Praying through the Church Covenant, Parts 3 & 4

I will share the responsibility of my church

Give thanks for...

God's faithful provision for the church's financial needs

Those in our Body who have taken the gospel to other parts of the world as missionaries

Pray for...

To pray for the ongoing spiritual growth and health of the Body, pray regularly through Paul's prayers for the churches in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Colossians 1:9-14, Philippians 1:9-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Ephesians 3:14-21)

Newcomers to Joy, to be warmly welcomed by God's people and to be knit into the family at Joy (Romans 15:7)

Courage and compassion towards those outside the faith, to share the gospel winsomely everywhere we go and to see lost people brought to faith in Christ (Colossians 4:5-6, Acts 8:1-4, 1 Peter 3:15)

God to free our hearts from the love of money and to use our resources to store up heavenly, not earthly, treasure (Matthew 6:19-21, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 6:17-19, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Luke 12:13-34, Acts 4:32-37)

The Compassion Ministry, which provides materially and spiritually for those in need (Matthew 25:31-46, James 1:27, Galatians 2:10, 6:10)

JCF Missionaries who are serving Christ in Bosnia, Portugal, Mexico, Central Asia, and more generally for the worldwide advance of the gospel in those areas of the world where Christ is not known (Romans 15:20-21, Habakkuk 2:14, Matthew 6:9-10, Acts 1:8)

I will share in the ministry of my church

Give thanks for...

Those who are responsible for the teaching of the church (Preaching team, Youth and Children's Ministries, Biblical Counseling, Life Group Leaders)

For the many members of JCF who are faithfully using their spiritual gifts to build up the Body of Christ

The Deacons, who care physically and spiritually for members of the Body in need

Pray for...

Every member of Joy to know and use their spiritual gifts for the glory of Christ and the building up of the church (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11)

For the pastors and teachers of Joy to have wisdom and strength to equip the entire flock of Joy to be disciple-making followers of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:11-16)

For every member to grow in their grasp of and love for the gospel, so that they would be competent to encourage and admonish one another with the gospel (Colossians 3:16, Romans 15:14, Ephesians 4:15-16)

The Life Groups at Joy to grow as little families of missionaries devoted to the mission of making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:42-47)

For the men of Joy to grow in their calling to make disciples in their homes, spiritually leading and protecting their wives and children (Ephesians 5:22-6:4, Colossians 3:18-21, Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

For the mothers of Joy who labor in their homes doing thankless work to serve their husbands and children for the sake of Christ (1 Peter 3:1-6, 1 Timothy 2:9-10)

For Christ-exalting marriages that would demonstrate the beauty of the gospel to a watching world (Ephesians 5:22-33, Mark 10:1-10)

For older men to invest in and encourage younger men in the faith, and for older women to do the same for younger women (Titus 2:1-8)

For the deacons, to have wisdom, perseverance and encouragement as they seek to care for those in need within the church (1 Timothy 3:8-13, Acts 6:1-7)