Today’s blog post, like all Monday posts, is a book excerpt. The book I’ve chosen for today is Leader: Creating Commissioned Community. It’s from a series of books that David Francis and I have co-written. This particular book helps focus attention on the need for groups and group leaders to excel in evangelism. Our co-author on this book, Alan Taylor, agrees this important privilege is one given to all groups. David and I are grateful for his contributions to this book. Together with one voice, the three of us have this to say about groups praying for the lost:

The catalytic moment for groups becoming outwardly focused often occurs as attention turns from themselves to others. And not just prayer requests for other people’s jobs, physical health, or finances, but their souls. How sweet is the sound of people praying for lost husbands, wives, children, family and friends? If your group normally focuses its prayers on the group members, begin adding people to the prayer list who are far from God. Pray for them by name, and ask God to use you and the group to nudge them closer to Him.

As I lead my group of empty nest adults to study the Bible, I’m listening for the focus of our prayers. On occasion we lift up a lost friend or family member, but it’s really occasionally. I pray that one day soon we will regularly pray for the lost.

How could you and I as group leaders nudge our groups to pray for lost people more often? I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve had success with this.

The next time you and your group come together, begin leading your group to pray for the lost by suggesting one or two lost person’s names as the focus of your group’s prayers. Encourage your group to think about people they know who need to accept Christ as Lord, and to allow the group the privilege of helping pray them into a relationship with God.