Note: This Bible study is formatted for small group discussion. If you use this study by yourself, we suggest that you journal your answers to the discussion questions. Also, biblegateway.com is an excellent resource for looking up passages in translations you may not have at home.

The first leg of my journey into prayer began at a home group prayer meeting for Every Home for Christ in 1993. I was not a pray-er, so the fact that I even went was a “God-thing.” It was an invitation into His presence through the unified prayer of believers who were focused on one goal, and it forever opened my eyes to the power and benefits of corporate prayer.

These women came from various denominational backgrounds with different understandings of minor theological points. But the richness and depth of their one-mindedness about the spread of the gospel to every home in the world honored Him so much that His manifest presence was tangible. I was hooked.

In the years that followed, God developed my personal prayer life into a rich, vibrant relationship with Him. But the desire and need for corporate intercession continued and instigated times of unified prayer with a variety of groups, including my extended family—times so beautiful and healing that specific memories of them still take my breath away.

Discussion Questions

From the beginning, God created us for relationship. He walked with Adam and Eve together in the garden. Do you think togetherness is a priority for Him? Why or why not?_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

Using the following passages, what ways do you notice His desire to see us unified? (John 17:22-24; Rom. 15:5-6; Eph. 4:1-3, 12-14; Col. 3:14)_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

Scripture paints several pictures of the type of relationship God desires with us. One picture is of a family unit. “As a father, I love spending time, one on one, with my children. But when they are all home and we’re gathered together for a moment as a family, I treasure those times uniquely.” With these words, James Banks paints a beautiful picture of our Father’s desire for “family get-togethers.” How is the concept of family used to describe our relationship with God and each other in Galatians 6:10, Ephesians 1:15, and 1 Peter 4:17?_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

Over the past years, a great emphasis has been placed on developing a personal prayer life, often to the exclusion of corporate prayer times. Describe how Jesus felt about Martha’s “busy individualism” compared to Mary’s sitting with others at His feet (Luke 10:42)._____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 gives another picture of the relationship God wants us to have with one another as members of one body. How could the dynamics of corporate prayer be enhanced or hindered based on this passage?_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

Dennis Fuqua explains that true corporate prayer is symphonic. The word used in Matthew 18:19 translated as agree is the word from which we get our English word symphony. He asks us to think of it as a group of people playing their own unique instruments, but from the same score, under the same Conductor. This type of prayer attracts what (Matt. 18:20)? Explain the importance of that kind of prayer._____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

Is it possible to pray in a group setting without praying corporately? Jon Graf describes a common misconception: “. . . six seasoned saints in a room each praying for 15 minutes, all fully covering the church’s prayer list of everyone’s ailments . . . is not corporate prayer. That is simply personal prayer practiced in a group.” Looking back over your experiences of praying with others, do you think it was true corporate prayer or personal prayer practiced in a group? Describe your typical experience._____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

Action Steps

Jon Graf also shares hindrances to and cures for corporate prayer in a local church. Get alone with God and ask Him to show you if any of these hindrances affect you personally:

• No personal prayer life (80% of church attendees admit to poor prayer lives)
• Poor prayer experiences (history of dull or boring group prayer)
• No expectation that anything will happen when you pray (praying with a sense of “wish or hope” rather than faith)
• Fear of discomfort (don’t want to pray out loud or interact with others you don’t know personally)
• A “church is for me” mindset or consumer mentality (not wanting to pray beyond your own needs).

As the Lord helps you identify any of these hindrances, spend some time talking with Him about ways to engage in more corporate prayer.

SANDRA HIGLEY is the author of A Year of Prayer Events for Your Church, a book designed to enhance corporate prayer experiences (available at prayershop.org). She is a regular contributor to Prayer Connect.