Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church (9Marks: Building Healthy Churches)

Prayer is as necessary to the Christian as breathing is to the human body--but it often doesn't come quite as naturally. In fact, prayer in the church often gets subtly pushed to the side in favor of pragmatic practices that promise tangible results. Rather than being a hallmark of churches, dependence on prayer is usually emphasized only in times of major crisis--if at all. The latest book in the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series focuses on the necessity of regular prayer as a central practice in the local church. Examining what Jesus taught about prayer, how the first Christians approached prayer in the early church, and what steps can be taken to prioritize prayer in churches, this book is intended to awaken readers to the need and blessing of prayer in their personal lives and in the life of their local church. What is the role of corporate prayer in the church? Prayer is as necessary to the Christian as breathing is to the human body— but it often doesn't come quite as naturally. In fact, prayer in the church often gets subtly pushed to the side in favor of pragmatic practices that promise tangible results. This book focuses on the necessity of regular prayer as a central practice in the local church—awakening us to the need and blessing of corporate prayer by examining what Jesus taught about prayer, how the first Christians approached prayer, and how to prioritize prayer in our congregations. Series Preface 12 Introduction 14 1 Breathe Again: The Problem of Prayerlessness 18 2 A Class Act: Teach Us to Pray 28 3 The World Is Yours: A Family Led 40 4 Soul Food: A Family Fed 56 5 Roots: A Family Bred 66 6 Glory: The Role of Prayer in Corporate Worship 78 7 Lean on Me: The Role of Prayer in Corporate Care 92 8 Doing the Right Thing: The Role of Prayer in Missions 108 Conclusion: Fighting Temptations 120 Notes 130 General Index 134 Scripture Index 136