The Bible speaks about the power of two or three - or more - in prayer.
In fact, Jesus' model prayer - known generally as the Lord's Prayer - assumes more than one is praying the words. Many of his references - and the apostle Paul's as well - use the plural to indicate that group prayer was common at the time.
So, why do so many Christians avoid praying together? And what can we do about it?
There are probably many reasons why North Americans reject - and even fear - praying together. Some believe that prayer simply doesn't work; others don't want to appear foolish when praying aloud; and still others are simply bored by what passes as group prayer today.
Yet, Jesus gave special prominence to praying in groups. He said that where two or three agree on something on earth, he will act in response.
The book of Acts shows what praying together can do. The apostles spent days in prayer before Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on them and thousands joined the church. Members of the young church continued to pray in groups and more people became believers and miracles happened.
Andrew Wheeler, author of Together in Prayer, suggests there are several keys to good prayer meetings - ideas to encourage everyone to participate.
He says Jesus made clear the humility and simplicity are vital to prayer that pleases God. He spoke against praying boastfully and at length the way the religious elite prayed. Instead, short and honest prayers, acknowledging our need, is the way to go.
The Pharisees, Jesus suggested, were seeking "honour from men, not blessing from God".
"One of the great temptations in community prayer is praying for others to hear, and not for God to hear."
In other words, a short, simple prayer, focused on God's kingdom and his will, is the best route to take.
Another key to effective group prayer, says Wheeler, is to have clear and orderly groundrules.
He notes that Paul urged the Corinthians to follow an orderly procedure in church - not all talking at the same time and giving others a chance to speak.
Prayer gatherings suffer when a couple of people dominate and others don't have a chance to pray.
"Not all will participate in exactly the same way, but the time is not to be dominated by one person or a few people."
Finally, Wheeler says: "As prayer is an expression of a relationship with God, so community prayer is an expression of a community's relationship with God and with each other."
Love should be the hallmark of group prayer. Rather than trying to get personal prestige and praise from praying, we should think of others and love them.
Wheeler says Paul "exhorted the believers to act out of love for one another and to honour each other above themselves".
Groups that pray that way can expect to please God and see him respond to their prayers.
And we can look forward to seeing God act among North American Christians the way he did in Jesus' time.
In fact, Jesus' model prayer - known generally as the Lord's Prayer - assumes more than one is praying the words. Many of his references - and the apostle Paul's as well - use the plural to indicate that group prayer was common at the time.
So, why do so many Christians avoid praying together? And what can we do about it?
There are probably many reasons why North Americans reject - and even fear - praying together. Some believe that prayer simply doesn't work; others don't want to appear foolish when praying aloud; and still others are simply bored by what passes as group prayer today.
Yet, Jesus gave special prominence to praying in groups. He said that where two or three agree on something on earth, he will act in response.
The book of Acts shows what praying together can do. The apostles spent days in prayer before Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on them and thousands joined the church. Members of the young church continued to pray in groups and more people became believers and miracles happened.
Andrew Wheeler, author of Together in Prayer, suggests there are several keys to good prayer meetings - ideas to encourage everyone to participate.
He says Jesus made clear the humility and simplicity are vital to prayer that pleases God. He spoke against praying boastfully and at length the way the religious elite prayed. Instead, short and honest prayers, acknowledging our need, is the way to go.
The Pharisees, Jesus suggested, were seeking "honour from men, not blessing from God".
"One of the great temptations in community prayer is praying for others to hear, and not for God to hear."
In other words, a short, simple prayer, focused on God's kingdom and his will, is the best route to take.
Another key to effective group prayer, says Wheeler, is to have clear and orderly groundrules.
He notes that Paul urged the Corinthians to follow an orderly procedure in church - not all talking at the same time and giving others a chance to speak.
Prayer gatherings suffer when a couple of people dominate and others don't have a chance to pray.
"Not all will participate in exactly the same way, but the time is not to be dominated by one person or a few people."
Finally, Wheeler says: "As prayer is an expression of a relationship with God, so community prayer is an expression of a community's relationship with God and with each other."
Love should be the hallmark of group prayer. Rather than trying to get personal prestige and praise from praying, we should think of others and love them.
Wheeler says Paul "exhorted the believers to act out of love for one another and to honour each other above themselves".
Groups that pray that way can expect to please God and see him respond to their prayers.
And we can look forward to seeing God act among North American Christians the way he did in Jesus' time.
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