It is easy to impress upon people the value of prayers in the home that pertain most directly to the needs of a particular individual or family. Every Christian knows this is true from his or her own experience. But what is the value of prayer within the setting of the local church as it gathers for worship?
One of the basic practices in the Christian life is prayer. It is a spiritual discipline that is instilled in us from our earliest days. It is uttered in private, in family devotions, and in various public settings for numerous occasions, both within the church and outside of it. Moreover, it is one of the gifts that God has given to his people for their growth in holiness and discipleship. Thus, it is not an optional activity only to be used by believers for a temporary jolt of encouragement, or when we have reached the end of our own abilities or wisdom and need assistance. It is a necessary component of the new birth. It is offered when in the pit of despair and when on the summit of joy. Christians are not simply expected to pray; they are commanded to do so because it pleases God (Matt. 6:9-13; Rom. 12:12).
But how often do we consider the importance of prayer within the church? It is easy to impress upon people the value of prayers in the home that pertain most directly to the needs of a particular individual or family. Every Christian knows this is true from his or her own experience. But what is the value of prayer within the setting of the local church as it gathers for worship? Here, of course, certain subjects that take up much time in our private prayers will not be addressed in a public assembly of God’s people. How does prayer of this nature help to contribute to a healthy church?
This question, of course, assumes that an extended prayer is still a component of a church’s order of service. There are other prayers that are offered throughout public worship, including the invocation near the beginning, a confession of sin, and the pastoral prayer immediately following the conclusion of the sermon. But the broader congregational prayer achieves a number of things that are vital. One purpose is to ascribe praise and thanks to God, not only for what he has done for his people, but for his character, which is the reason for those divine actions. This does not mean that congregational prayer is to sound like a mini-systematic recounting of all of God’s attributes. But it is important to remind the worshipers in a thoughtful way of what the Triune God is really like. For most Christians in the pews, the great majority of their week is concerned with the secular affairs of their particular vocation. The congregational prayer is a critical opportunity to direct their minds heavenward to the majesty of the one true God who has both made and redeemed them.
Subscribe to Free “Top 10 Stories” Email
Get the top 10 stories from The Aquila Report in your inbox every Tuesday morning.