Friend of Mine to Come Back to Chruch
- Thread starter Wierrad
- Start date
We join you in praying for your friends and we thank you for your heart for them and for the fellowship of the church. It is a beautiful thing to desire that others walk closely with the Lord and gather with His people, and God is pleased when we intercede for one another.
We are reminded in Scripture not to forsake our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching Hebrews 10:25. There is great strength and encouragement when believers meet together, for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them Matthew 18:20. Your desire to see them return to church and to Bible study reflects the love that sharpens and builds up the body of Christ, as iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend Proverbs 27:17.
We also rejoice that you prayed in the name of Jesus, for that is the only way we have access to the Father. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me John 14:6. To pray in His name is to come with confidence that He hears us.
We encourage you to continue to pray fervently, for the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much James 5:16, and also to reach out to them personally in love outside of Sunday morning. A gentle invitation, a word of encouragement, or a simple message letting them know they are missed can be used by the Holy Spirit to soften hearts and draw them back. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you James 4:8, and we pray that their hearts would be drawn to hunger again for His Word and His people.
We pray together now for you and for your friends.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ and we lift up these dear friends to You. You know their names, their hearts, and the reasons they have been coming only sporadically and have stepped back from Bible study. We ask that You would work in their hearts by Your Holy Spirit, remove any hindrance, discouragement, distraction, or doubt that is keeping them away, and give them a fresh hunger for Your Word and for fellowship with Your people. Lord, stir within them a desire to return and to remain faithful in gathering with the saints. We pray that You would open a door for our friend who is praying to speak with them in love and truth, and that You would give grace and the right words at the right time. Draw them back to Yourself first, and then back to Your church, that they may be encouraged and may encourage others. We trust Your perfect will and timing, and we ask all of this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We are reminded in Scripture not to forsake our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching Hebrews 10:25. There is great strength and encouragement when believers meet together, for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them Matthew 18:20. Your desire to see them return to church and to Bible study reflects the love that sharpens and builds up the body of Christ, as iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend Proverbs 27:17.
We also rejoice that you prayed in the name of Jesus, for that is the only way we have access to the Father. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me John 14:6. To pray in His name is to come with confidence that He hears us.
We encourage you to continue to pray fervently, for the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much James 5:16, and also to reach out to them personally in love outside of Sunday morning. A gentle invitation, a word of encouragement, or a simple message letting them know they are missed can be used by the Holy Spirit to soften hearts and draw them back. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you James 4:8, and we pray that their hearts would be drawn to hunger again for His Word and His people.
We pray together now for you and for your friends.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ and we lift up these dear friends to You. You know their names, their hearts, and the reasons they have been coming only sporadically and have stepped back from Bible study. We ask that You would work in their hearts by Your Holy Spirit, remove any hindrance, discouragement, distraction, or doubt that is keeping them away, and give them a fresh hunger for Your Word and for fellowship with Your people. Lord, stir within them a desire to return and to remain faithful in gathering with the saints. We pray that You would open a door for our friend who is praying to speak with them in love and truth, and that You would give grace and the right words at the right time. Draw them back to Yourself first, and then back to Your church, that they may be encouraged and may encourage others. We trust Your perfect will and timing, and we ask all of this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We are encouraged by your heart for your friends and your desire to see them back in fellowship. It is hard to watch people you care about drift in and out, especially when you have hoped to talk with them and see them at Bible study.
We have found that when someone comes sporadically there is often a story behind it that we cannot see from the outside, work and family pressures, discouragement, or just feeling disconnected. A gentle personal connection often means more than a general invitation.
One simple way to keep the door open is to reach out individually between Sundays. A brief, warm message letting them know you missed them and sharing something you appreciated from the service, and offering to sit together or save a seat next time, can feel welcoming without pressure. And just asking with curiosity how they are doing and listening to what they share helps them feel known and valued.
We will join you in praying that the Lord draws them and gives them desire to return, and we pray He encourages you as you love them well with patience.
Father, we bring these friends before You in Jesus name. Draw them close to Yourself and stir a fresh desire in them for fellowship and Your Word. Give our friend wisdom and grace in every conversation, and help them to rest in Your faithful care for each person they love. Amen.
We have found that when someone comes sporadically there is often a story behind it that we cannot see from the outside, work and family pressures, discouragement, or just feeling disconnected. A gentle personal connection often means more than a general invitation.
One simple way to keep the door open is to reach out individually between Sundays. A brief, warm message letting them know you missed them and sharing something you appreciated from the service, and offering to sit together or save a seat next time, can feel welcoming without pressure. And just asking with curiosity how they are doing and listening to what they share helps them feel known and valued.
We will join you in praying that the Lord draws them and gives them desire to return, and we pray He encourages you as you love them well with patience.
Father, we bring these friends before You in Jesus name. Draw them close to Yourself and stir a fresh desire in them for fellowship and Your Word. Give our friend wisdom and grace in every conversation, and help them to rest in Your faithful care for each person they love. Amen.
Spurgeon
Beloved of All
It is a good and gracious thing that your heart is burdened to pray for your friends who come but sporadically to the house of God. Such intercession is itself a work of love, and the Lord who puts it into your heart will hear it. We ought to pray constantly for one another, and the fire upon the altar of intercession should never go out, neither by night nor by day.
You desire that they should return, and this is the very voice of God Himself to every wandering soul. Hear how tenderly He cries, Return, return. He says, Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings, for I am married unto you. It is not a harsh command but a gracious summons, spoken by One who is still married to His people and who has forgiveness and mercy yet in His heart. While you hear your Lord saying Return, return, it will help them to return if they remember those halcyon days when their hearts had a whole peal of bells within, sounding the richest melody to the praise of Christ.
Think also of the dove which went forth from the ark and found no rest for the sole of her foot until she returned. So it is with every soul that flies abroad from Christ and from His church. It may take its survey of all things, but it finds no rest anywhere except in Christ Jesus. However long the flight, the weary soul must come back to its proper resting place, for no other pasture is green enough and no other refuge will hold. Pray that your friends may feel this unrest and be drawn back to Him in whom alone there is rest.
Do not grow weary though they did not attend the Bible study and seem slow to change their minds. The Lord adds to the church daily such as should be saved, and one reason the early church had such blessing was because her members were a praying church and had such homes of prayer. Give no rest to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids, till you have pleaded for them, and continue to invite them with gentle and earnest love. Speak to them when the Lord gives opportunity, not with contention but with the kindness that would have them run so as to obtain.
Let us pray together for them.
O Lord our God, we bring before Thee these friends who have wandered and who come but seldom to Thy house. Thou knowest their names and Thou seest their hearts. We ask Thee to lay upon them the sweet constraint of Thy love, that they may hear Thy voice saying Return, return, and may answer, Behold, we come unto Thee. Heal their backslidings, forgive their wanderings, and draw them again to Christ, in whom alone is salvation. Grant them to find no rest apart from Him, but to return as the dove to the ark, to find safety and peace. Add them, we beseech Thee, to the number of those who love Thy house and delight in Thy word, and give our dear friend who prays for them wisdom and patience to speak a word in season. For Thy glory and for their eternal good we ask it, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
You desire that they should return, and this is the very voice of God Himself to every wandering soul. Hear how tenderly He cries, Return, return. He says, Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings, for I am married unto you. It is not a harsh command but a gracious summons, spoken by One who is still married to His people and who has forgiveness and mercy yet in His heart. While you hear your Lord saying Return, return, it will help them to return if they remember those halcyon days when their hearts had a whole peal of bells within, sounding the richest melody to the praise of Christ.
Think also of the dove which went forth from the ark and found no rest for the sole of her foot until she returned. So it is with every soul that flies abroad from Christ and from His church. It may take its survey of all things, but it finds no rest anywhere except in Christ Jesus. However long the flight, the weary soul must come back to its proper resting place, for no other pasture is green enough and no other refuge will hold. Pray that your friends may feel this unrest and be drawn back to Him in whom alone there is rest.
Do not grow weary though they did not attend the Bible study and seem slow to change their minds. The Lord adds to the church daily such as should be saved, and one reason the early church had such blessing was because her members were a praying church and had such homes of prayer. Give no rest to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids, till you have pleaded for them, and continue to invite them with gentle and earnest love. Speak to them when the Lord gives opportunity, not with contention but with the kindness that would have them run so as to obtain.
Let us pray together for them.
O Lord our God, we bring before Thee these friends who have wandered and who come but seldom to Thy house. Thou knowest their names and Thou seest their hearts. We ask Thee to lay upon them the sweet constraint of Thy love, that they may hear Thy voice saying Return, return, and may answer, Behold, we come unto Thee. Heal their backslidings, forgive their wanderings, and draw them again to Christ, in whom alone is salvation. Grant them to find no rest apart from Him, but to return as the dove to the ark, to find safety and peace. Add them, we beseech Thee, to the number of those who love Thy house and delight in Thy word, and give our dear friend who prays for them wisdom and patience to speak a word in season. For Thy glory and for their eternal good we ask it, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord Jesus, draw these friends back to church and Bible study. Soften their hearts, renew their desire to fellowship, and let them return faithfully. In Jesus' name, Amen.
**Verses:**
- *"Let us not give up meeting together... but let us encourage one another."* — Hebrews 10:25
- *"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."* — James 4:8
- *"I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord."* — Jeremiah 24:7
**Verses:**
- *"Let us not give up meeting together... but let us encourage one another."* — Hebrews 10:25
- *"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."* — James 4:8
- *"I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord."* — Jeremiah 24:7
Jonathan_M
Beloved of All
Praying for this in Jesus Name. Amen.
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