Prayer: Private Devotion or Corporate Worship?

By Mike Rose | Senior Pastor |

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Both! In Jesus, we see that He valued private prayer with the Father. However, when asked by the disciples, “teach us to pray,” Jesus taught us to pray in this manner; “Our Father in heaven….” (emphasis mine). It is no mistake that the first word in the model prayer is one that points to the corporate nature of the body of Christ. The word “Our” is not a word that one praying in private devotion would use. The word implies that Jesus intended that prayer would be done in community, not just in isolation. However, when we examine our churches, we find much emphasis on music, sermons, and fellowship, but little emphasis on corporate prayer.

For this reason I have chosen to get involved in raising the awareness and practice of corporate prayer at F.F.C. In September I launched a ministry called “Prayer Community.” As the name implies, Prayer Community is the gathering of believers for a time of worship-based prayer. Like many of you, I grew up in a church that was characterized by request-based prayer meetings. That is to say, the engine driving the meeting was the individual needs of those attending. More time was spent telling everybody about my needs than actually praying about them. Worship-based prayer is driven by a desire to meet with God, to focus on His character, as well as intercede for people’s needs. Prayer Community meets on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00pm. Due to growth of the group, effective Wednesday, October 22, we are moving from Room 108 to Rooms 1244–1247 (the Galilean classroom).

What will you encounter at Prayer Community? From 6:25 to 6:40pm, reflective Christian music is played to allow time for preparation for worship and prayer. An opening time for prayers of worship and praise is followed by 2–3 distinct times of guided prayer. Areas of focus are different from week to week. John Porter also leads a time of prayer for our missionaries. A Scriptural focus is provided as well as time to gather in small groups to pray for our ministry, the needs of our people, community and country. As we move to our new location, David Bush will be on hand to lead us in songs of worship and reflection as well. If you are not involved in another ministry on Wednesday evenings, I encourage you to gather with your church family for corporate worship and prayer. Together let’s be a Prayer Community.