--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A congregation that does not pray for the…" description: "\"“A congregation that does not pray for the ministry of its pastor,” Bonhoeffer warns, “is no longer a congregation.”11 He then adds, “A pastor who does..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/stephen-j-nichols-29202_quote_a-congregation-that-does-not-pray-for-th_926008.jpg" --- # A congregation that does not pray for the ministry of its… ![“A congregation that does not pray for the ministry of its pastor,” Bonhoeffer warns, “is no longer a congregation.”11 He then adds, “A pastor who does not pray daily for his congregation is no longer a pastor.”12” quote by Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/stephen-j-nichols-29202_quote_a-congregation-that-does-not-pray-for-th_926008.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/stephen-j-nichols-29202_quote_a-congregation-that-does-not-pray-for-th_926008.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1a/stephen-j-nichols-29202_quote_a-congregation-that-does-not-pray-for-th_926008.jpg) > ““A congregation that does not pray for the ministry of its pastor,” Bonhoeffer warns, “is no longer a congregation.”11 He then adds, “A pastor who does not pray daily for his congregation is no longer a pastor.”12”” [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A congregation loses its identity if it stops praying for its pastor, and a pastor loses his role if he stops praying for his flock. **In simple terms:** Prayer defines the relationship between church and pastor. Key Takeaway Maintain mutual prayer. Themes faith leadership community Mood reflective serious Type spiritual instructional When to use this quote - church meetings - personal devotion - leadership training - counseling Key Concepts spiritual discipline pastoral care Questions to Reflect On - How can a church foster a culture of intercessory prayer? - What practical steps can pastors take to pray for their members daily? A Different Perspective Prayer alone cannot fix systemic issues in a congregation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congregation/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [A pastor who does not pray daily for his congregation is not a pastor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/a-pastor-who-does-not-pray-daily-for-his-congregation-is-not-a-pastor/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Through the half-open door in one room of the huts I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-fischer-h-llstrung/through-the-half-open-door-in-one-room-of-the-huts-i-saw-pastor/) H. Fischer-Hüllstrung > [I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eberhard-bethge/i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-kneeling-on-the-floor-praying-fervently-to/) Eberhard Bethge > [The assumption behind any theology that I've ever been familiar with is that there is a profound beauty in being, simply in itself. Poetry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/the-assumption-behind-any-theology-that-i-ve-ever-been-familiar-with/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [The most important thing a pastor does is stand in a pulpit every Sunday and say, 'Let us worship God.' If that ceases to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/the-most-important-thing-a-pastor-does-is-stand-in-a-pulpit-every/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-before-taking-off-his-prison-garb-kneeling-on/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [If my life is any example, the work that youth workers are doing is very, very important. It tends to get marginalized in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/if-my-life-is-any-example-the-work-that-youth-workers-are-doing-is/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [I think it's of huge importance to us as worship leaders...to ask ourselves these two questions: What were the words we put into our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-getty/i-think-it-s-of-huge-importance-to-us-as-worship-leaders-to-ask/) [Keith Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-getty/) > [Preachers are stewards whom the Lord has ‘set over his household servants to provide them with food at the proper time.’ After all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-farrar-capon/preachers-are-stewards-whom-the-lord-has-set-over-his-household/) [Robert Farrar Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-farrar-capon/) > [But I think it's up to a local congregation to determine whether or not a marriage should be blessed of God. And it shouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/but-i-think-it-s-up-to-a-local-congregation-to-determine-whether-or/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [To see with one's own eyes, to feel and judge without succumbing to the suggestive power of the fashion of the day, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/to-see-with-one-s-own-eyes-to-feel-and-judge-without-succumbing-to/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A group is as healthy as its 'social contract' is clear; a congregation as faithful as its covenant is mutually understood; a pastor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-group-is-as-healthy-as-its-social-contract-is-clear-a-congregation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we see the many grave-stones which have fallen in, which have been defaced by the footsteps of the congregation, which lie buried under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/when-we-see-the-many-grave-stones-which-have-fallen-in-which-have/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-north/and-he-that-blasphemeth-the-name-of-the-lord-he-shall-surely-be-put/) [Gary North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-north/) > [Wherever God erects a house of prayer the Devil always builds a chapel there; And 't will be found, upon examination, the latter has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wherever-god-erects-a-house-of-prayer-the-devil-always-builds-a/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) ## More by Stephen J. Nichols > [“We are also brought into the church-community as a result of Christ’s death on the cross—a community of the forgiven, who should be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/we-are-also-brought-into-the-church-community-as-a-result-of-christ-s/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“Bonhoeffer and Luther draw on Christ’s paradox of gaining one’s life by losing it. So we come to the ultimate paradox: by service—and ultimately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/bonhoeffer-and-luther-draw-on-christ-s-paradox-of-gaining-one-s-life/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“It would be safe to say that by the nineteenth century, pietism had long since dislodged Puritanism as the dominant force in American religious life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/it-would-be-safe-to-say-that-by-the-nineteenth-century-pietism-had/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“The God-man who is humiliated is the stumbling block to the pious human being and to the human being, period.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/the-god-man-who-is-humiliated-is-the-stumbling-block-to-the-pious/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“The ethics of the Sermon on the Mount are nothing less than extraordinary. To look at them as something that can be fulfilled within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/the-ethics-of-the-sermon-on-the-mount-are-nothing-less-than/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“Leaning on Augustine’s insight, Bonhoeffer sees the sanctorum communio as “the community of loving persons who, touched by God’s Spirit, radiate love and grace.”17”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/leaning-on-augustine-s-insight-bonhoeffer-sees-the-sanctorum-communio/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“The church is the real thing when it is not consumed with the assertion of power in culture, but it is driven by service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/the-church-is-the-real-thing-when-it-is-not-consumed-with-the/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“David McCullough has said, “We are shaped by those we never met.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/david-mccullough-has-said-we-are-shaped-by-those-we-never-met/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“We could summarize all of this background to Bonhoeffer’s christology in one sentence, albeit a complex one: The cross was a stumbling block to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/we-could-summarize-all-of-this-background-to-bonhoeffer-s-christology/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“Gratitude is equally underrated and under-practiced. It too requires humility to say “thank you.” Saying “thank you” means one is dependent on the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/gratitude-is-equally-underrated-and-under-practiced-it-too-requires/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“His ecclesiology, though, is never an independent topic. It always flows from and back to Christ and his christology. Neither is Bonhoeffer content with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/his-ecclesiology-though-is-never-an-independent-topic-it-always-flows/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“We seem especially susceptible to this pitting of spirituality against theology in American evangelical contexts. Perhaps we can chalk this up to the influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/we-seem-especially-susceptible-to-this-pitting-of-spirituality/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“If this earth was good enough for the man Jesus Christ, if such a man as Jesus lived, then, and only then, life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/if-this-earth-was-good-enough-for-the-man-jesus-christ-if-such-a-man/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“Everything in the prior chapters has been leading us up to this point. Our look at his christology (chap. 2) and ecclesiology (chap. 3) laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/everything-in-the-prior-chapters-has-been-leading-us-up-to-this-point/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“I offer this succinct synopsis of Bonhoeffer on the Christian life: We live in love by grace as the church-community—in, through, and toward Christ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/i-offer-this-succinct-synopsis-of-bonhoeffer-on-the-christian-life-we/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) [Explore all 18 Stephen J. Nichols quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) ## More Congregation quotes > [Wherever God erects a house of prayer the Devil always builds a chapel there; And 't will be found, upon examination, the latter has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wherever-god-erects-a-house-of-prayer-the-devil-always-builds-a/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-north/and-he-that-blasphemeth-the-name-of-the-lord-he-shall-surely-be-put/) [Gary North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-north/) > [When we see the many grave-stones which have fallen in, which have been defaced by the footsteps of the congregation, which lie buried under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/when-we-see-the-many-grave-stones-which-have-fallen-in-which-have/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [A group is as healthy as its 'social contract' is clear; a congregation as faithful as its covenant is mutually understood; a pastor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-group-is-as-healthy-as-its-social-contract-is-clear-a-congregation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To see with one's own eyes, to feel and judge without succumbing to the suggestive power of the fashion of the day, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/to-see-with-one-s-own-eyes-to-feel-and-judge-without-succumbing-to/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [But I think it's up to a local congregation to determine whether or not a marriage should be blessed of God. And it shouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/but-i-think-it-s-up-to-a-local-congregation-to-determine-whether-or/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [Preachers are stewards whom the Lord has ‘set over his household servants to provide them with food at the proper time.’ After all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-farrar-capon/preachers-are-stewards-whom-the-lord-has-set-over-his-household/) [Robert Farrar Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-farrar-capon/) > [I think it's of huge importance to us as worship leaders...to ask ourselves these two questions: What were the words we put into our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-getty/i-think-it-s-of-huge-importance-to-us-as-worship-leaders-to-ask/) [Keith Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-getty/) > [If my life is any example, the work that youth workers are doing is very, very important. It tends to get marginalized in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/if-my-life-is-any-example-the-work-that-youth-workers-are-doing-is/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [The man who follows Christ in solitary mourning is greater than he who praises Christ amid the congregation of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-of-nineveh/the-man-who-follows-christ-in-solitary-mourning-is-greater-than-he/) [Isaac of Nineveh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-of-nineveh/) > [So you find a lot of these sixth Americans congregate in these interracial congregations. They hang out together at work, at school, wherever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/so-you-find-a-lot-of-these-sixth-americans-congregate-in-these/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [ \[Joseph Ratzinger\] is a man who as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had everything in his hands. He… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/joseph-ratzinger-is-a-man-who-as-the-prefect-of-the-congregation-for/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [ \[A novel by Henry James\] is like a church lit but without a congregation to distract you, with every light and line focused on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells/a-novel-by-henry-james-is-like-a-church-lit-but-without-a/) [H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells/) > [Jesus gives his life for the congregation, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jesus-gives-his-life-for-the-congregation-not-the-other-way-around/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more we study the early Church, the more we realize that it was a society of ministers. About the only similarity between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-more-we-study-the-early-church-the-more-we-realize-that-it-was-a/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) [Browse all 242 Congregation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congregation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A congregation that does not pray for the ministry of its pastor,” Bonhoeffer warns, “is no longer a congregation.”11 He then adds, “A pastor who does not pray daily for his congregation is no longer a pastor.”12”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen J. 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