The very first church, right after Pentecost, is described in one simple sentence: they devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. Four ordinary things, done consistently, and the church grew because of it, not despite it.
These thirty verses are for praying over your own church, its leaders, its unity, and its mission, point by point.
Pray these in a church prayer meeting, or on your own for the congregation you’re part of.
Prayer Points for Church
1. Acts 2:42 (KJV)
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Prayer: Let this church devote itself to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer, the same four things.
Let devotion here mean consistency, not just occasional effort.
2. Ephesians 4:11-13 (KJV)
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”
Prayer: Equip the saints in this church for works of service, until we all reach unity in the faith.
Let equipping actually happen here, not just teaching.
3. Colossians 1:9-10 (KJV)
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
Prayer: Fill this church with knowledge of Your will, so we live lives worthy of You.
Let this knowledge lead to real fruit, not just information.
4. Philippians 1:9-11 (KJV)
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”
Prayer: Let this church’s love overflow more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.
Let love grow here, not just doctrine.
5. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV)
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Prayer: May You sanctify this whole church through and through, kept blameless.
Let sanctification reach every part of this body.
6. Ephesians 3:16-19 (KJV)
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
Prayer: Strengthen this church with power through Your Spirit, rooted and established in love.
Let this church’s foundation actually be love, not just structure.
7. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (KJV)
“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Prayer: Let this church be worthy of Your calling, and fulfill every good purpose You have for us.
Let purpose steady this congregation through whatever season we’re in.
8. Romans 15:5-6 (KJV)
“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Prayer: Give this church a spirit of unity, so with one voice we glorify You.
Let unity hold even through disagreement.
9. Ephesians 4:2-3 (KJV)
“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Prayer: Let us be humble, gentle, and patient, bearing with each other, keeping the unity of the Spirit.
Let patience with each other actually hold under real pressure.
10. John 17:20-23 (KJV)
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
Prayer: Let this church be one, the way You and the Father are one, so the world may believe.
Let our unity actually point people toward You.
11. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (KJV)
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Prayer: Let this church function as one body with many parts, each one valued.
Let every person here know their part actually matters.
12. Acts 4:31 (KJV)
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
Prayer: Let this church be filled with Your Holy Spirit and speak Your word with boldness.
Let boldness mark how we speak, not fear of what others think.
13. Ephesians 6:19-20 (KJV)
“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Prayer: Let our leaders be given words when they speak, that they may boldly proclaim Your mystery.
Let boldness be given, not manufactured.
14. Colossians 4:2-4 (KJV)
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
Prayer: Let this church devote itself to prayer, staying watchful, and let You open doors for the message.
Let doors actually open through our prayers.
15. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV)
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
Prayer: Let Your grace abound to this church, so we abound in every good work.
Let generosity here reach further than our own walls.
16. Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Prayer: Let this church go and make disciples, teaching them to obey everything You commanded.
Let mission be real here, not just a mission statement.
17. Acts 1:8 (KJV)
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Prayer: Let us receive power when Your Spirit comes on us, and be Your witnesses right where we are.
Let witness start here, in this community, not just somewhere far away.
18. Psalms 133:1 (KJV)
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Prayer: How good and pleasant it is when this church dwells together in unity.
Let unity here be pleasant, not just dutiful.
19. Hebrews 10:24-25 (KJV)
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Prayer: Let us not give up meeting together, but spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Let this gathering actually accomplish that, not just fill an hour.
20. James 5:16 (KJV)
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Prayer: Let us pray for each other so we may be healed, this whole congregation caring for one another.
Let prayer here be mutual, not one-directional.
21. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (KJV)
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
Prayer: Let us offer petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving for everyone, including our leaders.
Let our leaders be covered in prayer, not just criticism.
22. Romans 12:4-5 (KJV)
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
Prayer: Let this church function as one body with many members, each belonging to all the others.
Let belonging here be real, not just attendance.
23. Ephesians 4:15-16 (KJV)
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Prayer: Let us speak the truth in love, growing up into You, joined together and building each other up.
Let truth and love hold together here, neither one sacrificed for the other.
24. Acts 6:4 (KJV)
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
Prayer: Let our leaders give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.
Let leadership here be marked by prayer first.
25. 1 Peter 4:10-11 (KJV)
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
Prayer: Let each of us use whatever gift we’ve received to serve others, faithfully administering Your grace.
Let every gift here find its place, not go unused.
26. Nehemiah 4:9 (KJV)
“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.”
Prayer: Let us pray to You, and let us also take action, the way Nehemiah’s people did both together.
Let prayer and action work together in this church, not one without the other.
27. Philippians 2:1-2 (KJV)
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
Prayer: Let us be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Let purpose unite us more than preference does.
28. Galatians 6:9-10 (KJV)
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Prayer: Let us not grow weary in doing good, and let us look for every opportunity to do good, especially to fellow believers.
Let this church keep serving even when it’s tiring.
29. Psalms 122:6 (KJV)
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”
Prayer: Let us pray for the peace of this church, and let those who love it prosper.
Let peace here be real, not just the absence of conflict.
30. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Prayer: Bless this church and keep it, make Your face shine on it, and give it peace.
Let this old blessing settle over this whole congregation.
Conclusion
That first church didn’t grow because of a strategic plan. It grew because ordinary people kept showing up for the same four things, teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer, week after week, without giving up on any of them.
Use these as literal prayer points in your next church prayer meeting, one at a time.
For the whole service these points might surround, an invocation prayer for worship service pairs well with this one.