by Robert D. (Chip) Pace
W
HAT IS THE CHIEF ACTIVITY of your local however, that church management was not their calling. Their
church? Is it corporate worship opportunities? divine assignment was to study God’s Word, preach, and pray
Evangelism? Fellowship? Benevolent outreach? (Acts 6). Consequently, deacons were appointed to “serve tables,”
While each of these ministries is vitally impor- while the apostles fulfilled their high calling. Pastors today who
tant to a church’s welfare, Christ did not distinguish one of follow this apostolic pattern of prioritizing prayer will maximize
them as the crowning jewel to identify His church. In both the their calling. Pastors devoted to prayer will actually do more than
Old and New Testament, the Lord announced that the renown maximize their calling; they will, by example, encourage others
of His church was this: “My house will be called a house of to make prayer a vital part of their life too. The sheer force of
prayer” (Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13).* modeling prayer by the pastor will cause others to follow.
So how does the local church make certain it follows God’s
command to prioritize this indispensable ministry? It is my
Prioritize Prayer Through the Pulpit
hope that this article will offer a partial strategy that local Another forceful manner of building a praying church is
churches can use to develop a vibrant prayer ministry and create through the pastoral pulpit. In fact, the Bible specifically delin-
a hunger in congregants to form a mighty prayer force. eates the prerequisite of teaching the principles of prayer. Luke
11:1 says, “When [Jesus] finished [praying], one of his disciples
Pastors Should Emulate Apostolic Prayer
said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his
It is important that pastors emulate apostolic prayer. In the disciples.’”
Book of Acts, Luke shows that the 12 apostles were called upon After noticing how Jesus and John so powerfully persuaded
to address the daily tasks of the church. The apostles understood, men with the Gospel, the apostles made the connection
8 EVANGEL • MAR 2008
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40