Here are 10 tips to increase the frequency and effectiveness of your supplications.
Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey
Many years ago, evangelist S. D. Gordon said, "The greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is to pray." After 25 years of leading small groups and coaching small-group leaders, I have come to one clear conviction: prayer is the most important activity of a small-group leader. In fact, if a group leader could only do one thing to make his or her group more effective, that one thing would be to ...
Some people would rather have teeth pulled than to pray out loud, others look at prayer as an opportunity to gossip, and still others monopolize the time with long-winded prayers. Some groups spend more time talking about prayer needs than actually praying. And even prayer time can be dry and meaningless if it becomes just something you automatically do each week with little enthusiasm. How can your ...
"Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:16
Back in college at Anderson University, I was involved with Campus Crusade for Christ and the prayer team. One of our activities was a "prayer party" on a Friday evening from 8 p.m. to midnight. During the party, we gathered specifically ...
Ideas to keep your prayer time fresh and meaningful.
Michael C. Mack
Some people would rather have teeth pulled than to pray out loud, others look at prayer as an opportunity to gossip, and still others monopolize the time with long-winded prayers. Some groups spend more time talking about prayer needs than actually praying. And even prayer time can be dry and meaningless if it becomes just something you automatically do each week with little enthusiasm. How can your ...
A closer look at these two creeds helps define what Christians believe.
JoHannah Reardon
Many Christians throughout the world recite either the Nicene Creed or the Apostles' Creed regularly in their church services. Following is a short history and recitation of each creed. You may find these surprisingly useful in your small groups, especially as a way to clarify and open discussion on the basics of Christian doctrine.
The Nicene Creed
In the first three centuries, the church was often ...
Common problems and practical solutions for praying together
by Andrew Wheeler
Our small group met monthly to pray for the persecuted church around the world and for missionaries from our church. We were all committed to God, to prayer, and to each other, and several of us were experienced pray-ers. Yet some of our prayer times—well, most of them, really—seemed to drag by.
Often my mind wandered during prayer; seldom did I feel we were connecting as a group. Although ...
Deepen your relationship with God by focusing on him and discovering what he is like.
This ten-session course will help you get through the summer victoriously. Deepen your relationship with God by focusing on him and discovering what he is like. This course will also teach you how to repent, find forgiveness, and get rid of guilt. Finally, it will help you fill your prayer life with joy and beauty.
Week 1
Spirituality for Today
Modern spirituality begins and ends with the self; Christian ...
Learn from Isaiah to enhance your own prayer life, Scripture reading, and reflection time.
In his writings, Isaiah describes the deep intensity of his relationship with God. The evidence of this intensity can be seen in his spiritual discipline. With this three-session course, learn from Isaiah and begin to enhance your own prayer life, Scripture reading, and reflection time.
Session One
Standing SmallLearn the humble prayer that bonds the Most High God to the most lowly person. Isaiah 57:15; ...
Why God made us, how he forgives us, and how he enables us to handle difficulties and to love others.
Jill Briscoe has an active speaking ministry and has written over 40 books, including A Little Pot of Oil, Prayer That Works, and God's Front Door. She and her husband Stuart minister together at conferences and mission organizations around the world. In this four-session course, Jill instructs us in basics of the Christian life, such as why God made us, how he forgives us, and how he enables us to ...
This 6-week course will help you discuss the nature of sin, how we can deal with its aspects, and how to rise above it.
These 6 weekly studies will help you and your group think more about the nature of sin, how we can deal with its aspects, and how to rise above it. You'll be challenged to think about serious questions like: What are the sources of anger in our hearts? How does the Bible teach us to forgive? How can we get over the guilt of sinning? What do we do with shame?
Printer view of these results
