Variety in the prayer meeting

Contents

chapter page

Preface 7

Introduction by Bishop W. O. Shepard 9

Preface

He who made the world likes variety. We see that everywhere. No two leaves are alike, the stones differ, the flowers bloom in myriad hues, the clouds shift in wondrous panorama, "one star differeth from another star in glory" ; each human face has its own peculiar features, each soul its own peculiar experience; and heaven itself, we are sure, will not be after a stereotyped pattern.

The fact that God's efforts are never formal, neither in nature or grace, in time or eternity, constitutes one reason why men love God's handiwork, why the "old, old story" as experienced in life and related in testimony is ever new, and why we shall enjoy heaven forever.

If our prayer meetings lack variety must we not in frankness admit that they are less than what God desires them to be, and should we not expect that men should fail in enthusiasm for them ; and, on the other hand, if we build them as God builds his universe of nature and grace, shall we not more perfectly please him and more surely enlist and hold the interest of men? This question has but one answer.

PEEFACE

To assist in the attainment of this fine quality this volume, containing plans and suggestions by the author and others, is sent forth with the prayer that, by its use, in some measure at least, the prayer meeting may increasingly become a meeting that has no place for dullness or formality, but one that throbs with life, a service new and fresh, bright and attractive, loved of men and blessed of God.

Liberal, Kansas. William T. Waed.

Introduction

Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled," and in the same discourse he discussed with his disciples the greatest of all problems. In saying and doing so he taught that the gospel stirs the mind while it stills the heart.

To-day the Christian mind is stirred beyond question and precedent.

The screw-beaten ocean paths between neighboring continents; the complex of wire and illimitable oceans of Hertzian waves which bind the world into a community ; the multitudinous literature which standardizes all thinking and feeling; the rising tide of democracy in America, Europe, Asia, and everywhere ; the common interest of all peoples in the exploration and exploitation of all natural forces and treasures have made a new world, and none the less a new church. The church reads the Bible to-day in the light of the "new city," the "new philanthropy," social justice, brotherhood, missions, and a hundred clamorous isms crying from new platforms, "Lo! here" and "Lo! there."

INTRODUCTION

The mind is mightily stirred, but is the heart stilled?

Who is sufficient for these things? Is the church, as now divided and more or less intent upon the growth of the various branches? Is even a united church, now so happily prophesied by so many overtures and courtesies, sufficient for the new world task?

The answer to this question forever must be in the negative. As from the beginning, "Our help cometh from God who made heaven and earth," and who by his providences has brought about the new heaven and the new earth of the twentieth century. It is true still that "Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." Without Him who wept over Jerusalem, and doubtless now weeps over Peking and Paris and London and New York; without Him who compassionated the shepherdless of Galilee, and doubtless has compassion on the myriads of unhoused, unemployed, uncomforted, unsaved of our time; without Him whose love constrained Paul to his mighty labors among all perils and hardships and oppositions; without Him who is Vine and Way and Life the church will go round and round without progress, like a boat 10

INTRODUCTION

pulled by one oar with much agitation of the waters and exertion of the rower.

Our clearest-eyed prophets are saying, "Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." They are reminding us of the neglected might of intercessory prayer. They are reminding us of the strength as well as the glory of being "workers together with God." They are pointing us to the abiding truth that our sufficiency is in God.

Among the prophets who send out a loud call to the church is the author of this volume. While many in our day deal with the problems that press themselves for solution, he directs as to the source of all power and sufficiency. He writes not for the brakeman, but for the engineer and the fireman. He deals with the indispensable and fundamental.

This book will be found to be surprisingly suggestive. In the hands of an intelligent leader of the prayer meeting it cannot fail to be of very great value. Its suggestions intelligently used will kindle a multitude of fires on cold altars, and fan dying embers into a living flame.

The author writes in the strength of the inductive method. He knows because he has 11

INTRODUCTION

tried and proved. His own success is the warrant of success to those who give the care and thought and prayerful preparation which he has given and which is evidenced by this fullest treatment, as I believe, which the prayer meeting has received.

May its cordial reception and judicious use wing a myriad prayers and petitions to the Throne of Grace and Power.

Kansas City, Kansas. W. O. Shepard.

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." — From the letter to the Hebrews.

"Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." — Jesus.

Chapter I The Place Of The Prayer Meeting

IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Paragraphs 1-5. Its place in history.

1. Such a meeting to be expected.

2. In New Testament days.

3. In the early centuries.

4. In the Middle Ages.

5. In the Reformation Era. 6-15. Its importance.

6. Acknowledged.

7. Enhanced.

8-15. Not fully realized. 9. Socially. 10-14. Statistically

10. The statistical ideal.

11. The question, "How

large?"

12. The true criterion.

13. The Sunday preaching

service and the prayer meeting compared.

14. A standard proposed. 15. In the literature of the church.

16. An opportunity for the church.

CHAPTER I

The Place of the Prayer Meeting in the Christian Church

"My house is the house of prayer." — Luke 19. 46.

1. Prayer is essential for the Christian, whiie to meet for prayer is a privilege and pleasure as great for the soul as gathering around the festive board is for the body. No wonder the prayer meeting is found in the church through all its history.

2. The New Testament day had it. The one hundred and twenty prayed and Jerusalem had a pentecost (Acts 1. 12-26; 2. 1-47); "Peter and John," mark you, "Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer" (Acts 3. 1), a Jewish service, in truth, but, nevertheless, attractive to these two Christian men; the church prayed and Peter was delivered from prison (Acts 12. 3-19) ; and Paul and Silas prayed, the Philippian jail was earthquake shaken, and the jailer was converted (Acts 16. 25-34).

3. The early centuries of the Christian era had it — in the open when they might, in the seclusion of the catacombs and other places of retreat when they must.

4. The mists of the Dark Ages so obscured this service that it scarcely appears.

5. The Protestant Reformation revived the prayer meeting and has brought it to our day. Now, all the evangelical denominations sustain it chiefly as a midweek service which meets upon Wednesday or Thursday evening of each week.

6. Though this service as a rule is very meagerly attended, yet there is a conviction abroad relative to its importance: one says that the prayer meeting is the heart and soul of the church ; another that if the prayer meeting succeeds all departments of the church will succeed ; and another, that it is the spiritual barometer of the church — statements which embody much of truth; for the church has no service more fitted to be called its "heart and soul" than this ; a successful prayer meeting, too, quickens the true social spirit, strengthens every great reform, deepens missionary interest and conviction, inspires larger financial endeavor, in fact, a successful prayer

PLACE IN THE CHURCH

meeting does bless every church activity; while as an indicator of spiritual life it may well be called the "barometer" of the church.

7. The importance, so admitted, is all the more enhanced in these days because of the fact that class meetings and kindred services for public testimony are not sustained as formerly.

8. Yet, while we praise it well, there are some things which indicate that we do not fully feel the force of our laudations — that we do not even yet adequately appreciate its importance or give it the recognition which is its due.

9. The social possibilities of the prayer meeting are not fully realized, and in some quarters are not realized at all. To mention a social service to many church members means to them anything but a prayer meeting ; yet this service provides the great social opportunity of the church. Note its excellencies in this regard: There is no age test as when you announce a young people's service — the old, the middle-aged, and the young are free to come; there is no money test as must be the case when a money-raising social is announced ; there is no sex test as is true when a women's or a men's meeting is held; there is no educational test as must in the nature of the case be in training classes and educational meetings — the unlettered have opportunity here; there is no official test as is implied in the meeting of the official board or session. Age, money, sex, education, office — these do not constitute a passport here : as wide as human need, as wide as the gospel invitation, so wide is the prayer meeting welcome. Besides, as compared with the Sunday public service it provides the larger opportunity for intimate acquaintance, for the reason that it is, more than it is possible for the other to be, the great family gathering of the church ; furthermore, many socials, so called, meet intermittently, and, for long periods only occasionally, while this service meets regularly once a week, and that, too, at the time best adapted for social gatherings, namely, in the evening, thus providing a constant and favorable social opportunity. The minutes before the opening provide opportunity for the joyous greeting of acquaintances and the introduction of strangers, while delightful social fellowship is possible in the minutes during which the company should always tarry after dismissal. The

PLACE IN THE CHURCH

church has no service that compares with this in social possibility. We will do well to improve it.

10. Statistically, the prayer meeting does not loom np large ; in fact, it does not loom up at all. Pastors and lay officers are required to report figures for church membership, church finances, Sunday schools, young people's societies, brotherhoods, woman's societies, and periodicals, but not for attendance upon their prayer meeting. If they make a record of this it is because they themselves choose to do so, their own pleasure and interest prompting them in the matter. Perhaps the fact that the attendance upon this service has been so meager has prevented the churches from requiring such a report; yet the necessity of making it, no doubt, would have incited multitudes to larger interest and more definite action relative to this service, and would still do so. The statistical ideal, we are ready to admit, is not the highest ; yet it has the advantage of being so tangible that men readily recognize it when it is placed before them ; and this is of profit, for, it is better to recognize an ideal and fail in its attainment than not to recognize it at all. Of course, the might of 21 prayer is not to be measured by the mere size of the crowd; yet all must concede that a church with many in its prayer meeting is more nearly ideal than one whose midweek service is supported by but a few.

11. "How large ought my prayer meeting to be?" is a legitimate question for every prayer meeting leader. Let us acknowledge at once that all fields do not respond to the prayer meeting idea with the same degree of alacrity. So many elements enter into the problem that the same effort applied in different places produces different results; the same leader may have a large prayer meeting in one place and a small one in another. Notwithstanding this admission the question remains for every leader, for the simple reason that there is room for improvement, no doubt, in every field ; and, as long as this is true, the question will still remain. The leader cannot, of course, guarantee results ; he is not expected to do that ; but in the face of his opportunity it is his duty to put his best self into the service, and that not spasmodically but incessantly. If he does less than this, and his service falls short because of it, he is by that much responsible for its failure. Each leader's prayer meeting ought to 22"

PLACE IN THE CHURCH

be as large as the opportunity plus his effort can make it.

12. The true criterion of prayer meeting attendance, since the prayer meeting is, in a special way, the gathering of the church family, is not the mere number present, but rather that number as related to the total membership of the church. It is not "how many," but rather "what per cent." Some churches with a large prayer meeting in mere numbers, compared with others by the per cent standard, might not make so favorable a showing.

13. The public preaching services vary in their per cent of attendance. The environment of the church, whether city, town, or country, its location in the same, the distance its members live from it, the age of its membership, and the desire they have to avail themselves of its privileges largely determine how well its services are to be maintained; but it may safely be said that, as a rule, the larger the church the smaller the per cent of attendance upon its preaching service. There are happy exceptions, of course. A church of forty members can more easily have a one hundred per cent crowd than a church of four hundred members. The fact is a large proportion of the churches of Christendom do not attain a one hundred per cent attendance in their preaching services. Some are out of the community, some are sick, some are sinfully indifferent, and the transient churchgoer does not attend in sufficient numbers to make up for the absentees. The congregation which sustains a one hundred per cent preaching service throughout the year is to be congratulated. But, though attendance upon the regular preaching service comes short of one hundred per cent, there are several reasons why prayer meeting attendance should be even smaller:

( 1 ) The prayer meeting is a midweek service.

(2) The unsaved of the community are not drawn to it in such large numbers. (3) Fewer transients attend. (4) Many church members who will attend the Sunday services have no desire to attend the midweek service.

II. The twofold fact that attendance upon the Sunday services of the church as a rule is less than one hundred per cent of the membership, and that, for evident reasons, prayer meeting attendance must be still smaller, does not justify the feeling that any sort of response to the prayer meeting invitation will do. Evidently that feeling has been abroad

PLACE IN THE CHURCH

too much already. The response has been meager. The prayer meeting is small — too small. No argument is needed to prove it ; it is a fact universally admitted. How small? Answer : average attendance for the year, five per cent, ten per cent, fifteen per cent, yes, in some cases, twenty per cent, and occasionally, twenty-five per cent. Very well. But all things considered, ought not our prayer meeting attendance equal thirty-three and one third per cent of our church membership? At

That per cent would provide incentive for all ; it would be achieved by multitudes ; and many who would fail in fully realizing it would be encouraged by the fact that they had come nearer reaching the standard than if computed upon a one hundred per cent basis. Let it be known that when a church's prayer meeting attendance equals thirty-three and one third per cent of its membership that church has a one hundred per cent prayer meeting, at once a new thrill of interest will quicken the pulses of the membership of that church. The possible inspires effort; the hopelessness of achieving the impossible paralyzes it. Thirty-

VAEIETY IN THE PRAYER MEETING

three and one third per cent equals one hundred per cent ! That is possible ! To the possibility of attaining such an ideal, let the churches add\ the requirement of annual reports as to attendance, and the prayer meeting, no doubt, will come into a new day.

15. Again, we write myriads of books upon other phases of the work of the church, but so far but little space is required of our library shelf to hold all the volumes that have been written upon the prayer meeting.

16. Our failure to recognize the importance of the prayer meeting socially, our refusal to recognize the prayer meeting statistically, and our slowness to create a prayer meeting literature reveal the need which constitutes the opportunity for the church, which, if improved, will make the prayer meeting what it ought to be, while the church as a result will become as never before in her assurance "clear as the sun," in her character "fair as the moon," and in the might of her power "terrible as an army with banners."

Chapter II The Prayer Meeting Leaded

17. The pivotal man.

18. Shifting responsibility.

19. Four phases of subject

The Leader's Personal Experience

20. Necessary.

The Leader's Personal Attitude Toward the Prater Meeting

21. Belief in it.

22. Love for it.

23. Enthusiasm concerning it.

24. Expectation for it.

The Leader's Work in Preparation

25. A general before the battle, he plans.

26. He studies.

27. He prays.

28. He trusts.

The Leader in the Meeting

29. The question of apology.

. 30. A general in the battle, he leads.

31. Posture.

32. When to begin.

33. Make service largely voluntary.

34. Complaining.

35. As to being glad, and saying so

36. Dealing with blunderers.

37. Meeting "breaks." 38, 39. Securing variety.

38. Leader responsible for.

39. How to obtain.

40. As to introducing new things.

41. Monopolizing the time.

42. Superfluity of comment.

43. Giving definite tasks.

44. Surrendering the meeting.

45. Making the prayer meeting really such.

46. The "at home" character of the meeting.

47. Exalting God and his Word.

48. The invitation to accept Jesus.

49. Time, how long? 50, 51. Closing.

50. When?

51. Exception.

CHAPTER II

"I have chosen you, and ordained you." — John 15. 16.

17. Mr. Moody once said, "Where one fails in the pulpit, I believe fifty fail in the prayer meeting," a statement the truth of which should challenge every preacher, for in the organization of the church of to-day the preacher is responsible not only for the Sunday but for the midweek service as well. He is the pivotal man in both. Our Sunday schools have their superintendents, our class meetings their lay leaders, our brotherhoods, clubs, women's societies, and young people's organizations their presidents, but the headship of the prayer meeting inheres in the pastor. When these other organizations fail the pastor in a measure escapes whatever reflection is attached thereto, but when the prayer meeting fails he is the responsible head involved. Yet we fail fifty to one, and, what is 29 worse, we are all too often content to have it so. Part of the justification of Mr. Moody's statement lies in the fact that as pastors we feel the importance of and give ourselves to preparation for preaching, but we do not so insistently feel the importance of nor so definitely give ourselves to preparation for prayer meeting leading. We make the Sunday service ; we let the prayer meeting happen. We succeed in the one; we fail in the other. When we occasionally fail in the one we blush ; when we continually fail in the other we take it as a matter of course ; and until we as leaders feel the importance of this service and give to it time and effort, we may expect it to continue largely as it is.

18. The wise pastor, however, not only refuses to minify the relation he bears to his prayer meeting, he also refuses to shirk the responsibility it lays upon him. He invariably leads his own meeting. Laymen of marked ability, superannuate and supernumerary ministers, and fellow ministers who occupy high positions in the church may be present, but he will not yield his prayer meeting privilege any more than he would yield his pulpit privilege ; nor would they, if they be wise, take affront at his failure to do so ; if they be not wise there is all the more reason for him to walk in the path of his own duty. His people look to him for leadership and he will not disappoint them. In shaping his meetings he will be glad to recognize his brethren, lay and clerical, and, in his absence, will commit the service to the leadership of some layman or minister, and will help the one chosen by urging his people to give the new leader the same hearty support they accord him.

19. To the prayer meeting leader — the pivotal man — four things are vital : his personal experience; his attitude toward the prayer meeting; his work in preparation; and his work in the meeting.

THE LEADER'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

20. The first necessity of a prayer meeting leader is a personal Christian experience. "As the priest, so the people" can truly and appropriately be modified into "As the prayer meeting leader, so the prayer meeting company." Now, in God's great plan the leader is responsible for his personal experience. Since this is true, should he discover any lack in his life, knowing that Jesus has provided abundance of grace, that God is anxious to bestow it, and that the Holy Ghost is eager to bring it, let him give himself to God with abandon, and by faith claim the riches of "the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." Thus will he become a Canaan dweller. The milk and honey, the figs and pomegranates of that goodly land will continually refresh his soul. There will be about his life joy and cheer and warmth. He will not be known as an Israelite weeping by the rivers of Babylon, but as a disciple in the full flush of a pentecostal experience. King David's experience, "My cup runneth over," will be his also; and the people who come into his meeting will know it is so, and more, they will share the joy of his overflowing heart.

THE LEADER'S PERSONAL ATTITUDE TOWARD THE PRAYER MEETING

21. It is possible for a man who really loves God to feel that, after all, the prayer meeting does not amount to much. This feeling, of course, is fatal to every prayer meeting interest and endeavor. However much observation may tend to confirm that opinion, yet the prayer meeting leader who would succeed must keep his faith in the possibilities of this service — he must believe in this means of grace. If he is tempted to doubt its worth, let him again take a glance at Jerusalem stirred after the ten-day prayer meeting, or at Peter led out of prison by an angel in answer to the prayers of his fellows, or at the quaking Philippian jail when Paul and Silas prayed, and his doubts as to the worth of united prayer will be effectually dispelled. Moreover, if he will but open his eyes, there are answers enough to united prayers in these days in missionary triumphs, in revival victories, in personal life to mightily strengthen his faith. This faith, when attained, is of the sort that, when an organized class, the choir, some club or other society desires to use the prayer meeting hour for its own purpose "because all the other evenings are taken," refuses to consider the great midweek service a convenience which may be shifted at anybody's and everybody's will, but a necessity which not only merits but must have right of way.

22. The leader must not only believe in the prayer meeting, he must love it. He must look for its coming as those who wait for the morning. When he sings, "Sweet hour of

VAEIETY IN THE PEAYER MEETING

prayer, sweet hour of prayer," it should be not merely with his lips, but with his heart also. Now, love can be cultivated, and, if any leader finds he is lacking in this affection as related to the prayer meeting and will set himself to the beautiful task of nurturing it, he will find it grow to his heart's comfort, and the service become, instead of a weekly grind, a weekly delight.

23. Faith in the prayer meeting and love for it must eventuate in enthusiasm concerning it. It will have a place in the leader's thought and conversation, at home and abroad, and this even though his meeting be big in numbers or small. A friend of the author's knew this secret. When he took up a certain pastorate he found no prayer meeting. He at once announced the service, but when the evening arrived, no one but himself came. He sang and prayed, and rejoiced in God alone. This he did many weeks. Meanwhile Sunday by Sunday he kept telling the people how glorious the prayer meetings were. He was not misrepresenting, either, for he knew what each of us should know, that is, how to have a prayer service by one's self and enjoy it. Finally, one day at the Ladies' Aid Society one woman raised the question as to who had been going to prayer meeting. It developed that none of those present had been there. They decided to go, and on the next prayer meeting night the pastor's cup of joy was full when his Ladies' Aid Society marched in. A great revival followed. A pastor's enthusiasm over a series of prayer meetings where he was the only attendant won the day. Enthusiasm bestowed upon this service is never in vain; it is a neverfailing magnet — it always attracts.

24. The leader must expect his meetings to grow. And why not? Faith in and love and enthusiasm for the service, together with the fact that prayer meeting attendance in all the world is very meager not only makes possible but should incite that expectation. Sad indeed that so many leaders do not seem to have any thought about the growth of this service. They do not seem to see the possibility. What an opportunity for accomplishing something tangible they miss ! Two hundred members in the church and but ten at prayer meeting! Could not ten more be persuaded to come? If so, a one hundred per cent gain could be reported ; and if twenty more would come a two hundred per cent gain would be achieved. That would be something to shout over. That possibility is found in thousands of the churches of our day. The leader should have the vision of that possibility as it applies to his own prayer meeting; and when he has it he will have a heart big with expectation till that vision is realized.

THE LEADER'S WORK IN PREPARATION

25. The leader in preparation is a general before the battle, and as such does not leave the meeting to the caprice of mere chance. The field and the forces engage him. He plans. The next meeting is in his thought; he also has in view the campaign for weeks to come.

26. He not only formulates plans, he sets himself to the work of preparation for their execution. He studies, and in doing so does not hesitate to use all available helps. Knowing that books and periodicals are published and sold for use, he acts accordingly. The prayer meeting talk may not require the effort in quantity the Sunday sermon does; but it receives its due share in quality. He not only prepares for the meeting by the study of books but also by observation of things and of men. He is constantly on the alert for ideas and

THE PEAYER MEETING LEADER

suggestions from all sources. Conversation with Christian workers, and attendance upon the midweek and Sunday services of other congregations, upon conferences and associations, conventions and institutes, provide many things which find their way into his midweek service. Thus he measures up to his prayer meeting privilege as well as to his pulpit privilege; and in so doing, the more* nearly realizes the ideal of the true minister of the gospel.

27. He prays. He is well acquainted with God and they talk together about the meeting. He tells God of his disappointments and praises him for his triumphs; he whispers into the divine ear his deepest wish for himself and for his people; while God, in turn, pours out upon him the fullness of his grace and makes him a man with a burning heart, a man with an overflowing soul.