The Bible is full of stories of ordinary people talking with God, as well as practical teaching on prayer.
Encourage your community to go deeper in conversation with God by planning a teaching series or Bible study.
Try exploring some key themes and passages like:
The prayer life of Jesus
Ask what Jesus’ prayer life teaches us today. Try looking at His…
- Private prayer retreats (Mark 1:35)
- Practice of thanksgiving (Mark 8:7, John 11:41),
- Prayers for others (John 17:6-36)
- Time of wrestling in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-36)
- Prayers from the cross (Luke 23:34, Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34, Luke 23:46).
The Teaching of Jesus
Explore Jesus’ practical and challenging teaching on how we can talk with the Father…
- Practical teaching on prayer (Matthew 6:5-13. Luke 11:2-4)
- Asking God in prayer (Matthew 7:7-11, 9:37-38, 18:19-20 and 21:21-22. Luke 11:5-13. John 15:7)
- Praying for others (Luke 6:28 Mark 9:26-29)
- Praying for forgiveness (Mark 11:25, Luke 18:9-14)
The Lord’s prayer
Use the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to teach on different types of prayer:
- Approaching God as parent (Our Father in heaven)
- Adoration (hallowed by your name)
- Intercession; praying for others and the world (your kingdom come)
- Surrender and trust (your will be done)
- Petition – bringing our needs to God (give us this day…)
- Repentance (forgive us our sins as we forgive…)
- Protection (lead us not into temptation)
- Spiritual warfare (deliver us from evil).
The teachings of Paul
Explore the letters of the Early Church for practical advice on prayer:
- Romans 1:9-10 and 10:1.
- 1 Corinthians 1:4
- Ephesians 1:16 and 3:14.
- Philippians 1:3-4 and 1:7-8.
- Colossians 1:3 and 1:9.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2 and 3:9-10.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3 and 1:11.
- 2 Timothy 1:3
- Philemon v4-7
Key resources
Shape your teaching series around books and courses from 24-7 Prayer:
And these books we love from others:
- New Testament Prayer for Everyone, by Tom Wright
- Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, by Richard Foster
- An Invitation to Solitude and Silence, by Ruth Haley Barton
