Prayer connects us to God both personally and as a community, deepening our relationship with Him and with one another. Corporate prayer unites believers in purpose and humility, empowering the church to support, encourage, and grow together in faith.
We commune with the Lord through prayer. When we pray, we are speaking to Him, sharing our heart, telling Him what's on our minds, adoring His majesty, asking for His help, and returning His love. Corporate prayer allows us to do all this but as a church family. The Old Testament shows corporate prayer as part of temple worship (1 Kings 8:22-53; 2 Chronicles 6:12-42), expressing gratitude toward God (Nehemiah 8:6), and interceding for others (Exodus 32:30-32).
Corporate prayer was also part of the early church (Acts 2:42-47). In several of Paul’s letters, he asks for prayer from the church to whom he is writing (Romans 15:30-32; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 3:1). James also writes to the church about the importance of praying together for healing and for confessing sin because "the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" (James 5:16). As with our individual prayers, in corporate prayer, we should always pray in accordance with God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). By praying together,
we are actively supporting brothers and sisters in Christ in their thankfulness, requests, and praise.
Corporate prayer teaches us how to pray as we listen to what other people pray for and the way they pray about those things. In prayer we get to know each other more intimately as our walls are removed and we approach our Savior in humility. Corporate prayer can also reveal wrong attitudes towards God. Corporate prayer strengthens the church and unites us in purpose, joining together to fight the attacks of the enemy and fight for one another.
The power of corporate prayer is the same as the power of private prayer: God Himself, not our words, number of people praying, body posture, nor anything else. Believers have the privilege of coming to God in prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Philippians 4:6-7). Prayer is a means by which God chooses to accomplish His will, but it is according to His wisdom (Luke 11:13; Ephesians 6:18; 1 John 5:14-15).
People praying together unites us in mind and purpose, but it does not magically force God to act as we want Him to. Rather, it is a way for us to come together in community and humility before God, entrusting ourselves to Him and seeking His will.
Corporate prayer should never be a performance to gain others’ respect or admiration. Jesus warns against prayers like that (Matthew 6:5-8), indicating that earthly respect is the only reward for hypocritical prayer. However, if we are humble before God, we can participate in powerful corporate prayer that edifies us, grows us in our relationship with God, and builds up the body of Christ.