Disciple making movements are spreading rapidly around the world, bringing countless people to faith and transforming entire communities.

But how do these movements begin and thrive? The answer is simple yet profound: prayer. Prayer is the foundation and driving force behind every disciple-making movement.

In this blog post, we will explore 12 key prayer points for disciple-making movements, along with biblical references for each point.

1. Pray for Workers

The first key prayer point for disciple-making movements is to pray for workers. 

Jesus instructed his disciples to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field (Matthew 9:38). This is still true today. 

We need to pray for God to raise up and send out workers to join in his mission of making disciples.

2. Pray for the Lost

The second key prayer point is to pray for the lost. 

Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), and so should we. We need to pray for the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of the lost and draw them to Jesus.

3. Pray for Unity

The third key prayer point is to pray for unity. 

Jesus prayed for his followers to be one, just as he and the Father are one (John 17:21). We need to pray for unity among believers and churches, so that we can work together effectively to make disciples.

4. Pray for Boldness

The fourth key prayer point is to pray for boldness. The early disciples prayed for boldness to speak the word of God (Acts 4:29), and we should do the same. 

We need to pray for boldness to share the gospel and make disciples, even in the face of opposition.

5. Pray for Obedience

The fifth key prayer point is to pray for obedience. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). 

We need to pray for ourselves and others to obey Jesus’ commands, including the command to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

6. Pray for Faith

The sixth key prayer point is to pray for faith. 

Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). We need to pray for faith to believe that God can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20), including the multiplication of disciples.

7. Pray for the Movement of the Holy Spirit

The seventh key prayer point is to pray for the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to his followers to empower them for mission (Acts 1:8). We need to pray for the Holy Spirit to fill and empower us, so that we can make disciples.

8. Pray for Discipleship

The eighth key prayer point is to pray for discipleship. 

Making disciples is more than just evangelism; it involves teaching and training believers to follow Jesus and make more disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). We need to pray for discipleship to be a priority in our lives and in our churches.

9. Pray for Multiplication

The ninth key prayer point is to pray for multiplication. 

Jesus’ strategy for making disciples was to train a few people who would then train others, who would train others, and so on (2 Timothy 2:2). We need to pray for multiplication, that disciples would make disciples who make disciples, and so on.

10. Pray for Perseverance

The tenth key prayer point is to pray for perseverance. 

Making disciples is not easy, and we will face obstacles and opposition. We need to pray for perseverance to keep going, even when it’s hard.

11. Pray for Discernment

Disciple-making movements can be complex and challenging, and it is important to have discernment and wisdom as we navigate through them. 

We can pray for God to give us discernment as we make decisions and work with others to make disciples. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Ephesians 1:17)

12. Pray for God’s will to be done

Ultimately, disciple-making movements are about God’s Kingdom and His will being done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). 

As we pray for disciple-making movements, we should pray for God’s will to be done in the lives of those we are discipling, in our communities, and in the world. We should seek to align our prayers with God’s will, and trust that He will accomplish His purposes through us (1 John 5:14-15).

Conclusion

Prayer is essential for disciple-making movements. 

As we seek to make disciples who make disciples, we must first be people of prayer. Prayer is not a passive activity; it is a powerful weapon in the spiritual battle we are engaged in. When we pray, we are partnering with God to bring His Kingdom to earth.

As we pray for disciple-making movements, let us pray for God’s will to be done, for the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance, for boldness in sharing the Gospel, for unity among believers, and for the multiplication of disciples.

Let us also pray with expectancy, knowing that God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).