A prayer for our Church

by John Piper (article here)

O Lord, by the truth of your Word, and the power of your Spirit and the ministry of your body, build men and women at Bethlehem . . .

• Who don't love the world more than God,
• who don't care if they make much money,
• who don't care if they own a house,
• who don't care if they have a new car or two cars,
• who don't need recent styles,
• who don't care if they get famous,
• who don't miss steak or fancy fare,
• who don't expect that life should be comfortable and easy,
• who don't feed their minds on TV each night,
• who don't measure truth with their finger in the wind,
• who don't get paralyzed by others' disapproval,
• who don't return evil for evil,
• who don't hold grudges,
• who don't gossip,
• who don't twist the truth,
• who don't brag or boast,
• who don't whine or use body language to get pity,
• who don't criticize more than praise,
• who don't hang out in cliques,
• who don't eat too much or exercise too little;

But

• who are ablaze for God,
• who are utterly God-besotted,
• who are filled with the Holy Spirit,
• who strive to know the height and depth of Christ's love,
• who are crucified to the world and dead to sin,
• who are purified by the Word and addicted to righteousness,
• who are mighty in memorizing and using the Scriptures,
• who keep the Lord's Day holy and refreshing,
• who are broken by the consciousness of sin,
• who are thrilled by the wonder of free grace,
• who are stunned into humble silence by the riches of God's glory,
• who are persevering constantly in prayer,
• who are ruthless in self-denial,
• who are fearless in public witness to Christ's Lordship,
• who are able to unmask error and blow away doctrinal haze,
• who are tough in standing for the truth,
• who are tender in touching hurting people,
• who are passionate about reaching the peoples who have no church,
• who are pro-life for the sake of babies and moms and dads and the glory of God,
• who are keepers of all their promises, including marriage vows,
• who are content with what they have and trusting the promises of God,
• who are patient and kind and meek when life is hard.

Pressing for all there is in Christ,

Pastor John