Pauline Letters to the church.

[Dionysius]

The Pauline epistles were letters to the church from Paul telling them what to do on orders from god.

Weren't the church members praying already?

Most church member do not pray now. Remember there is a difference between petition and prayer. Paul in one of the letters you mention makes this distinction.

Wasn't god already talking to them?

God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. But so does satan. The only way we know who is speaking for sure is to verify what is said scripturally. Paul's letters were the verification we needed to sift out un-Godly messages.

Why the need for a stranger's claims of god messages?

Because without a standard the 'stanger' you hear maybe the words of God. Meaning if you do not learn to hear or identify God's voice then the message you are accustom to hearing may not be of God.

One can only conclude that the prayers from the church people were going unanswered and they were just talking to themselves during prayer time.

Why must one conclude this?

What else fits?

See my answers above.

Just one humongous detail worth pointing out.

God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. But so does satan.

The only way to know for sure who is speaking is to read the bible which was written by men who may or may not have been influenced by the Great and Holy Satan! satan... (skip) satan... (skip) satan... (skip) satan...