Note: This is the first of a series on becoming a house of prayer for all the nations.  These posts will also appear in the Chapin Presbyterian weekly prayer list.  Look here for a new post in the series each Thursday.

It happened on Monday, the day after the Lord Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:15-18). Jesus came into the Temple, saw many getting ripped off by the money changers who forced people to pay exorbitant prices for their sacrifices, and so the Lord began overturning the tables of the money changers and casting them out of the Temple. Then Jesus said it, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations. But you have made it a robbers’ den.” (Mk 11:17; Is 56:7; Jer 7:11)

Our Lord’s will is for every local church to be a house of prayer for all nations. We understand the Lord was speaking directly about the Temple being that house of prayer, but we can derive from what He said that every local expression of the body of Christ is to become a house of prayer.

So what does a house of prayer for all the nations look like? Over the next several weeks we will examine the four foundational stones and the 12 building blocks for a local church to be a house of prayer. What do you think it will take to make your church a house of prayer for all nations? Are we becoming a house of prayer for all nations? How are you doing in contributing to that happening?

Next week: the first 2 foundational stones: the glory of God and the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom.

Special thanks to Dr. Henry Krabbendam and Rev. Al Baker for some of the content of this blog.