Staff

By Justin Jeppesen

This prayer guide, inspired by the chapter titled Staff in Strategic Renewal’s resource 21 Days of Prayer for Your Church Leader, is focused on seeking God’s face through the following passage.

John 13:12-20, 31-35

¹²When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? ¹³You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. ¹⁶Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. ¹⁸I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ ¹⁹I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. ²⁰Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

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³¹When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. ³²If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. ³³Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ ³⁴A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Staff Prayer Guide

Reverence

Identify and celebrate God’s praiseworthy attributes

Jesus is our Teacher and Lord (v. 13)
Jesus is a humble servant, washing our feet (v. 14)
Chooses us and fulfills Scripture (v. 18)
Knows the future (v. 19)
He is the Son of Man, glorified by God (v. 31)
Jesus sets the standard of true love (v. 34)

Prayer Prompts

Jesus I praise You for teaching me…
Jesus, I praise You as Lord over…
Jesus, thank You for how You have loved me by…

Response

Surrender to Him and His ways

I confess I failed to exhibit Your servant’s heart when…
I admit that I set my own standard of love, especially when…

Requests

Ask the Spirit to guide prayer over concerns, resources, and relationships

Help me and …(church leader) to know the blessing of obedience by…
May…(church leader) fully embrace their call to serve and love those they lead so that…
Lord Jesus, help our church staff to love one another as you have loved them in order that…
Please help our church leaders be a loving Christ-like witness to…

Readiness

Encouragement and strength for spiritual battle

Remind me today that I am chosen by You as I endure…
Assure…(church leader) of Your love today as they face…

*this prayer guide is an excerpt from the appendix of 21 Day of Praying for Your Church Leaders, by Strategic Renewal. Click HERE for more information on this resource.

For more guides to pray for your church leaders click HERE.