What value is there in prayer meetings?

what does the bible say?

Community prayer was a normal practice for early believers (Acts 4:23–31; 12:5; 21:5), and there are countless benefits to still participating in it today. Through prayer meetings, we can lift up each others’ specific prayer requests (Ephesians 6:18; 1 John 5:14–15), bear each others’ burdens through confession and accountability (Galatians 6:1–2; James 5:16), and weep and rejoice with our brothers and sisters in Christ (Romans 12:15). Prayer meetings provide a way for the body of Christ to grow in unity and dependence on God by seeking Him together.

from the old testament

• The Old Testament provides examples of communal prayer and reveals the value they bring in seeking God together. For example, in 2 Chronicles 7:14, God calls Israel to humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face together, and turn from their wicked ways.
• Similarly, in Nehemiah 1:4–11, Nehemiah prays on behalf of the exiled Israelites, modeling intercessory prayer for the community.

from the new testament

• Through community prayer, we can express and value our unity as the body of Jesus Christ (John 17:20–21).
• Early Christians gathering together to pray (Acts 4:23–31; 12:5; 21:5) show us the value of praying together.
• In prayer meetings we can also share our needs, prayer requests, and praises. Prayer meetings help foster an environment in which we can “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).
• When believers are connected, we are strengthened. Meeting together to pray is one way in which we can stay connected by bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:1–2).
• We know that prayer is a privilege made possible through Jesus Christ. There is no question that Christians are called to pray, both alone and together. Prayer meetings are one of the ways in which we can encourage and support one another in faith as we, in community, seek God through prayer (Ephesians 6:18).
• We are told to gather together to confess our sins and to pray for healing, both physical and spiritual restoration, for one another: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16).
• Praying together helps to grow our faith and to form and strengthen bonds amongst Christians. When we pray together, we confirm and grow our faith and that of others. First John 5:14–15 says, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” When we come to God together in prayer, we demonstrate our faith that God hears us. We also share mutually in our requests and in our praises.

implications for today

Prayer meetings are a wonderful thing for us to participate in, as they give us an opportunity to build a sense of trust and community with fellow believers. Prayer gatherings are places where we can confess our sins and ask for prayerful accountability, where we can encourage those who are going through difficult seasons of life by praying for their unique needs, and where we can join together in praying for the salvation of friends and family who do not know God. With our current technological advances, we can even invite believers to join us who cannot physically be there in person, such as those who are on bed rest or those who are on-field missionaries. Prayer is a privilege, especially for the body of Christ to unite in seeking the Lord together. While we should certainly prioritize one-on-one time with God, prayer meetings are a great way to build up the body of Christ through encouraging, exhorting, and lifting up one another through prayer.

Recap

understand

• Prayer meetings unite believers by seeking God together.
• Prayer meetings allow sharing, confession, and mutual support.
• Prayer meetings strengthen collective faith and intercession.

reflect

• How has corporate prayer such as in prayer meetings helped you grow in your faith?
• What priority do you place on prayer meetings or corporate prayer?
• What helps you seek God with others when attending a prayer meeting?

engage

• What connection is there between personal prayer with corporate prayer in the life of a believer?
• How can we encourage participation in prayer meetings to strengthen the body of Christ?
• How do prayer meetings serve as a practical demonstration of bearing one another’s burdens within the body of Christ?