Christians, what are your church prayer meetings like?

Question

The reason I ask is because answers by Jehovah's Witnesses to a question asking why they didn't have any prayer meetings shocked me rigid. They said (amongst other things):

"Our meetings are based on the concept of education, nopt in long sessions of emotionalism which is what so called prayer meetings are about."

Prayer meetings "turn into a show, rather than a deep respect, even if it's just a group of people in a private room."

Prayer meetings are "ritualistic chants or hysterical screams of the fringe sects."

"We have no need for prayer meetings."

So my question to Christians who go to church prayer meetins is twofold - what are they really like and is there any truth to any of the claims made by Jehovah's Witnesses about prayer meetings?

Answer 1

I left a group that never had prayer meetings, became a Christian and joined a local Baptist church who had weekly prayer meetings. I will never forget the first time I attended. I had no idea what to expect, and just sat amongst the men and women in a rather gloomy room at the side of the church building (which used to be a 19th century village school.)



The pastor started with a Bible reading and brief discussion of what it meant. Then individuals were mentioned, both in the congregation and abroad, who would benefit from prayer for specific situations. The pastor prayed briefly. Then there was silence. I looked up and found to my surprise that everyone else remained seated with their heads bowed and eyes closed. A couple of minutes later a man started to pray - his own prayer, about things that concerned him, and other concerns of others. When he finshed there was, again, a silence before someone else started to pray. This went on for nearly an hour. Women prayed too, much to my amazement!



Never had I heard such prayers in all my religious life (and I had been brought up from infancy with religion and countless meetings.) But those prayers were the most simple, sincere, humble and beautiful expressions of thanks, requests and worship to God, which I had ever heard. Those prayers were spontaneous and unpretentious. They came from the heart. Some people spoke eloquently with no hindrance; others prayed haltingly and almost hesitantly. But each and every one prayed because they felt moved to communicate respectfully with God. And I noticed that many of the prayers were purely prayers of worship. God was not being asked for anything. He was being praised.



I left that night feeling as if I had been privileged to catch a glimpse of heaven, as in Revelation chapter 7. I also knew that I had witnessed a foretaste of Philippians 2:9-11, where, "at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." From that night on, I have endeavoured to attend as many prayer meetings as possible, for to take part in that is an immense privilege.

Answer 2

To: Jehovah's witnesses.

To find out the truth about Prayer Meetings, go to a Prayer Meeting.

WWW.prayermeeting.org

Answer 3

Is the Jehovah Witness talking from experience? If they don't have prayer meetings how does this JW know what prayer meetings are like?



I have to be honest and say too many times I have been in prayer meetings where people pray from the flesh they pray random prayers and are not really in the flow of the Spirit. When I get together to pray with others I prefer to know what we are getting together to pray about and be ready also to hear from God also. Prayer isn't just coming with a list of needs to God it is coming for fellowship with Him and as the JW do not have a personal relationship with God and hear from Him personally then it is not surprising they may consider prayer meetings to be in line with the quotes in your question.

Answer 4

The current Church I am at ? I wouldn't know, My Job has been preventing me from being able to attend, However my Last Church some years ago? would be to discuss the prayer list of those in Need and each take turns praying for a specific person on this list, now it is more detailed than that but thats how I remember.

Answer 5

The house church here does not have a specific prayer-meeting, but spend some time each meeting in prayer, always ending with the Lord`s Prayer. They have a bit unik way, in that they start out with all praying out loud at the same time. Later I hear some single prayers. Now if specific needs they are quick to meet and pray. And that is a good thing. If there is no prayer there is no life.



MIMI

Answer 6

Please give me a scriptural basis for "prayer meetings" - ie - a verse that has those exact words together that commands us to have PRAYER MEETINGS.



It is not as if we have NO prayer in our meetings. And we do have several prayers in each and every meeting at the Kingdom Hall.



But may I have a verse that limits a Christian meeting to prayer? And a verse that condemns those who do not limit a meeting to prayer only?



Paul states several times that there are several aspects to Christian meetings - and we include all those, prayer, praise, commenting, opportunities to share research, public reading, counsel, explanation of doctrine, discussion of communication and news of our brothers and sisters, etc.. local needs, singing, planning for public witnessing, encouraging personal experiences.



All those are needed in Christian meetings.



Private prayer is a different matter. There is no limit on the subject matter, the need, or the time devoted to such. And of course that subject matter can and should and does include the lives and needs of others, whether they be family, friends, enemies, rulers, etc.

Answer 7

What Jehovah's Witnesses mean, of course, is that their religion doesn't allow them to think for themselves. At any meeting they have, such as a "Bible study", you get told what to think, which means whatever the Watchtower Society says. (That's why I put "Bible study" in inverted commas - you can't actually discuss the passage.) Any chance that you might express your own opinion is unacceptable.



You see it on this site - any answer from a JW consists entirely of quotation rather than an answer in their own words. So for them to have a prayer meeting would be dangerous in their own terms because that might mean accidentally saying something at variance with what the Watchtower says.



Now for those of us who consider Christianity to be a personal relationship with God, a prayer meeting is just that. Indeed a few people waffle on and on and on, some seem to talk to show off, but on the whole, any I have been to are just what they ought to be - meetings for prayer. If anyone prays out loud, that's a chance for us all to share and silently echo the prayer. Companionable prayerful silence is good too.

Answer 8

@pugjw9896 , wants to call a mid week meeting where they sometimes say as many as three prayers a prayer meeting, WOW!!



Our congregation has several pray times a week and all are open to everyone that wants to attend. The biggest one is on Sunday morning before the worship team begin praise and worship and all that will take part in the service are asked to attend. This is a very special time of praise and worship where the presence of the Holy Spirit is felt by everyone as they are prepared to take part in the service.



Other prayer meeting during the week are very similar to your first experience at a prayer meeting. We try not to be too specific as to who needs prayer for what but there are always special areas of prayer requests. We have seen so many answered prayers from these meetings and so may healings, it is impossible not to believe in God's healing today as it was as the disciples shadows fell on the sick and they were healed.



Most members of our congregation belong to at least one cell group that meet in peoples homes on week nights, or in coffee shops during the day, where we start with prayer, do a study on the bible then end with at least ten minutes of open prayer, I have been in one of these meeting that the prayer went on for several hours as all were led by the Holy Spirit to keep praying.



While it is not unknown to say the Lords Prayer, it is rarely heard, all prayers are from the heart and as led by the Holy Spirit to pray, from these groups we have had many healings and answered prayer it is very easy to see the movement of God in these groups as well.

Answer 9

I have to disagree with your synopsis of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe what is told as outright; rather extensive research is done and highly encouraged. Also, encouraged is daily Bible reading along with meditation and prayer. Questions are for understanding not for debates. The meetings are conducted in a systematic manner; questions and answers.

Answer 10

Even the best of Christians is fighting a daily battle with pride so I'm not going to say there is no truth in what the JWs say, but their view is very negative and reductive. Mostly, prayer meetings are positive times of inspiration and fellowship. It does depend on the denomination exactly how they are conducted though. Please attend one for yourself.

Answer 11

Our meetings start with a simple prayer to Jehovah...THROUGH his son Jesus, as the ONLY channel

(John 14:6) Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Then a Bible based song...then a program of Bible study, teaching those present to themselves present the good news to the public...The meeting ends with another song, then a final prayer/...

TWO PER MEETING, sometimes three at an assembly.

All are welcome.

Answer 12

Yup makes me wonder whether these dudes have a connection with JEHOVAH or just talk about him. One prayer meeting in campus where there was speaking in tongues great things happened ie deliverance! Wow. The Jehovah himself directs us to keep away from people with another gospel ie JW who according to Paul are cursed!

Answer 13

I started my nursing career as a phlebotomist in the early 80's. At that time J:W's were preventing persons, including neonates (that's newly born children) from having blood transfusions. It made me want to puke. I will NEVER have anything to do with such a bunch of "numb nuts". They should have been prosecuted and given lengthy jail terms.

Answer 14

We gather like brothers and sister in order to deepen our godly love with brotherly affection w/ each other ~ We worship God through PRAYERS( we share our prayer requests and answered prayers for thanksgiving to God), SINGING, and ENCOURAGING each other. .

Answer 15

Singing, dancing, food and alcohol.. come along, you might enjoy it