly pray for important things (not just the immediate or urgent problems in the news cycle) you will be asked to pray for a particular prayer area from the list below.

Government & Leaders	Leaders (Elders) & Committee
Other Churches in our area.	Christians in the work place
Kids Church and teachers	Theological Students
Wednesday Hub Groups	Public institutions – Unis, hospitals, police

Things to be added to this list in the next few months: Missionaries we support as a church, youth group,

Time required: Write your prayer out before Sunday. This could take a while the first time. Your prayer should be about 200-400 words in length. Email your prayer to Craig or the Leader for the day by Thursday lunchtime if you feel the need for feedback. Arrive in time for the group prayer 15 mins before church.

Prayer of Confession A

Please pray your own prayer of Adoration (thanking God for what he is like, perhaps using an idea in the song that immediately precedes your prayer, or from the Bible verse used in the Call to Worship), and then lead the congregation in praying the prayer of confession below. All the text below in blue appears on the screen.

Prayer of Confession A
(Cranmer’s Confession 1552)

Let us confess our sins to God:
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have left undone what we ought to have done,
and we have done what we ought not to have done.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

Have mercy on us:
Forgive us our sins and teach us to forgive others.
Bring forth in us the fruit of the Spirit
that we may live for your glory.
Amen.

Hear these words of assurance from God’s word:

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6)

Prayer of Confession B

Prayer of Confession B
Augustine’s Confession (adapted) AD 354-430

Let us confess our sins to God:
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
maker of all things, judge of all people,
we acknowledge with shame the sins we have committed,
by thought, word and deed, against your divine majesty,
provoking your rightful anger against us.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus, have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.
Amen.

Hear these words of assurance from God’s word:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

(Eph 2:8-10)

Prayer of Confession (C)

Prayer of Confession
John Knox (adapted) 1556 AD

Let us confess our sins to God:
Living God, creator and sustainer of the universe,
thank you for revealing your love for the world,
by sending your Son to us.

Heavenly Father,
we have taken your goodness for granted.
despite your kindness to us, we have not been faithful to you.
We are not worthy to come into your presence.

Have mercy on us,
and grant us the assurance in our hearts
that in your Son’s sacrifice we are completely forgiven.

Father, by your Holy Spirit,
purify our love for you,
deepen our devotion to your Son,
inspire in us a greater desire to serve your kingdom
and glorify your name,
AMEN

Hear these words of assurance from God’s word:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18)

Some Alternate Prayers of Confession and Words of Assurance

Philip Jensen, Two Ways to Live, 1977
Dear God,
I know that I am not worthy to be accepted by you. I don’t deserve your gift of eternal life. I am guilty of rebelling against you and ignoring you. I need forgiveness. Thank you for sending your son to die for me that I may be forgiven. Thank you that he rose from the dead to give me new life. Please forgive me and change me, that I may live with Jesus as my ruler.
Amen.

Augustine of Hippo (adapted from Confessions) AD 354-430
Creator God,
you have made us for yourself, and hearts will always be restless until they find their rest in you.
O Lord,
The house of my soul is small and narrow;
enlarge it that you may enter in.
It lies in ruins, please repair it.
It is unworthy of your presence, make it clean.
Amen.