New Testament Worship: Prayer

Prayer in Community

Praying has always been part of the daily life of God’s people. It is sometimes seen as a ritual done daily or in corporate worship but it is much more than a ritual. For the disciples, it was the way to connect with a holy God and something that needed to be done in community. Prayers were answered when a group of believers prayed together. 

Here a few examples from the early church that we see

• Acts 2:42 – The church “devoted themselves… to the prayers.” These were likely set times and communal forms, carried over from Jewish temple rhythms.
  
• Acts 4:24–31 – After persecution, the church lifted their voices together, prayed Scripture (Psalm 2), and asked for boldness. The place where they prayed was shaken. We see here the prayer is meant to be communal and not to be taken lightly. Big prayers yield big results.
  
• Acts 12:5, 12 – While Peter was in prison, “earnest prayer for him was made by the church.” That prayer gathering was still going when the angel brought him out. Prayer is meant to be on behalf of brothers and sister in the church especially those that are suffering for the name of Jesus.
  
• Acts 13:2–3 – The church in Antioch, while worshiping and fasting, heard the Spirit call them to send out Paul and Barnabas. They fasted, prayed, and commissioned them.

The prayers of the first church were based on Scripture and communal. The purposes of prayer were to pray for boldness to declare the word, receive encouragement after suffering, pray for one another and the mission of the church. Prayers were meant to be prayed together and for the encouragement of all. 

In the letters, we see an urgent need to pray for one another 

Ephesians 6:18 – “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions… be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Colossians 4:2 – “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

1 Timothy 2:1–2 – Paul urges “that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people,” especially rulers.

James 5:13–16 – The church is told to pray for the sick, confess sins to one another, and trust in the healing power of prayer.

The believers are to be devoted to prayer in all circumstances, the good and the bad. We should be praying for God’s people. Through prayer we become more aware of God’s purposes and will for the church and our lives. Prayer is especially powerful when praying to heal other believers. Prayer was to be communal and done for the benefit of all believers.