In the New Testament, we see several major passages that deal with elder qualifications: Titus 1:5-9; I Timothy 3:1-7; I Peter 5:1-5; Acts 20:17-38; II Timothy 4:1-5; and Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24.
Monday: Pray for Their Character
Titus 1:5-9; I Timothy 3:1-7
Pray that our elders would be above reproach in their private and public lives. Ask God to make them humble, not arrogant; holy, not worldly, and disciplined, not distracted. Pray that their love for Christ would be greater than their love for comfort, approval, money, or success.
Ask God to protect them from temptation and to deepen their love for Jesus.
Ask God to make them examples of Christian maturity.
Ask God to help them finish well.
Tuesday: Pray for Their Families
Titus 1:6; I Timothy 3:4-5
Pray for the marriages, children, and households of our elders. Spiritual leadership begins at home. Ask God to strengthen their marriages, protect their children, and help them shepherd their families with wisdom, patience, and love.
Pray for unity in their marriages and for the spiritual growth of their children/grandchildren.
Pray for protection from discouragement and family strain.
Pray that their homes would be places of grace, truth, and joy.
Wednesday: Pray for Their Shepherding
Acts 20:17-38; I Peter 5:1-5
Pray that our elders would faithfully watch over the flock entrusted to them. Ask God to help them know the people they serve, care for the hurting, seek the wandering, strengthen the weak, and lovingly lead the church.
Pray that they would shepherd lovingly, leading by example, not by lording it over others.
Pray that they would know the needs of the congregation.
Pray that they would reflect the heart of the Chief Shepherd.
Thursday: Pray for Their Protection
Acts 20:28-31; Titus 1:9-11
Pray that our elders would guard the church from false teaching, division, and spiritual deception. Ask God to give them discernment to recognize error and courage to confront it with grace and truth.
Pray for wisdom to distinguish truth from error and to defend sound doctrine.
Pray for protection from spiritual attack.
Pray that God would preserve the unity and purity of the church.
Friday: Pray for Their Endurance
II Timothy 2:1-26
Pray that our elders would remain strong in the grace of Christ. Ministry can be exhausting. Ask God to strengthen them as soldiers, athletes, farmers, workers, vessels, and servants of the Lord.
Pray for perseverance in difficult seasons and for physical, emotional, and spiritual strength.
Pray that they would not grow weary in doing good.
Pray that they would endure hardship with joy and hope.
Saturday: Pray for Their Eternal Accountability
Hebrews 13:7, 17; Psalm 69:6
Pray that the Lord will protect them from sin, scandal, and compromise, so that the church will not be put to shame and that the name of God may be honored. Ask God to help them serve faithfully and joyfully until the day they stand before Him.
Pray that they would keep watch over souls with wisdom and love.
Pray that they would lead with joy and not with grief.
Pray that when they meet Christ, they will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Sunday: Pray for Their Teaching
Titus 1:9; Acts 20:20, 27; 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Pray that our elders would hold firmly to God’s Word and teach it faithfully. Ask God to give them wisdom, clarity, courage, and conviction as they preach, teach, counsel, and disciple others.
Pray that they would rightly handle the Word of truth and would teach with clarity.
Pray that they would proclaim the whole counsel of God.
Pray that their teaching wins souls to Christ, bearing fruit in the hearts of those who hear it.
A Prayer for Our Elders
(Adapted from the pastoral prayers of Matthew Henry)
Lord God, You are the Chief Shepherd of Your church. We thank You for the elders You have given to watch over our souls. Fill them with Your Holy Spirit and make them faithful stewards of the mysteries of God. Keep them blameless in life, sound in doctrine, humble in spirit, wise in judgment, and courageous in truth.
Grant that they may feed Your flock with knowledge and understanding. Make them examples to the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Protect them from the love of praise, the fear of man, and the deceitfulness of sin.
Strengthen them when they are weary. Comfort them when they are discouraged. Guard them from temptation and from the schemes of the evil one. Give them grace to shepherd willingly, eagerly, and faithfully until the Chief Shepherd appears.
And may many come to know Christ, many be strengthened in Christ, and Your church be built up through their ministry of the Word and prayer.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
