Equipping the Leaders of Skrefsrud Lutheran Church of Beresford, South Dakota, to Lead Prayer Meetings Based on the Lord's Prayer and the Psalms

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to strengthen the spiritual life of Skrefsrud Lutheran Church (SLC) in Beresford, South Dakota, by equipping its leaders to lead prayer meetings based upon the Lord’s Prayer and the Psalms. Chapter 1 presents the ministry context of SLC and the goals for this project. Chapter 2 gives a biblical foundation for the importance of corporate prayer. This is achieved through an exposition of Luke 11:1-13, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, and James 5:13-18. Chapter 3 surveys the practice of corporate prayer in the early church and during the Reformation. Chapter 3 also surveys various contemporary methods for conducting prayer meetings. Chapter 4 describes the project’s implementation and gives a summary of the curriculum created for this project. Chapter 5 concludes with an evaluation of this project along with guidance for those who wish to utilize this research to lead prayer meetings in their own ministry contexts.