As our Monday noon prayer service continues, it's helpful to understand the reasons for praying together.  Martha Graybeal Rowlett's book, Praying Together--Forming Prayer Ministries in Your Congregation, gives the Biblical basis for community prayer and valuable insights on its power.
   The best reason for praying together is that Jesus prayed together with people.  The prayer he taught his disciples (and that we pray together every Sunday) assumes community prayer with its plural pronouns:  "Our Father...give us...Forgive us...lead us"  (Matt. 6:9-13).
   Jesus said that people who prayed together would experience power in their prayers.  Talking to his disciples he said, "if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven."  (Matthew 18:19)
   And Jesus told his disciples about faith and the power of prayer (again using a plural pronoun), "whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."  (Mark 11:24)
   The early church prayed together.  In response to danger and to give thanks, "they raised their voices together to God" (Acts 4:24).   And as a result of their community prayer "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).
   Our prayer service in the Chapel on Mondays at noon taps into the power of prayer.  So come to this service.  You will be filled with the Holy Spirit and your prayers will make a difference in your own life and the lives of others.  May God bless you and may our praying together bless Central Christian Church.  Next week--seven specific benefits for praying together.