Leading an Effective Prayer Time for a Group Gathering

What to Do

If you are developing the prayer prompts for your gathering, spend time with the Lord to get the kingdom prayer topics the group should pray for in your prayer time.

Tell the group or sub-divided groups that no one will be called on to pray. It is up to them if and when they pray.

Tell them that this approach to group prayer is a great way to learn to pray out loud. If anyone is afraid to pray out loud, encourage them to simply start with an occasional "Yes" prayer when they agree with something that has just been prayed, then they can expand that with a "Yes, Lord," then a "Yes, Lord will you…" as they continue to grow in their comfort.

Inform group participants that silence is expected as they wait on the Holy Spirit to direct their prayers.

Ask the group to stay on one subject until it is finished (the leader will suggest and change the subjects as the Lord leads). There will come a natural pause in the prayer when God is leading the group to move on to the next subject. Tell them if something changes the subject in the middle of the prayer time, the next person praying needs to bring it back on subject. (As the leader, you can do this as well).

Emphasize for group members to pray short prayers on the subject or topic. Tell them if someone prays a long prayer the next person needs to pray a short prayer as an example to keep it short. (If no one prays a short prayer, you as the leader pray a short prayer).

Help group participants understand that they may pray several different times on each subject as the Lord leads and that each prayer will normally make sense within the context of the most recent prayers that have been expressed.

Help praying participants understand that prayer is an approach to God Almighty and not to be done without thought to Whom they are talking. Encourage them to consciously and purposely enter the presence of God. Before starting the prayer time, give them time to ask God to search their hearts to see if there is any known sin that needs to be confessed.

Knowing that our prayers should be focused on God’s glory and not our own, teach group participants to filter their requests through the thought of "How will what I'm praying bring glory to God?"

Encourage group participants to listen and agree with the prayers of others as they are waiting on God to prompt them on what to pray.

If individuals are praying in sub-divided groups, you should give the groups a 30+ second warning to wrap up their prayers before changing subjects.

After you have been praying on a topic a while and it is prayed through there will come a natural pause. When that comes it is time for you to introduce the next topic for prayer or bring the prayer to a close with a concluding prayer.

What Not to Do

Do not pray around the circle, putting those who are not ready to pray on the spot. This would also have the disadvantage of quenching the Holy Spirit, Who may prompt individuals to pray in some order different than the way seating is arranged.

Do not pray long prayers.

Do not pray for many different subjects at one time.

Prayer Group Size

The number of people you have who are comfortable in praying out loud should determine the size of your prayer groups and how much you will sub-divide your overall group. If you have fewer people who are comfortable praying out loud, use larger groups (8 to 15). If you have more people who are comfortable praying out loud, you can aim for smaller prayer groups (4 to 8).

Growing in Prayer

Your group will not get it right the first few times they pray in this way. Keep reminding them. Go over the directions as the group continues to learn. When new individuals join your group, assure them that they will not be called on to pray and give them an overview of how the group prays.

Listen to your group members as they pray to learn how they might need to be discipled in prayer. Listen to the Lord as you lead your group to pray, and God will help your group build a culture of a praying church.