Small Group - Tips of the Week - Prayer

Facilitate Meaningful Prayer
No pressure. . . Praying aloud can be intimidating for those who have never done it. Never pressure "everyone" to participate. Rather, invite. Create simple, doable opportunities that most people would feel safe in trying.


Location, location, location.
Change where your prayer time is placed during your group meeting. Traditionally, groups pray at the end of their meeting, when time is running short or people need to leave early. Try beginning your group time with a time of prayer. Or pray in the middle-after sharing, but before discussing the lesson.

Get what you ask for.
Be proactive in guiding the prayer request portion of your sharing time.
Ask each member to share two requests: one for someone else in their lives (easy and safe) and one for themselves (a little riskier). This brings depth to what is shared and prayed for, keeps people from focusing on Aunt Millie (or her sick cat), and invites them to be self-reflective about how God might meet their own needs.

Start small.
Try one-word prayers, in which members offer up single words that fit a theme you've suggested (see below). Or try one-sentence prayers, which feel safer (more doable) to those not accustomed to praying aloud.

Mix it up.
Try some of these ideas to give your group's prayer time new meaning.

· Popcorn prayers. Suggest an overall group theme, such as "I thank God for..." "Characteristics of God that I appreciate..." or "Names of God." Then encourage the group to offer up one-word prayers that fits this theme.
· One-sentence prayers. Similar to popcorn prayers, but a little longer. Invite members to pray one-sentence prayers around a theme, or for one person at a time in the group (see Hot Seat, below).
· Hot Seat. This takes a little longer, but can really add significance and value to each group member. Place a chair in the middle of your group; each member takes turns sitting in the 'hot seat' while the other group members lift them in prayer. Make sure every member has a turn in the hot seat.
· Silent prayer. Begin your prayer time with a few moments of silent reflection, giving your members time to quiet their hearts and minds before God.
· Partner Prayer. Invite your group to divide into pairs or 3's. Take turns praying for one another in these smaller settings.

Prayer Patterns. Here are a couple simple templates that can help members pray during their personal prayer time at home.

· ACTS:
o A = Adoration (Praise God for who He is)
o C = Confession (Confess sins, ask for forgiveness)
o T = Thanksgiving (Thank God for the blessings in your life)
o S = Supplication (Ask Him for your needs)