A. Purpose.

Group prayer was one characteristic of the early Christians. We read in Acts 12:12 that Peter went to the house of Mary where many were gathered for prayer. Earlier in the book of Acts, we read that disciples "went up to the upper room, where they were staying ... These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women" (Acts 1:13,14). Old Testament characters also participated in group prayer. For example, 2 Chronicles 6:13-42 records Solomon praying as all Israel gathered around.
Remember that the purpose of your prayer time is to communicate with God. It should never be viewed as a ritual or as a time to "preach" to one another.

B. Conversational prayer.

During a time of conversational prayer the group members should talk to God as they would talk to a friend who is present in the room. Members should use contemporary conversational language and avoid "preaching" at others. Encourage the group (especially a group unfamiliar with group prayer) to feel free to pray sentence prayers, expressing only a brief thought in half a dozen words or so. They need not pray long, elaborate players. Everyone is free to pray, or not to pray, as the Spirit directs. Do not be concerned about silence. Allow God to speak to you and the other individuals in the group during times of silence.

C. Examples of leading conversational prayer.

1. Introduce prayer topics one at a time. Using this method, the leader introduces a topic which the group then prays about. When the group
    finishes praying for that topic, the leader introduces another. Both the number and types of topics introduced may vary. Below 'is an    
    example:

`   a. "Thank You" for one thing (e.g., the Lord Jesus, God's love, His forgiveness, the beautiful day, etc.).
    b. "Thank You" for something that has happened in your life 'in the last 24 hours.
    c. "Please help ..." (yourself or someone else).
    d. Ask for one thing for yourself.
    e. Thank God for how He will meet those desires and requests.

2. Allow the group to share prayer requests.
    a. As a prayer request is offered, you may wish to ask another member to be responsible to pray for that request during the prayer time.    
        This ensures that each person's request will be prayed for by at least one other person during the prayer time.
    b. You may wish to have group members record on a sheet of paper each request as it is offered. They could then refer to the list during
        the group prayer time as well as throughout the week as a reminder to continue to pray for one another.
    c. You may allow group members to volunteer to pray for requests without assigning them or writing them down. The group would then
        rely on their memories during the prayer time.   
    d. You may wish to pray for each request as soon as it is given, before allowing the next request to be shared.

3. Pray through Scripture. This method allows the group to use one or more passages of Scripture as their prayer guide. You are free to choose passages from anywhere in the Old or New Testaments that you feel will be appropriate. The following is an example:

    a. Choose a Psalm of praise (e.g. Psalm 103, Psalms 145-150).
    b. Teach the group to pray using the following procedure:

        1. The first person reads a phrase or an entire verse aloud, pausing to pray a simple prayer as inspired by the Scripture and led by the   
            Lord.
        2. Other members of the group join in audibly or silently agree.
        3. The next person reads a different verse, pausing to pray aloud as he is impressed by the Lord.
        4. Each continues in like fashion around the group.

4. Introduce the ACTS acrostic.
    Adoration
    Confession
    Thanksgiving
    Supplication.
    (This can be developed at length with one or more studies on each word.)
    Guide the prayer time, praying silently or aloud.
    a. Adoration.
        Definition: Worshipping and praising God, exalting Him in your heart and your mind and with your lips.
        1. Read Psalms such as 103 and 145 or another favorite praise Psalm.
        2. Take time to adore God, praising Him for His attributes such as His loving kindness, His holiness, His compassion, His majesty, etc.
    b. Confession
        Definition: Agreeing with God concerning any sins he brings to mind in order to restore fellowship with Him.
        1 Review I John 1:5-9.
        2. As you spend time adoring God, He wilt bring to mind what you need to confess.
        3. Allow time for confession (let God speak to each person about any unconfessed sin), silently before the Lord.
    c. Thanksgiving
        Definition: Giving thanks to God for who He is, what He has done and what He will continue to do in your life; a prayer expressing    
        gratitude.
        1. Look at I Thessalonians 5:18, Ephesians 5:20, Psalm 108:3, Psalm 50:23.
        2. Spend time in thanksgiving.
    d. Supplication.
        Definition: Imploring God by means of a petition or an entreaty.
        1. Read Philippians 4:5,7; Psalm 116:1,2.
        2. Lead the group in supplication, praying aloud.

5. Introduce the PRAY acrostic (may be developed in the same way as ACTS).
    a. Praise.
    b. Repent.  
     c. Ask for someone else.
    d. Your own needs.

6. Pray for the fulfillment of the Great Commission, using Scripture.
    a. Win men to Christ through prayer.
        1. Pray that God will prepare individuals' hearts to understand and respond to the gospel (John 6:44).
        2. Pray that God will raise up believers to share the gospel with the unbelievers (Matthew 9:37,38; Colossians 4:3).
        3. Christ's victory over him (Ephesians 6:12, Corinthians 4:3,4; 2 Timothy 2:25,26; 1 John 3:8).
        4. Persist in these prayers (Daniel 10:12,13a; Luke 18:1-8).
    b. Build men in Christ through prayer.
        1. Thank God for them (Philippians 1:3).
        2. Pray for deliverance from evil (unprincipled) companions (2 Thessalonians 3:2).
        3. Pray that they will walk worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:10).
        4 Pray for wisdom and revelation in their knowledge of Christ (Ephesians 1: 17).
        5 Pray for them to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16).
        6 Pray for their unity in the Spirit with other believers (John 17:23).
        7 Pray that their love may abound and that they may approve the things that are excellent (Philippians 1:9,10).
        8 Pray for boldness and opportunities to present the gospel to others (Colossians 4:3, Ephesians 6:19,20).
        9 Pray that they may completely mature and be fully assured in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12).
        10 Persist in these prayers (Ephesians 6:18).
    c. Send men for Christ through prayer.
        1. labor shortage in the spiritual harvest (Matthew 9:37,38; Romans 10: 13-15).
        1 Make a list of candidates to be sent by the Lord (Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 9:37,38) and pray persistently for them.
        2 Pray that laborers will be thrust forth 'into specific communities and countries.
        3 Claim the fulfillment of the Great Commission in your area and the world, according to His command and promise (Matthew 28:18-
            20; 1 John 5:14,15).
        4 Mobilize and teach others to pray for laborers (2 Timothy 2:2).
        5 To help expand the group's world vision, pray for a specific country, overseas mission group, or overseas Christian workers. (Your
            group may want to "adopt" a country to pray for regularly.)
        6 Sing a hymn or Christian song, and afterward, use the words of the hymn to guide the prayer time.
        7 Select one or more attributes of God, and spend the time meditating on those attributes and praising Him for His attributes.
        8 Share answers to prayer and spend the time thanking God for the answers and His faithfulness.

D. Motivating your group to pray.
    1. Stimulate intercessory prayer.
        a. Remind participants of men and women of faith in the past who saw God answer intercessory prayer in a right way.
            1. When Abraham prayed, Lot was saved (Genesis 19-29).
            2 When Hezekiah prayed, God turned back Sennacherib (2 Kings 19).
            3 Jesus healed in response to intercession. A few examples:
                (a) Mark 2:3: Four friends brought the paralytic before Jesus;
                (b) Matthew 15:22: A Canaanite woman came to Jesus on behalf of her daughter; (c) Matthew 17:15: A man sought healing for his
                    son.
        4 An angel set Peter free in response to united prayer (Acts 12:1-17).
        5 The early church flourished as Paul interceded for them: Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1: 1519, 3:14-19; Philippians 1:3-1 1; Colossians
            1:9-12 etc.
        6 The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results. In James 5:17,18 we read, "Elijah was as completely
            human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and one half years! Then he
            prayed again, this time that it would rain, and down it poured and the grass turned green and the gardens began to grow again"
            (Living Bible).
        b. Emphasize the priority God places on praying for those in authority (I Timothy 2:1-4).
        c. Encourage individuals to make note of the intercessory prayers of Jesus, Paul, Peter, etc., in their personal Bible study and to pattern
            their own prayers along similar lines.
        d. Pray through Scripture portions to intercede for others, letting the Scripture guide your prayers and express your thoughts to God.
            Examples:
                1 Ephesians 1: 16; 19: pray for members of your family.
                2 Ephesians 3:14-16: pray for the leaders of your church fellowship.
                3 Philippians 1:9-1 1: pray for a Christian friend.
                2. Encourage praying in one accord.
                    a. Instruct individuals to:
                        1 Concentrate on what the other person is praying, agreeing in your heart.
                        2 Trust the Holy Spirit to direct your thoughts and prayers when it is your turn.
                        3 Do not be thinking ahead to what you will pray - you will miss the other person's prayer and neglect to
                           pray in accord.
                    b. Emphasize that the early church was accused of turning the world upside down when they practiced praying
                        in one accord
                        (Acts 4:2431 and Acts 17:5-7).
                    c. An earthquake opened prison doors for Paul and Silas when they prayed together (Acts 16:25,26).
                    d. Remember that Jesus Christ Himself is actually present by His Spirit. He promises in Matthew 18:19,20, "I
                        also tell you this :
                        - if two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask for, my Father in heaven will do it for
                           you. For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I will be right there among them"
                           (Living Bible).
                       
                3. Encourage individuals to pray continually.
                    a. Remind them that God commands us to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17).
                    b. Encourage them to recognize that God is present wherever they go and that He is always ready to answer
                        prayer.
                    c. Talk about how important it is to thank God for everything He allows to come into our lives (I Thessalonians
                        5:18) everything from a beautiful day to a flat tyre. Thank Him that He is in control and that He causes all
                        things to work together for good to those who love Him. (Your prayers can be a good example. Keep them
                        simple, sincere, brief and  reflective of your faith.)
                    d. Encourage them to talk to God when they feel a need - any time of the day or night.
                    e. Suggest that they use their time twice by developing a habit of praying as they go about daily activities that
                        do not require total concentration; for example, while travelling to work, driving, gardening, working with
                        their hands.
                       
                4. Use other means to motivate your group to pray.
                    a. Read short motivational verses or excepts on prayer by Christian writers. Some suggested authors are
                        Andrew Murray, E.M. Bounds, C.T. Studd, George Mueller, Hudson Taylor.
                       
                    b. Study some or all of the following motivational passages on the prayer life of Jesus.
                        1 He prayed while being baptized by John (Luke 3:21).
                        2 He fasted and prayed in the wilderness before being tempted (Matthew 4:2).
                        3 He prayed in a lonely place after news of John the Baptist's death (Matthew 14:13).
                        4 He prayed often in lonely places and in the wilderness (Luke 4:42; 5:16).
                        5 He prayed in the early morning before -oing through Galilee (Mark 1:35).
                        6 He prayed all night before calling the twelve apostles (Like 6:12).
                        7 He prayed alone after feeding the 5,000 (Matthew 14:23).
                        8 He prayed before His transfiguration (Luke 9:28,29).
                        9 He praised God aloud when the 70 returned (Luke 10:21).
                        10 He prayed before teaching on prayer (Luke II: 1-4).
                        11 He prayed aloud before raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41- 3,42).
                        12 He prayed for Peter (Luke 22:32).
                        13 He talked aloud with God during His last public discourse (John 12:28).
                        14 He prayed for the disciples after His farewell discourse (John 17).
                        15 He prayed in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39-44; Mark 14:35-39).
                        16 He prayed on the cross (Luke 23:34-36).
                        17 He prayed at Emmaus after the resurrection. (Luke 24a:30).
                    c. Encourage your group members to prepare and use a personal diary.