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A PRAYING CHURCH: Becoming a People of Hope in a Discouraging World
PAUL MILLER
Paul Miller, Bestselling Author of A Praying Life, on the Transforming Power of Praying Together
In our current culture, the church and prayer are often dismissed as irrelevant. But when believers gather and pray together, powerful things happen: the Spirit equips the saints for ministry, the helpless are met with help, and believers experience the joy of being led by the Spirit of Jesus. In this book, Paul E. Miller, bestselling author of A Praying Life, casts a vision for a return to the simple yet life-changing practice of praying together.
Through personal stories and biblical examples, Miller teaches the why, what, and how of praying together. Readers will learn how praying with other Christians can transform their communities into beacons of hope and be given practical strategies—such as finding a prayer partner and prioritizing a structured prayer time—to implement these changes in their own church.
Ideal for Group Study: Small groups, Sunday school classes, and others will find helpful strategies to think through and discuss
Engaging and Personal: Features real life stories, word pictures, and charts to help readers understand the content
“A Word to Pastors”: Miller closes several chapters with thoughtful reflections specifically for church leaders
Foreword by Dane C. Ortlund: Author of the bestselling book, Gentle and Lowly, who praises A Praying Church, calling it “winsome and compelling”
TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Illustrations
Foreword by Dane C. Ortlund
Part 1: Why Pray Together?
Chapter 1: A Glimpse of a Praying Community
Chapter 2: Who Killed the Prayer Meeting?
Chapter 3: The Missing Spirit of Jesus
Chapter 4: A Short History of the Praying Church
Part 2: What Is the Church?
Chapter 5: Saints in Motion
Chapter 6: Feeding the Saints
Chapter 7: Are Saints Real?
Chapter 8: Saints Unleashed
Chapter 9: The Parable of the Missing CEO
Part 3: How the Spirit Reshapes a Praying Community
Chapter 10: How the Spirit Works
Chapter 11: The Spirit’s Path
Chapter 12: Management by Prayer
Chapter 13: Becoming a Praying Leader
Chapter 14: Praying Big
Chapter 15: The Prayer Triangle
Chapter 16: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Prayer
Part 4: The Art of Praying Together
Chapter 17: Beginning Low and Slow
Chapter 18: Forming a Divine Community
Chapter 19: Restoring Prayer to Sunday Morning
Chapter 20: On a Resurrection Hunt
Chapter 21: Becoming Real in Prayer
Chapter 22: The Prayer Menu
Part 5: Specialized Praying in Community
Chapter 23: Constant in Prayer
Chapter 24: A Band of Brothers
Chapter 25: Turbocharging Our Prayers
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Notes
General Index
Scripture Index
ENDORSEMENTS
“Reading Paul Miller’s A Praying Church fresh filled my heart with the power of Oswald Chambers’ insight: ‘Prayer does not equip us for greater works—prayer is the greater work.’ I was challenged and inspired to reconsider the centrality of prayer for my personal prayer life and for the corporate ministry of my church so that the Spirit of Jesus would pervade and empower all.” —Bryan Chapell, pastor; author, Christ-Centered Preaching and Christ-Centered Worship
“This book presents a strong challenge to the contemporary church to rethink her attitudes toward and practices of community prayer. I thought I knew a thing or two about praying together. But I found myself being challenged and learning more about the practice of prayer in my own life and ministry team.” —Ajith Fernando, Teaching Director, Youth for Christ, Sri Lanka; author, Discipling in a Multicultural World
“Churches that are true change agents in their communities are congregations for whom prayer is a way of life. My good friend Paul Miller has written a thoughtful and challenging appeal in A Praying Church. Read this wonderful book, and you’ll discover how to partner with the Spirit of Jesus in transforming your community for the kingdom of Christ!” —Joni Eareckson Tada, Founder, Joni and Friends International Disability Center
“Paul Miller is on a quest to return prayer to its rightful central place in everyday life and ministry. Read this book to be challenged to pray. Study it for tips on how to make prayer second nature. Ponder it for a refresher on the Bible’s testimony to prayer, on prayer in countless settings today, and on myriad impediments to prayer. Most of all, rediscover how Christ and the Spirit equip the saints for the work of the ministry—through prayer. This is an enormously informative and encouraging book.” —Robert W. Yarbrough, Professor of New Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary
“Paul Miller’s J-Curve is the best resource I know on spiritual formation. Now I’ll be recommending A Praying Church as the best resource I know on praying in Christian community. It is biblical, practical, and honest. Because it is rooted in the gospel, it invites us to real change without making us feel discouraged that the change is needed. Invite others to read this book with you and respond together to the Spirit’s leading; I believe the church will experience deep renewal as a result.” —Jimmy Agan, Senior Pastor, Intown Community Church, Atlanta, Georgia
“Paul Miller’s book reached me. I was changed. Having been a pastor for thirty-six years, I say without overstatement: it is the most important book on Christian ministry I have ever read.” —Steve Estes, author, A Better December; coauthor, When God Weeps
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