Corporate Prayer – Summary Points from 3-10-21 lesson by Mary Powell
on CTC Prayer Leaders Zoom meeting.
Lesson points based on “Developing Dynamic Prayer in a Church” by Jonathan Graf.
(free .pdf of this 42 page booklet can be requested through the following article: https://www.prayerleader.com/resources/articles-2/the-benefits-of-praying-together/ )
Many of these points can be applied on our prayer calls, but I would like also to challenge everyone to try to get a full corporate prayer gathering going at your church, and to pray for all of our county churches for the same.
1. Praying together invites the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, just like when the presence of the Lord came upon the Temple when Solomon and the whole assembly of Israel prayed together.
2. There is a different atmosphere in churches and groups that pray together. Worship by the congregation or group is more powerful, with a connection with God that isn’t available any other way.
3. The most significant thing that is lost in a church that does not have corporate prayer is faith. There is no expectation that God will do the miraculous.
4. As I listen to others pray with more faith than I have, MY faith grows!
5. Praying together moves people from seeking their OWN purposes to desiring GOD’S purposes!
6. As prayer leaders, we are called to challenge our churches to make praying together happen in our churches more. Consider adding corporate prayer to existing gatherings where MOST of the people already are. Small groups are good, BUT those will tend more toward the direct needs of the people in that small group, rather than the needs of the community at large, the church, the nation, and other needs beyond themselves.
7. One of the ways over the years that the church has severely weakened corporate prayer is that we let prayer be about the people there, rather than about God. Corporate prayer should not ignore the kingdom advance of God. We need to make prayer VERTICAL rather than HORIZONTAL.
8. Prayer DURING Church Services should be:
a. During a service with ALL (or most!) of your congregation
b. Start out only 3 – 5 minutes, with provided prayer focus on ONE topic only.
c. Ask people to form groups of 3 – 5 people around them, and each only pray 30 – 45 seconds. People can pray more than once, but short durations ensure everyone has a chance.
d. This will help people LEARN to pray out loud.
e. A pastor, elder or prayer leader opens and closes this Corporate Prayer time with a brief prayer.
f. Don’t let people be afraid of some silence during their 3-5 people group prayer time – the Holy Spirit may be working!
g. Don’t be afraid of silence as people learn to do this and lose their fear about it. In other words, PERSIST!
h. Potentially, the words of a song could form the basis for the prayer focus.
i. Potential prayer foci could include: REVIVAL; OPENNESS to the SPIRIT during Corporate Prayer; major church decisions; prayer for the congregation’s growth and discipleship; community outreach efforts and prayer for the community around the church to come and hear the Word; the nation; our state. Don’t have real “political” prayer points – e.g., don’t pray that certain bills in the legislature pass or not, etc. There likely may be disagreement on those types of prayer points, and corporate prayer should enable people to pray IN AGREEMENT with each other. HOWEVER, something very BIBLICAL like SANCTITY OF LIFE, our right to religious freedom, etc., can be a prayer topic.
9. Hindrances to Corporate Prayer –
a. Fear of complaints and discomfort
b. Keeping prayer time in control and within time constraints
c. Overcoming “Church is for me” – i.e., individualistic attitudes of people in congregation
Hope this is of use to you! Praying we all can apply these principles in our county prayer groups, AND pray that our churches engage in overall corporate prayer! This will be the key to REVIVAL! AMEN!
Thanks for sharing these helpful thoughts, Mary!