*Below is a possible way to enjoy a time of corporate prayer with your church. We followed this pattern on a Wednesday evening, taking a little less than two hours (including a break). We had people sit in groups of 5 or 6 and encouraged them to face the musicians whenever singing. I guided our church through this night along with two musicians. Other “seasons of prayer” could have been included, but this is what was chosen for this particular gathering. Here’s a leadership tip: it will be helpful throughout the meeting to let the groups know when it is about time to finish praying. I would say something like, “In 30 seconds, we’ll be moving on to pray for something else.” Please use this plan and/or adapt it as you wish.
SESSION 1:
1. Welcome and Song
2. Brief exhortation from Scripture and prayer [Keep this to 5 or 6 minutes.]
3. Song
4. Season of prayer #1: How we come, and to whom
- Read Hebrews 10:11-22.
- How? — In small groups, encourage multiple people to acknowledge that we have access to God the Father through Jesus. “Express to the Lord that we are praying in Jesus’ name. Tell the Lord what that means and how we are relying on the person and work of Christ.”
- To whom? — “Spend time in your group not thanking God yet but telling him what you know about him (his attributes and activities)… Start with ‘Lord, you are…’ or ‘Lord, you have…’”
5. Song(s)
6. Season of prayer #2: Thanksgiving, greatest burden
- Have someone read Psalm 107:1-3.
- Thanksgiving — “Let’s not ask for anything yet. Let’s first spend some time giving thanks to God for what he has done in salvation, in answering prayer recently, and in your life and the lives of others.”
- Burden — Ask, “What are you really burdened about? Is there one great burden that comes to your mind?” Before praying, you could have people share this in their groups. Encourage people to “share briefly, and listen closely because I will let you know in a few minutes when it’s time to begin praying.”
7. Song
————BREAK————
SESSION 2:
1. Song (something shorter)
2. Season of prayer #3: Missions and evangelism
- Have someone read Revelation 5:8-10.
- Missions — Have two or three people pray with the whole group (not in small groups) for missionaries and others serving the Lord around the world.
- Evangelism — Pray in small groups for others in the church who are sharing Christ with the lost, and for unbelievers you are hoping to see converted.
- Read 1 Timothy 2:1-7 and say something like, “Let’s now pray for our leaders at various levels of government, and anything else that might fit into this category. We’ll do this as a whole group as well, so let’s have 2 people pray.”
3. Song
4. Season of prayer #4: Pastors, one another
- Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22.
- Pastors — “Let’s have one man here stand and pray for our pastor(s), specifically for purity, wisdom in leading the church, and faithfulness in exhorting in sound doctrine and refuting those who contradict.”
- One another: “In your groups, pray for other matters you are aware of in the lives of fellow believers in the church.”
5. Song(s)
6. Concluding prayer