If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17

Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …

These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one.  The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.

Introduction

There is an extra dynamic to prayer coming when people pray together.  It would seem that the unity of the Christian brothers praying together delights the Lord and that He brings special blessing to those who do so.

Bible Zone

• Answered Prayer - Remaining in Christ is key to answered prayer.
• Together in Prayer - There is a dynamic when Christians are united in  prayer.
• Church Praying - A miracle when Christians prayed together.

Answered prayer

Jesus gave a great deal of teaching about the importance of remaining in Him.  This is found in John 15.  One aspect of remaining in Jesus is that it is essential to answered prayer.  John 15:7   - There is more on this in - Keys to answered prayer

1. What promise is made for those who remain in Jesus?
2. What does it mean to remain in Jesus?

John 15:7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

Together in Prayer

Jesus tells us that the Father is looking for those who pray with unity in purpose with Him. Matthew 18:19-20

1. What is the Lord looking for from this group of people?
2. What is promised when the conditions are met?
3. What is the principle underlying the answered prayer?

Matthew 18:19 "I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.20 For where two or three gather together as my followers,* I am there among them."

Note that this is not some formula for manipulating Jesus into giving what we want.  There is the requirement of being together in Jesus’ name - in agreement with Him.

Church Praying

Here is an example of the people of God praying concerning a desperate and urgent need.  These are selected verses from Acts 12:1-19

1. What was the situation that prompted prayer?
2. What was the response of the church?

 Acts 12:1 About that time King Herod Agrippa* began to persecute some believers in the church.2 He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword.3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.*)4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover.5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

The passage goes on to describe how God sent an angel to release Peter from his chains, and from the locked cell.  He then led him out of the prison - the doors opening by themselves.  We pick up the passage again as he goes to the house of some of the Christians.

1. What were the people doing?
2. What expectation was there of God doing a miracle?
3. Why was it that God answered their prayers?

Acts 12:12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it.14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, "Peter is standing at the door!"

  15 "You're out of your mind!" they said. When she insisted, they decided, "It must be his angel."

  16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. "Tell James and the other brothers what happened," he said. And then he went to another place.

PRAYER - group