PRAYER TIME. Old Testament characters also participated in group prayer. In Chronicles 6:13-42 records Solomon praying as all Israel gathered around.

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1 PRAYER TIME Group prayer was a characteristic of the early Christians. Acts 12:12 - Peter went to the house of Mary where others gathered for prayer. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. Acts 1: scripture records that all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Old Testament characters also participated in group prayer. In Chronicles 6:13-42 records Solomon praying as all Israel gathered around. John Bunyan, the great Christian writer once said, "When you pray it would be better to let your heart be without words, than to let your words be without heart." Charles Spurgeon said, "The prayer of the heart is the heart of prayer." The essence of prayer is to share our hearts with our Heavenly Father.

2 Introduce a prayer topic or request, one at a time then allow the group a few minutes to pray for that. When finished, the leader introduces another topic or request. Designate a specific person to close at the end of each time. This helps insure that the prayer time will not bog down when everyone has had the opportunity to pray if they so desire. Below are some examples of topics that can be used: Thank God for His love, forgiveness, the beautiful day, the ways He is working in peoples lives, etc. Thank God for something that has happened in your life in the past 24 hours. Please help (yourself or someone else). Thank God for how He will answer your requests. Let the group members share prayer requests. Use scriptures to pray for the fulfillment of the Great Commission, the three other critical path steps. Evangelism Pray that God will prepare individuals to understand and respond to the gospel (John 6:44). Pray that God will motivate believers to share the gospel with the unbelievers (Matthew 9:37,38; Colossians 4:3). Recognize that Satan has blinded the unbeliever, and acknowledge Christ's victory (Ephesians 6:12; II Corinthians 4:3,4; II Timothy 2:25,26; I John 3:8). Persist in these prayers (Daniel 10:12,13a; Luke 18:1-8). Discipleship Thank God for them (Philippians 1:3). Pray for deliverance from evil (unprincipled) companions (II Thessalonians 3:2). Pray that they will walk worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:10). Pray for wisdom and revelation in knowledge of Christ (Ephesians 1:17). Pray for them to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16). Pray for their unity in the Spirit with other believers (John 17:23). Pray that their love may abound and that they may approve the things that are excellent (Philippians 1:9,10).

3 Pray for boldness and opportunities to present the gospel to others (Colossians 4:3, Ephesians 6:19,20). Pray that they may mature and become fully assured of God's will (Colossians 4:12). Sending Recognize the problem of the labor shortage in the spiritual harvest (Matthew 9:37,38; Romans 10:1315). Pray for the fulfillment of the Great Commission in your area and around the world, according to His command and promise in Matthew 28:18-20 and 1John 5:14,15. Mobilize and teach others to pray for laborers (2 Timothy 2:2). Help expand the group's world vision by praying for specific country, overseas mission worker or group. (Your group may want to adopt a country to pray for regularly.)

4 PRAY model as a group and encourage individuals to do it alone: P = Praise: Tell God you love Him and thank Him. Psalm 69:30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. R = Repent: Confess any sin. Acts 3:19-20 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. A = Ask: Ask God to help you and others. 1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. Y = Yield: Pause and listen to God's word. Psalm 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. Take one staff member or leader of your church and pray for them and their ministry.

5 Praying with Our Bodies: (activities that help reinforce that there is more to prayer than saying "right words." Prayer can direct our energies and be enjoyable) 1) Sign of the Cross Prayer. Galatians 2:19-20, "I am crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live. Jesus Christ now lives in me." 2) Pray standing up. 1 Kings 8:22 Mark 11:25. 3) Pray on your knees. 2 Chronicles 6:13 Acts 9:40 Philippians 2: ) Pray with your head bowed. Genesis 24:26. 5) Pray with your face and body laid out before God (prostrate). Joshua 5:14; Mt. 26:39. Circle Prayer: There is definite power in being connected via holding hands in a circle. This prayer can begin and end with the same person. After opening in prayer, the leader lightly squeezes the hand of the person next to them indicating that he/she is finished praying. That person can choose to pray or else lightly squeeze the hand their neighbor. This continues until everyone has had an opportunity to pray, at which time the leader will end the prayer time.