Why Your Prayer Meetings are WEAK and PATHETIC

[@jeffball6108]

I think the real issue is why don't people come to prayer meetings? Answer? Because we😢 really don't believe prayer is effective, and in today's instant gratification culture we don't have the patience or perseverence for it.

[@terrymcnaughton1430]

That our they don't put it the top priority on their list.

[@calamitycoccyx2127]

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b). Conversely, the prayers of the ungodly and sinner fall on deaf ears. "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. "Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8).

[@wolves201]

Prayer meetings have always been poorly attended. I’ve sat in a good many and sometimes I’ve been bored to tears by the looooooong prayer sermons delivered by those who want to be heard.

[@DavidNicol-o4l]

I suspect the reason many churches don't have regular prayer meetings is because the people of God themselves aren't praying daily or even reading the word. I pray daily for the parishioners in my own pca church that God would stir their hearts to hunger and thirst for Gods righteousness, to tremble at his word daily and to be people of prayer. Until God moves in the hearts of his people, there won't be much change. That being said, it only takes a few to start this change.

[@rockkstah2550]

American churches are in big trouble, the lifestyle of convenience and easy life has crippled corporate prayer.

[@michaelbirke6050]

Big trouble.

[@RedeemedSinner92]

And this is why I want to join my local PCA! The knowledge most Presbyterians have is a beautiful thing. I try to diligently study the Word of God and watch nothing but Christian theology and church history videos plus listening to sermons. The Lord placed you on KZbin for this reason! Amen! God bless you in everything you do Dr. Matthew Everhard!

[@LukeK.-he2bv]

We have a weekly prayer meeting, 1 hour on Mondays. We typically read a couple Psalms and then follow a guide that is updated each week. Sometime we focus on praying for a certain theme, like missions. Some weeks we give more time for personal prayer requests. The turnout is usually a low number. Usually the same people. But it is a sweet time.

[@Caleb-xf5yn]

At least you're doing something, which is better than nothing, I hope.

[@timothyscott606]

As a fellow pastor I feel this burden deeply. Thank you for addressing this issue.

[@dylangrubbs5969]

Appreciate this video. Our church tried having a Monday night prayer meeting for a year or so. We have around 200 people in our church. We were lucky to have 5-6 people show up regularly, including a few of the elders. I went most of the time (I’m not an elder). I’m hoping we will be able to get it going again.

[@legacydrum08]

Great word! I’ve heard about Prayer Meetings for years, served in churches where Wednesday nights were referred to as “Prayer Meeting.” Format always seems to be something similar to: 1. Prayer/announcements (10 mins) 2. Singing a hymn (5 mins) 3. Bible study (35 mins) 4. Taking prayer requests and praying over those requests (10 mins) Would love to see a workable weekly format/guide for a TRUE PRAYER MEETING. One where more than just the pastor prayers. Thoughts and suggestions welcomed. I’m here to learn.

[@HacimBricks]

I would also mention the value of fasting. I feel like this is something that often is not emphasized in the Church today, or it is often limited to personal devotion. But I think there is something very motivating and encouraging about fasting in community, and using that as a way to focus on prayer more.

[@jeffboehm5147]

Yes sir! At my worship place, the pastor and 2 of 4 Directors meet for prayer and that's it!

[@sanctifiedandsaved5298]

I agree with your observations about church prayer meetings, and as you, I also acknowledge my own weaknesses in prayer, but I strongly concur that the content of many prayers offered at these meetings is more man centered than God centered. Many prayers are more concerned about personal concerns, and not being concerned about God's work and will. When we see the fuller context of Acts 4:31, the prayers offered were in keeping with Christ's directives on prayer, acknowledging God's sovereign will and His Son Jesus Christ and His atoning work, and they are requesting for God to bless them with the Holy Spirit to carry out God's work and will in their lives. They were requesting boldness to further Christ's kingdom and God so empowered them. As you state, it's not wrong to pray for "your next door neighbor's, second cousin, who is divorced and is being screened for cancer tomorrow", but that should be secondary to acknowledging Almighty God, His holiness, His mercy to us through Christ, and our total dependence upon Him to live our lives for Him.

[@terrymcnaughton1430]

I do agree with you. My wife & I attended a church for awhile that had prayer meetings on Mon-Thurs in the morning.But at some point they thought it wasn't important as the the other things going on.

[@ma-mo]

When you don't know what to pray, the Great Litany from the Book of Common Prayer is a terrific thing to return to. For any Christian, at any time.

[@twilagitschlag5662]

My church has a weekly prayer meeting which is a half hour with more than half of that time with a devotional. To spend 15-20 minutes in prayer.

[@cohnjordy]

I'm often reminded of Paul Washer mentioning how we believe that God determined all things that come to pass, and we also believe we have not, because we ask not!

[@wylian84]

Always comes to mind

[@Tomlincoln466]

Very encouraging and a big confirmation for me personally. We have been really stepping up the prayer meetings in our church and it has been preached on more recently too. Prayer is the power house !

[@sonofZeruiah]

3:48 low attendance at prayer meetings has nothing to do with being evangelical. But has much more to do with the pastor. Even a Presbyterian who doesn’t teach or advocate on the value of prayer will have low turnout out for prayer meetings. The denomination is irrelevant. I once attended a church whose pastor did not advocate for prayer. When the church has a congregational prayer meeting, only three people showed up. I eventually left that church.

[@BurningHearts99]

Rebuke is helpful and welcomed by those who greatly desire to obey the will of the Lord. Thank you for this rebuke.

[@geraldwalker7609]

Oh the medical chart update part is so applicable.

[@claudiapalacios360]

Thank you! Appreciate your video, God bless you

[@helendeacon7637]

This is a vital subject to be admitted and convicted of. The power of prayer, like the power of God's Word, is something Christians need to be deeply convinced of. Thank you, Matthew, for addressing this boldly and honestly. The prayer meeting is indeed a barometer of the health of the church. You have encouraged me to look to the larger Westminster Confession for its exposition of the Lord's Prayer and to press on in prayer for revival. Reading the sermons of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones helped me see how we have become rapt in our programs and meetings and busyness at the expense of prayer which, if the Kingdom is to come in all its fullness, is absolutely crucial. Look to the example of Jesus-be constant in prayer 🙏 ❤

[@BramptonAnglican]

Thanks for the great video my friend. I always enjoy seeing what I’ll learn from you. 🙏🏿

[@nathanielriesterer9103]

Prayer meetings are 45 min of talk and then 15 min of prayer.

[@Yesica1993]

Every time.

[@Dwayne_Green]

Good and timely word!

[@stevenledwith]

In a recent Pugcast Glenn Sunshine pointed out American evangelicals pray on average 4 minutes a day. He said this is evidence that evangelicals don't really believe that God answers prayers.

[@dalehamilton8762]

We aloe pray for the service and growth of the church.

[@danbrown586]

We have a men's prayer meeting every Tuesday morning at 6:30, led by our Sr. Minister unless he's out of town. A study of prayer in scripture (we're just finishing up on prayer in the historical books), sing a Psalm, and then a time of prayer. About 20-30 attend including many of our deacons and elders.

[@douglassnyder8163]

Pastor Matt you hit the nail on the head

[@blackukulele]

The Rev. John (Rabbi) Duncan 1796 - 1870 was Hebrew professor of the Free Church of Scotland. He once opened a lecture in prayer and continued to pray for the whole hour that had been set aside for the lecture. His 'excuse' was something like, that once in prayer it is hard to get out.

[@ew8944]

I think fear of public speaking hinders some in prayer meetings.

[@Caleb-xf5yn]

That's a real problem since it's always been a one man show in Protestant churches. People should start with small friendly groups - no pastor is required. They will open up better and develop their prayer faring legs. then from there move up to the big leagues. But as it is, church is not church, but merely a cheap imitation of the Catholic mass.

[@davidleonard6593]

In this you are a pastor after my own heart. Too many churches somehow feel that we are to pray almost exclusively for each other, often relegated to "small groups". Attendees will speak ad nauseum about their problems that is followed by a perfunctory one sentence prayer for that issue by another attendee. Sometimes a prayer is thrown out for the elders, never a prayer for other local Christian churches. No prayers for apostate churches or the members of those churches, no prayers for persecuted churches and Christians in other lands. No prayers that the gospel be proclaimed clearly in all lands to all people. No appeal to God to save the lost. No prayers that that church be kept free from doctrinal error by the Holy Spirit, no prayers that God silence those who are enemies of the cross. The list goes on.

[@joer5627]

We have a weekly prayer meeting. 20 or so. We will continue to have it and praise the Holy God waiting until His Holy Spirit shows up! I don’t disagree with what you say. Disappointment can derail us and yet, we will persevere!

[@Caleb-xf5yn]

People don't go to prayer meetings because their own experience has been that when they pray they never get an answer. A lot of christians are just going through the motions, but their heart isn't in it. The thing needed most is to teach people how to pray seriously and with fervency. They need to pray about what is sincerely on their hearts. They need to get a few ANSWERED prayers under their belts to provide that impetus and inspiration to love prayer for what it ultimately means, a robust relationship with God. But one should be forewarned; God doesn't like quitters or people who shrink back. BOLDNESS is a key element here. PERSISTENCE is another one.

[@karendash3274]

I would like to see prayer meetings be separated and defined as Corporate and Community. Have the newsletter inform the theme for the next corporate prayer meeting in order to give the members time to research relevant verses that pertain to the topic at hand …bearing in mind Numbers 23:19 And a separate day for the community prayer meeting in a Hebrews 10:24-25 to deal with Aunt Ruby’s bunion😊❤️🙏

[@dfpolitowski2]

Living close by to your church makes it easier to attend those pray meetings.

[@karenwilliams4152]

Wow, that’s awesome! #191

[@thetruthseekerswithrandymc5850]

This was spot on

[@Prognosis__]

I’m always for churches less than 100 people. If it gets double that, a church plant is needed. My Presbyterian church is from a plant, and we know everyone prayer points. Though not everyone in the church joins a bible study or the prayer meetings

[@dalehamilton8762]

Our church has prayer meetings on Mondays and Sunday morning. About 6-8 people attended.

[@EmDubbs]

Great encouragement, and I have to say, the weak and pathetic mention in the title is what made me click and be blessed.

[@MrAndyhdz]

Just like working out a weak prayer meeting is better then not attending one at all

[@lynndavis2023]

Thank you for this topic discussion if it were possible you read my mind

[@Yesica1993]

Around 6:00 Oh, goodness, don't get me started on that one! It's especially common in older congregations. I don't mind praying for bigger health issues. That's understandable. But to have to listen to an endless laundry list of everybody's most minute aches and pains, and then have a few minutes left for a quick prayer is unbearable to me. I feel bad saying it. But it's the honest truth. But how do we pray for these other things without people thinking we are trying to be "super spiritual" or better than them or something of that nature?

[@busker153]

It has become my opinion over the last three years that churches should not "have" a prayer meeting. Churches should spring up out of prayer meetings. I think we have it backward. His house is not the house of singing and preaching, so why are they always the main priority, right? I have also discovered that corporate prayer meetings need to rest on the solid foundation of the private prayer lives of those who attend.

[@jonkenny593]

spot on matt!

[@pwoeckener]

This video has pretty much been my thoughts and complaints with the church for going on 25 years. It's nothing new, at least that I have observed. What really angered me today though is that I posted this video on my church's online internal forum, where everyone at the church could see it, purely to start a discussion on this subject and within an hour your video was deleted. The preaching may be fantastic at my church, but if you won't even allow a video like this to be posted, where we can have an honest and open conversation about the lack of authentic prayer in church, then we have a serious problem. Frankly, I'm sick of attending Bible studies, or any other church function, where the entirety of prayers is praying for sick relatives and safe travels for friends, who aren't even a part of that church, and in some cases, not even Christians. I mean, what are we doing in the church, seriously? If we can't meet for prayer corporately outside of Sunday morning, and bring authentic prayer requests that aren't selfish in nature, and totally focused on our selfish lives and healings for (frankly) stupid things, I'm sorry, but this just disgusts me at the ridiculously superficial nature of the church in general and how cavalier we are in how we lack the reverence and fear of God in our churches and our lives.

[@dfpolitowski2]

Exactly. This is because "the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." Mark 4:19 is true in most of us. Its hard to fight off.

[@JosephAragon-z4x]

Praying is a waste of time for a calvinist,God has determined everything

[@douglassnyder8163]

Amen

[@genierollins612]

Such a great topic. May we be more like John Knox who the queen feared his prayer more than invading armies. I pray all who watch this are convicted to pray more and search& pray for Gods will.

[@douglassnyder8163]

So true

[@joshj3662]

Church Victorious, pilgrim!

[@hightide1500]

I thought it was because prayer meeting starts at 7am

[@selenebrannin8845]

Wow, you have changed! Arrogant comes to mind.

[@Yesica1993]

What did he say that was false or otherwise unbiblical? Give the time stamp.

[@Ratlegion]

I don't really want to say it, but it sounds like something we should expect to hear from continuationists. The Acts situation wasn't normative, which was why it was mentioned in scripture as an unusual occurrence. We actually don't know what God has in mind in every situation. Expecting earthquakes is a bit much.. Edit I don't normally have such an issue with your videos, but this time, I just have so many questions. I personally attend opc, and we do have a lot of these prayers like the catechisms on rotation. What if God were to say it's not powerful enough because we repeat the same prayers and it's not creative enough? That's what I'm thinking when you seem to be saying prayer doesn't work because not enough people come to the prayer meeting, or the reason Jesus had to suffer was because his disciples didn't pray fervently enough on the night he was taken. Do you honestly believe these are the kinds of things God will point at and call weak? Because I honestly feel that reading reformed catechisms could also be called weak for similar reasons. It's like, I pray for the ruling administration to stumble into a few right decisions regularly, but I truly wonder how to pray about such things. How else to pray besides repetition - and that is what I would call weak, but I don't really know how else to pray it, besides the bunion prayer. It's simple and plain, but I don't think that keeps God from acting. In all our ways we acknowledge him, or attempt to. I think there's a huge divide in the community in knowing how to pray, content with God's potential movement being less than we might like from our own limit perspective, and praying with determined expectations. Sometimes God will simply say no, and that's an answer.

[@dianetigert1310]

this video brings to light about the good Samaritan story, how the worthless and rotten religious ppl worship.

[@CharlieGr]

You are absolutely right that God simply says "no" sometimes, and that we should be content when that happens. However, we have not because we ask not, and it's the *effectual, fervent* prayer of a righteous man that avails much. It is important to pray more, and to pray hard. But we *must* pray more, and expect God to hear. Revivals (real ones from the Spirit applying preaching) have begun with prayer meetings, and I don't know of a revival that took place without extraordinary prayer. 2 Kings 13:16-19 KJV And [Elisha] said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands. And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice. Psalm 81:10-13 KJV I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; And Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: And they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, And Israel had walked in my ways!

[@davidelgeti517]

I was part of a cell group that start a prayer meeting as we moved in to deeper prayer, praying for revival,repentance, Holiness etc. I was admonished by other members through an elder. The elder advised me that as we prayed for revival,repentance a deeper walk with our Lord it was upsetting the new people who had joined our meetings. They were feeling their assurance of salvation was being attacked or questioned. It’s a difficult thing to see the world in a downward spiral and not realize that the Church has lost her influence in our community’s. We are no longer salt and light in our cities and sadly to say even in our church and families. But praying these things will unsettle many. I believe true prayer will reveal our weakness and our need and it is unsettling but praise be to God who does show up and this can be a Spiritual shaking that the Holy Spirit will shake us in our weakness but surely He does not leave us there. If only we could get by the feelings that rule our hearts and submit to the power of the Spirit. I was basically asked to stop praying in manner that would upset the status quo of their assurances in their faith. I believe as true prayer grabs your heart you realize that there is so much more to the Christian life, it awakens you to a true relationship with Christ and with the one another’s. You should enter the idea of the prayer meeting with this in mind, there will be forces to shut you down, whether Spiritual attack or the offending of those that attend. It is a convicting experience as the Spirit helps your praying and it takes time to recognize the Spirits leading and trust in His leading your prayer meeting. We are so used to settling the agenda that we are offended and I believe grieve the Spirit as He leads us in some uncomfortable prayer.

[@dianetigert1310]

@@davidelgeti517 how special people feel when they surround themselves with others that are spiritual and much more spiritual than you, they demand to be the preeminence and their bibles are much more holier than yours.

[@cohnjordy]

It's sounds like something we do hear about from... Paul Washer, Martyn Lloyd Jones, Spurgeon, the Puritans... to name a few.

[@WilliamH490]

Do you even believe in tongues and the gifts?

[@Re_Mindemic_Virus]

❤ Why raise the question at all? Weak or Powerful the volume of local church preoccupation with Sunday gatherings or prayer meetings at the expense of actively obeying the Christian focus on doing His commissioned work? Large numbers of watchers and listeners of the few workers, idle and comfortable in their pews? This is the lukewarm state listed with other warnings given to leaders and followers interested whatever other agendas attract attention. Step out in faith, listen and act for a change.

[@KenjiHouston]

Lack of structure.

[@ericbudnovitch7630]

One thing I HATE, man, is when a church has contemporary worship and the pastor or an elder is doing some sort of ‘prayer’ before a worship song, and then the worship team goes up on stage while the person is praying so that they can start the worship song immediately after. What a way to trivialize prayer in front of your whole congregation!

[@Yesica1993]

Oh, for goodness' sake. How does that "trivialize prayer"?

[@ericbudnovitch7630]

@@Yesica1993 because it reduces it to a formality, or just words we say. It's like that quick prayer before a meal that isnt heartfelt and doesnt mean as much to God, it teaches people to pray that way over time

[@Yesica1993]

@@ericbudnovitch7630. I've been a part of the music ministry in the past. The service does have to end at some point. It's way more disruptive / distracting to the congregation to have the pastor pray, say, "Amen" and then have the musicians rushing up to the stage. Plus, there is the fact that many churches have to rent their facilities each week. They're forced to leave at a certain time or be charged an additional fee. Or it makes any building / Security staff to stay past their shifts if they are working that day. That is not fair to those people. And their employer may not want to pay them overtime. These are real life considerations that must be managed. We need to be good stewards and also considerate of others, especially any non-Christians involved in the situation. Having order and a schedule does not automatically reduce prayer or anything else to a formality. WE do that, because it is a quality of the heart/soul before God.

[@jakefink4040]

The video title reads like a Trump Tweet.

[@ThomasLaine-w3o]

The prayer meetings are weak and absurd because they listen to your rubbish!