Christmas 2 Collect - reworked in modern English

Almighty God, 
You have wonderfully created humans in your own image, 
And even more wonderfully you have restored us. 

Grant, we pray, that as your Son our Lord Jesus Christ
took on our humanity, 
So too we may increasingly take on the divine nature; 

ever growing like you in holiness,
Through your Son, 
Who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, 

One God, for all eternity. 
Amen.

Leading for Significance - 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

 

Our Father in heaven
You have led us in meekness, gentleness and humility.
You have acted with mercy, grace and forgiveness when Christ came.  
Though the gospel seems weak, it is your power to destroy strongholds, bringing all under the Lordship of Christ.
Take this gospel to every tribe and nation.
Give us the desire to long for your commendation and approval.
As we seek gentleness, meekness and humility.
Amen

 

Given, Giving, Getting - 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Our loving heavenly Father
You have given us - the inexpressible gift
Too large to ever understand
Too awesome to ever grow tired of
You have sowed bountifully into us
May we sow generously and give cheerfully
Knowing that we are enriched in every way
And that you will multiply the harvest of righteousness in us
So that thanksgiving may overflow to you
As people glorify your name
Amen

How to make conflict into a good thing - 2 Corinthians 7:2-16

Our Father
You are the God of comfort for the downcast
You send comfort through people
You send growth through people
Give us the joys of godly grief and personal repentance
And the joy of seeing others repent too as we see their earnestness lived out in your sight
Produce ever greater godliness in us
Amen
 

Where does God live today? 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

O loving Father,

You are our judge and our saviour,
Remind us that we are the temple of the living God
    The place of your dwelling
    The ones with whom you walk
    Sons and daughters
Keep us from yoking ourselves with darkness.
Set before us the vision of your purity.
Let us see our sin in the light of your holiness.
And make our hearts sing at the joy of your presence.

Amen  

How to spot a fake pastor - 2 Corinthians 6v1-13

Our Father,
We pray for gospel ministers to display great endurance under great suffering.
We pray for them to increasingly fight for holiness of life, for purity of heart, for knowledge of you, for patience with others, for kindness of behaviour, love for the lost and truth in a world of lies.
We pray for them to endure when they are spoken well of and when they are maligned.
May they minister, may they always focus not on themselves but on others.
And we pray that Christians, the world over, may open their hearts and affections to genuine gospel ministers.
Not receiving the grace of God in vain.
Amen

The lies we tell ourselves - "I don't lie" - Philippians 4:8,9

Our Father
Set my mind on truth
Set my yearnings on your honour
Set my longings on justice
Set my desires on purity
Set my cravings towards loveliness.
May I constantly think on what is commendable
May I seek excellence in all I do
And may I pursue what is praiseworthy
As my renewed mind is increasingly set towards loving you and others.
Amen

Racism, Drunkenness, Gaza, Israel, The Curse of Ham and lots of other stuff - Genesis 9:18-29

Father, forgive us for treating people as our servants
Forgive us for not treating others with honour and respect
As made in the image of God.
Thank you for giving us a saviour to fix the mess of this world
Amen

John 17 - The thing (and things) that really matter

Father glorify your name, even as you glorify your Son.
Father keep us
Father sanctify us
Father make us one
Empower us to go into the world
even as we are not part of it
For your glory alone
Amen

The Holy Spirit, Sin, Truth and lots of other stuff

 John 16:4b-15

Our Father

Thank you that Jesus is ascended and that the Spirit of Truth has come
We pray for him to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment
I pray for him to convict me of sin, righteousness and judgment
Forgive us for not being earnest about sin
Forgive us for trying to do the work of the Spirit ourselves
Thank you that you have given us truth in your Son
And that we can know your son through your word
May we seek after him with all our hearts and souls
Amen

Not Anxiety; Now Joy
Philippians 4:2-13; 21-23

Father

Give us hearts of unity.
May we choose joy in you.
May we live as if you are at hand,
conscious of your presence and your coming.
May we not be anxious.
May we instead choose prayer, supplication and thanksgiving.
Enjoying your peace and guardianship.
May we think truth, honour justice and seek purity.
May we think lovely, commendable and excellent
May we be full of praise
And may we enjoy your peace, reveling in your grace forever.
Amen

Solutions to the Mental Health Crisis
Philippians 3:12-4:1 

Father in heaven
We are waiting for the arrival of your son our Saviour
Keep reminding us that we have not arrived
That you are our arrival point.
May we press on
Straining forward.
May we hold true and stand firm in what we have attained.
Enable us to imitate those who walk according to the example set by Christ
Longing for our transformed bodies
Secure in our citizenship in heaven.
Amen

 
Confession based on Philippians 1:9-11

Our loving, heavenly Father,
You have made us holy.
You have begun a good work in us
And are bringing us to the day of completion.
Forgive us for not abounding in love.
Forgive us for not desiring to abound in love.
Forgive us for attempting love without knowledge and discernment.
Make us pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
Fill us with the fruit of righteousness
To your glory and praise.
Amen

Saints and Servants
Philippians 1:1-2 

Our Father,
Your Son, Christ Jesus, has made us holy!
May we view ourselves as blessed with his holiness,
And obligated to holiness.
May service not be for others but for ourselves,
Even as sainthood is ours too.
Amen

 

The Conversion of Lydia 

Acts 16:6-26

Father open our ears and our hearts.

Like Lydia may we pay attention to the apostolic word.

May we be baptised trusting your word to us.

May our lives be filled with fruit.

May we desire to see others saved.

May we not shun suffering.

But instead embrace it

As we overflow with kindness and grace.

Taking what comes our way.

For your glory alone.

Amen

 

Prayer when I just don't want to: Nehemiah 13

Father Almighty

We long that our hearts might be changed

That our wills might desire you

That our thoughts might be pure

That our actions be godly.

O change us we pray!

Thank you that Christ did not come to change the externals alone but also to change our hearts.

Holy Spirit accelerate your work in us that we might truly love you even as we long for that day of culmination.

Amen

1 Samuel 15,16

Father, you are a God who speaks

You have spoken your precious Son

And you desire that we listen to him and obey him

But we listen to every other voice rather than yours.

Forgive us.

Give us hearts that

·     Discern your voice

·     Know it

·     Love it

·     Seek it

·     Desire it

And most especially hear it, not rejecting it.

In Christ’s name we pray

Amen

Been hurt by the church? 2 Tim 3:1-9

Father,

As we experience the worship of self,

The love of money, pride, arrogance and abuse;

Disobedience reigns,

Ungrateful, unholy, unloving, uncontrolled and slanderous;

People are brutal, treacherous, reckless, conceited and pleasure loving

We easily become uncertain and afraid.

And we easily become like them…

Teach us to avoid such people, not to admire them but instead to seek truth and commit to the outcomes of truth in our lives;

As truth makes us more holy like Christ

Amen

Follow a Leader of Holiness - 2 Timothy 2:14-26

Father, forgive us that we quarrel.

We have foolish and stupid arguments.

Our mouths are full of godless chatter.

And we are in danger of wandering away from the truth.

May ministers be holy instruments.

  Faithful with your word.

  Correctly handling it.

May ministers flee evil desires and passions.

  And pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace

May we be kind,

  Not resentful,

  Patiently enduring,

  Gently instructing,

Waiting on you to grant repentance.

Follow a Leader of Sincere Faith - 2 Timothy 1:1-7

Father,

You have promised and provided life in Christ Jesus.

You give to us undeserved grace, free mercy and sustaining peace.

Give us men of sincere faith to lead us.

Men who fan into flames the gift of God;

Who confront their fears;

And who are full of the spirit of power, love and self-control.

Remove leaders that are proud and self-sufficient; who sow hatred, licentiousness and lawlessness.

Save your people I pray.