Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer, The: Experience the Wonders of God through Prayer [Paperback]

E. M. Bounds (Author), Pastor Cymbala (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004

Learn the secrets of effective prayer for every need. The Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer is the definitive Bounds collection in modern English. Eight classic explorations cover every aspect of prayer in a readable way. Included in this volume are 120 entries on what this great pastoral leader taught about the essentials, necessity, possibilities, power, purpose, reality, and weapon of prayer.
Because Bounds so diligently practiced what he preached, he was able to capture the essence of prayer and his works live on to call today's Christians to higher discipleship and more energetic prayer lives.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Learn the secrets of effective prayer for every need.

E. M. Bounds truly followed the charge to pray without ceasing. It was as normal and essential to him as breathing. But though he was in prayer constantly, it never became a chore to him. Throughout his life, whether he was ministering to troops during the Civil War or bringing God's Word to his congregation, E. M. Bounds relished his time in conversation with God.

Though only two of his books were published in his lifetime, The Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer combines all eight of Bounds's classic treatments of prayer. Join the generations of believers who have energized their prayer lives with the help of this godly man.

Included in this definitive volume are:

Power through Prayer
Prayer and Praying Men
Purpose in Prayer
The Essentials of Prayer
The Necessity of Prayer
The Possibilities of Prayer
The Reality of Prayer
The Weapon of Prayer

Edward McKendree Bounds (1835-1913) was a lawyer, army chaplain, and pastor in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He spent the last seventeen years of his life reading, writing, and rising before dawn every morning to pray. He is the author of eleven published books.

About the Author

Edward McKendree Bounds (1835-1913) was a lawyer, army chaplain, and pastor in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He spent the last seventeen years of his life reading, writing, and rising before dawn every morning to pray. He is the author of eleven published books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801064945
• ISBN-13: 978-0801064944
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The finest prayer manual you could ever read!!! November 19, 2007

By Deepak K. Singh

Format:Paperback

The Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer is one of those rare life-changing books you could ever read. For almost a century, the outstanding works by this Prophet of Prayer have long inspired pastors, teachers, evangelists and christians all over the world to approach the Throne of Grace with boldness. E.M.Bounds (1835-1913), a Methodist minister and Civil War chaplain, who devoted the last 17 years of his life to intense intercession and to penning his most perennially popular works on prayer, once said, "God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. The lips that uttered them may be closed in death, the heart that felt them may have ceased to beat, but the prayers live before God, and God's heart is set on them and prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them; they outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world."

The book is actually a compilation of his eight books covering every aspect on the singular theme "Prayer", namely,

1. Necessity of Prayer
2. The Essentials of Prayer
3. The Possibilities of Prayer
4. The Reality of Prayer
5. The Purpose in Prayer
6. The Weapon of Prayer
7. Power Through Prayer
8. Prayer and Praying Men

All the books are a gold mine for christians. This edition is definitely better than other collection of his works by the name "E M Bounds: The Classic Collection on Prayer" available earlier as it employs a better version of modern text and is unedited hence, remaining faithful to original writings of E.M. Bounds. The only drawback I could observe is that the Bible verse references of most of the verses quoted from the scriptures are not mentioned though name of the book and chapters are mentioned at many places.... So, one has to search them in Bible on their own or using concordance. That's why I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5. But that should not deter you from reading this wonderful and inspiring work. Read more ›

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary to One's Prayer Life November 10, 2002

By Brian G Hedges

Format:Paperback

This book will revolutionize your prayer life. It contains all eight of E. M. Bounds' classic books on prayer. I have read "Power Through Prayer" five times and it convicts and motivates me every time. It is a must read for pastors. "The Possibilities of Prayer" is one of the most faith-stretching books I have ever read. Bounds has a way of pressing to the heart the astounding promises made to faith and prayer. Few books have caused me to face the paucity of my own faith as has this one. I am actually still working through this large volume and find it to be a regular source of nourishment for my soul. There is an amazing grasp of Scripture in Bounds' writings and not nearly as much repetition as one might think. Bounds wrote with a fiery pen. If you want to be set aflame to burn in prayer, let this book ignite you.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This will surely provoke one to consider your prayer life. May 3, 2000

By JERRY KATONA

Format:Paperback

This was the best I have read on the subject of prayer. This Minister covered in depth enough thought provoking material to keep me busy for a very long time. I read two chapters at a time and had to think about how much simplicity yet great depth there was in each chapter. This will bring you straight to the heart of real prayer as taught by the Master.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary and Challenging, Profound Yet Straightforward April 13, 2009

By Tom D VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a book for Christians; if you're a non-Christian searching for a general view of prayer or a contemporary Christian view of prayer, this isn't the right book. It is fundamentally about personal prayer and is for practicing Christians.

A Christian probably won't get far into the book before wondering why so much of this rich material seems to be ignored in modern, mainline churches. And, though most of the material was written a hundred or more years ago, it's amazing how many of the same issues are still on the proverbial table. For example, in a paragraph on church growth, Bound's writes "Men are God's method. The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men."

Mechanically, the chapters run 1 to 10 pages; without an actual count, most are 4 or 5 an easy read in a few minutes as a daily practice. Take on as much or as little as you care to, but it's compelling material. Grab a pen though, or a box of highlighters because it's loaded with substance and quotable material you'll want to note.

As another reviewer pointed out, it lacks Biblical reference notation for its quotes and verses. That could be a shortcoming, but I found it useful to find the verses in a Bible and note them in the text. And that's an opportunity to cross check the context as well. But I had to wonder if Bound's original audience wouldn't be able to quote chapters and verses and wouldn't need them in the text? In any event, it isn't distracting, there are a modest number of actual Biblical references.

There are, I'm sure, hundred's of worthy books on prayer. Some of course less so. Bound's is among the very best and would serve anyone well at any stage of prayer life. It's an earthy, passionate treatment; not an academic one.... But if you're just exploring the idea of prayer, this isn't quite a "how to" book. If you're new to prayer and perhaps uncomfortable, I'd recommend starting with Phillip Yancey's thoughtful PRAYER. If you want a modern, theological and orthodox treatment, try Packer and Nystrom's more rigorous PRAYING. If there's a "definitive" book on prayer, I have yet to find it.

This is a collection of material, not written originally as a single text. So it is occasionally repetitive. Just an observation, not a criticism. Bounds was a pastor in the Methodist Episcopal Church South. No idea what the root theology is there, but the theology offered is baseline orthodox. There's little to quarrel with, though some Christian traditions would find some of their practices conspicuously absent therefore the treatment substantively incomplete. For example, some denominations incorporate repetitive prayers and others pray in tongues, glossolalia; neither are mentioned.

Regardless of where you are in your prayer life, I suspect reading Bounds will lead to a richer, deeper and more motivated experience. Read more ›

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST and BLUNTEST book ever written on "prayer". January 3, 2005

By Mike Sublett

Format:Paperback

About 11 years ago God drew me into an greater understanding and deeper practice of prayer than ever before in my life. I inquired concerning some of the leading "Prayer Ministries" around the world and wrote several of them and asked this question: "What are the top 25 best books ever written on prayer?" Six replied. Many of the same books were recommended, but 1st Place and 2nd Place were the same on all 6 lists. Andrew Murray's book: With Christ In The School Of Prayer was either #1 or #2 on each list. E. M. Bounds writings on "prayer" was also either #1 or #2 on each list.

No book, not even Murray's, has ever been written on "prayer" that can hold a candle to The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer. In fact, if you read this book (actually 8 little books) and it doesn't revolutionize your prayer life, then you need to re-read it until it does. If you read this book and think that it is "mediocre", that will be more of a statement about you than about this book. Seldom is any book hailed as the unquestioned "Greatest Book" on a particular subject by ALL the specialists on that subject, but this one is. And the experts are right. So bless yourself or someone today and buy this book. Then get ready for the revolution! God bless. Mike