Why do we have congregational prayer every sunday?
Every week during our gatherings, we pray with one another for things like church planting, orphan care, and prayers of lament or confession of sin. We do this for the following reasons:
1) It expresses gratitude to God and our need for him—We’re praying because we want to acknowledge his steadfast love and faithfulness.
2) It explains the purpose of the gathering—Praying demonstrates that our gathering is not about entertaining or impressing people. Our primary goal is not to satisfy a customer, but to seek and exalt the Savior.
3) It engages God’s people and teaches us how to pray—We are praying together and it’s a joy to be in prayer with one another. We are going before a holy God, pleading and praying with and for one another.
4) It emphasizes our theology and mission—Praying reinforces our theology and mission. We pray scripture and we pray for God’s mission for his church. .
5) It engages unbelievers—As we pray, it motivates unbelievers to consider deep questions of faith. Hearing our heartfelt prayers helps them realize we know they’re present, and the service isn’t just about believers. We communicate our desire for them to experience God’s grace, not just endure a service.
Taken from this article.