Prayer and Disciplemaking: A Missional Approach By J. Chris Schofield, Ph. D.

 “To the use of Scriptures the early Christians added prayer as a prime necessity in all evangelistic enterprise.”  Green, Evangelism in the Early Church, 235.

Timothy Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God, 2014 “Prayer is the only entryway into genuine self-knowledge. It is also the main way we experience deep change—the reordering of our loves. Prayer is how God gives us so many of the unimaginable things He has for us.... It is the way we know God, the way we finally treat God as God. Prayer is simply the key to everything we need to do and be in life. We must learn to pray, we have to.”

 E.M. Bounds- “Nothing is more important to God than prayer in dealing with mankind. But it is likewise all-important to man to pray. Failure to pray is failure along the whole line of life. It is failure of duty, service, and spiritual progress.”  Curtiss Mitchell—”Prayer is the primary human factor in the accomplishing of God’s program on earth.”

Introduction  Prayer is not about formulas, form, fashion, quiet times, rituals, religious activity, place, prayer lists, emotional health or even about intellectual concentration or fervent intercessions--  Prayer is about a vital, living, faith relationship with the Living God of the Bible through His Son Jesus Christ. Thus prayer is more than something we “do”—it is something we “are.”  The making of disciples begins and is permeated with prayer that is focused on the Father through an intimate relationship, His glory and His purposes so that His Kingdom can come and His will accomplished on earth as it is in heaven.  Biblical prayer is foundational to the Christian spiritual life and mission—there are NO substitutes  John 7:29; John 17, 15:16—Jesus, Prayer and a Missional Life

Prayer and Disciplemaking: Salvation of the Lost (Knowing Him)  Prayer for the lost (Matt. 6:10; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; Rom 10:1- 2)  Prayer for laborers (Mat. 9:35-38; Acts 13:1-3)  Prayer for open doors for sharing (Col. 4:2-6; Acts )  Prayer and ripe environments for witness and receptivity of the Word (Acts 10-11:18; Luke 8:5-15; John 16:8)  Pray toward an abiding life as a witness (John 15:1- 8)

Prayer and Disciplemaking: Sanctification of the Saints (From Him)  Prayer for new converts to be protected from the evil one (Matt. 6:13; John 17:15)  Prayer that new converts will abound in love for believers and all men (1 Thess. 3:9-11)  Prayer for new believers to please Christ (Col. 1:9-11)  Prayer that new converts will know and do God’s will (Col 1: 9; Eph. 1:17-18)  Prayer for sanctification, oneness and presence with Jesus (John 17)

Prayer And Disciplemaking: Sending and Multiplying Witnesses(Sent by Him)  Prayer for boldness and power to share(Acts 4:29- 31; Eph 1:18-21)  Prayer for God’s Word to bear fruit through their lives (2 Thess. 3;1; Isa. 55:10-11).  Prayer for the right words for witnesses (Is. 50:4-5; Eph: 6:18-20)  Prayer for Kairos timing (Col. 4:2-4)  Prayer for protection from hindrances(Rom. 15:30- 33)  Prayer toward being with Jesus (John 17:24)

“Are we not getting weary of living in this world among so many who are going to hell? Is it not terrible to think that after all the church is doing, thousands are being lost every day? We ought to bestir ourselves for men’s souls, and we cannot do better for them than by praying for them. Let us, therefore, bestir ourselves in prayer.” Charles H. Spurgeon, The Power of Prayer in a Believer’s Life, 191