1. What to do: Pray for the Flock
Every pastor knows that they are called to pray for their flock, but most pastors fail to do it.
More than any other aspect of a pastor's calling, prayer is the most difficult to maintain. (Brian Croft)
- People will know if you don't study for a sermon.
- People will know if you skip out on visiting sick people.
- People will obviously know if you miss a funeral.
- No one will know if you don't pray.
True shepherds love the flock, they love them when present with them and they love the flock when present with no one but God. One of the ways they show their love is by bringing their needs - known and unknown, tangible and spiritual, individual and congregational - to Jesus the Good Shepherd in prayer. (Don Whitney)
The examples in the Old Testament
Read the following passages and list which leader was interceding and who they were interceding for. - Genesis 18:22-33 - Exodus 32:9-14 - Job 42:10 - Isaiah 53:12
Read and consider 1 Samuel 12:23. What action did Samuel say would be a sin against the LORD?
The examples in the New Testament
Christ
According to Mark 1:35 how did Jesus spend His mornings during his busiest season of ministry?
What aspect of Christ's life impressed the disciples enough that they asked Him to teach it to them? (See Luke 11:1)
Who did Jesus pray for on the eve of His crucifixion in John 17:9?
Did Christ pray at all on the cross? Who did He pray for? (See Luke 23:24)
Paul
Read Colossians 1:9-11 and Philippians 1:9-11 - what types of things did Paul pray for the churches he started?
Following biblical examples, what should we pray more for: people's physical needs or their spiritual needs?
Other examples
In Acts 6:2-4 the apostles refused to let a potentially church destroying conflict keep them from their main priorities. What did they list as their main priorities?
What did Paul say of Epaphras (the pastor of the Colossian church) in Colossians 4;12?
Read James 5:14-18 and consider the following: - When people were sick, who were they to go to for prayer? - What example did James give us of a man praying and God moving? - According to James, was Elijah extraordinary or ordinary?
2. How to do it
Pray Deliberately
Read Hebrews 13:17, who must we give an account for?
If we must give an account for specific people, shouldn't we pray specifically and systematically for them?
Tip: Create a monthly prayer guide - Get a list of your members - Divide that list by 28 - Assign each group to a day on the calendar - When you pray for people, send them a note, ask them for prayer requests or pay them a visit. - On extra days, pray for missionaries or other pastors. - Get your whole family involved in prayer.
You cannot just stumble onto praying for everyone, you must be deliberate about it.
Pray with others
Schedule weekly and monthly prayer times to pray with others. - Every Tuesday, I meet with other pastors in town for a forty-five minute prayer time. - Schedule a time each week to meet with your church leaders to just pray. - Consider having a monthly leaders meeting and spending time in prayer.
Pray publicly
As a pastor, the way you pray in church is a guide for how the people pray privately, so give thought to how you pray publicly.
Consider the following tips: 1. Don't let your public prayers become general and generic. 2. Pray for specific people in the church and specific needs. Pray for spiritual needs and salvations. Don't embarrass people - but show them how to pray. 3. Pray for evangelistic efforts in your community. 4. Pray for other churches and pastors. 5. Pray for missionaries supported by your church.
"When pastors neglect to pray for real and pressing needs during the church hour, they miss a huge opportunity to model for others how the church should pray for each other." (Brian Croft)