Deeper Meaning of Prayer and Preaching: Christian Book of Deep Ideas

¶ … Preaching Worship

Of course this book is about preaching and worship services, and all that takes place within those contexts as the congregation gathers together and responds to the message from the pulpit. All Believers in the audience are there to smoothly, spiritually make the transition from the worldly issues outside to the heart of what God wants people to do. The book goes into great detail about the participation of those in attendance, about the importance of singing together, of praying together, and about the symbolism of breaking bread, which is "…a visible metaphor of how God's word works among the assembly" (Quivik, 14).

But moreover, this book opens the door to understanding and tugs on the sleeves of alert readers to reach out and find new meaning based on the truths, the metaphors, the imagery and the gospel that is presented by the author. Readers are challenged to understand the difference between "countercultural" and "cross-cultural" worship practices, and moreover readers are challenged to understand that little can be done in isolation from others or from the congregating of people seeking inspiration that leads to eternal life.

On page 70 Quivik summarizes the ultimate value of church services: "We do not acquire the vision of Jesus' identity on our own" because humans don't have "the wherewithal" to make that happen in seclusion. The church, and the service, and the meaning that is brought to the audience through a preacher's use of Scripture and interpretation and metaphor, can bring Jesus' vision and his resurrection into excellent focus.

Preaching and Prayer

"Prayer has inexplicable necessity," Quivik explains on page 12, because Believers have been practicing prayer for centuries "…in search of personal revelation." Whether in the desert, or while weaving and doing other "handwork," or while making music or writing, people who believe in prayer seek God's "intervention" in search of peace and well-being for the communities, the author explains (12). That said, in the Christian worship service pastors conduct "intercessory prayer" in the belief that God will hear the concerns of the congregation vis-a-vis the "needs of the world" (Quivik, 12).

Hence, the author is teaching the reader what intercessory prayer is designed to do within the context of a Christian worship service. Apart from the personal prayers -- in search of personal understanding and clarity -- intercessory prayer is seen as a different kind of prayer. Quivik explains that intercessory prayer is the church congregation's begging of God to intervene and offer wisdom "…for the sake of the earth, for all people of faith, the nations, communities, and local concerns" (12).

After all, she continues, "Christians pray because God commanded us to pray"; and when the pastor offers an intercessory prayer -- for example, for those tens of thousands of refugees huddled in tents without ample water or food in Africa -- it an unselfish prayer for others, for those where "suffering needs to be met with deep compassion" (12).

While Quivik's narrative on intercession is plainly laid out for the reader to digest, there are other approaches to this concept and part of the power of a book like Quivik's is that it leads the reader to seek additional materials, new thoughts, as regards what Quivik is presenting. Quivik goes about opening one's eyes to revelation through her narrative, which leads the reader to become more widely focused and on a path of investigation and learning. "Intercession is much more" than just pleading with God for his help in the world, according to the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Intercession involved "…taking hold of God's will and refusing to let go until His will comes to pass." The metaphor used by the CBN is warfare, in an attempt to help the reader grasp the true meaning of intercessory prayer.

'Intercessory prayer is a serious matter," the CBN explains, and "…just like the soldiers who are preparing for battle, we cannot take on the enemy if we leave our weapons behind." Hence, Christians use intercessory prayer to be fully "armed for spiritual conflict." The "armor that God gives" -- prayer -- helps defeat Satan, and remember, the CBN article continues, "intercessory prayer is also a prayer that doesn't give up…[it] overcomes every obstacle."

To restate what was presented earlier in this paper, reading Quivik opens readers' eyes and that opens the door to research which is scholarly revelation: indeed, what do other scholars have to say about Quivik's topics? This paper is designed to present "significant insights gained" from Quivik's book. In the peer-reviewed Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Professor Markus Schafer writes that prayer "is a pervasive American activity." Three of every four adults pray on a daily or weekly basis" (Schafer, 2013, 36). One half of those who pray report that they "…receive a definite answer to a specific prayer request" at least one time each year (Schafer, 36).

And moreover, individual prayer leads to "higher subjective well-being," a lower risk of becoming depressed, and "…greater optimism about the future," Schafer continues (36). But when it comes to intercessory prayer, a poll by Gallup and Lindsay (1999) reveals that "98% of praying Americans pray for others." And another poll (Baylor Religion Survey reflects the fact that "89% of praying adults pray for a family member" and three-quarters of Americans who pray to it "for someone they know" (Schafer, 36). Echoing Quivik's assertion that genuine intercessory prayer begs God to intercede and help others, Schafer points out that during cardiac care -- heart surgery -- some patients are "assigned to receive" intercessory prayers as a "treatment effect," which clearly is a unique blend of science and spirituality (36).

Quivik, meanwhile, uses the story of the betrayal and death of Judas -- and the apostles need to replace Judas -- as another example of the importance and power of intercessory prayer. "Then they prayed and said, 'Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen…'" (Quivik, 13). And it was God's decision -- following intercessory prayer by the apostles and the casting of "lots" for the two who may join the other eleven -- to have the lot fall on Matthias (Acts 1:24-26) (Quivik, 13).

Breaking of Bread and Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection

At any time, but certainly at Easter Time, Quivik has some particularly poignant observations for Believers and others who are interested in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In her narrative she brings the reader into the scene where the miracle of Christ's rising from the dead has been revealed with amazement. In Luke 24:33-35 Christ's miracle had been made known with these words, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!"

Quivik is astute in the use of metaphor and imagery -- which helps the reader continue in the narrative with great interest and anticipation -- and she uses the image of "broken bread" to bring the reader into the idea that there was more than bread that was broken. On page 75 Quivik writes that it was the same Christ that had "broken bread" with his disciples who is now broken and the news that he has risen has "broken open" the eyes of the disciples. Bread is a "wondrously apt metaphor for the Risen Christ," Quivik explains on page 76.