I'm starting a "prayer school" at our church and while I have numerous books on prayer, I was wondering if any of you have any suggestions as to what you have found to be a good approach to developing a curriculum for this purpose. Your feedback would be appreciated. Thank you!
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You present a good question. Most of us have had little or no prayer training so the only way we expanded our understanding of prayer was to read and work with those who have had a focus of prayer in their ministry. They need example to help them, and scripture to ground them and to help their praying be focused on God's word.
You may wish to take the opportunity to at least observe the Praying Together Course group. We have presented 5 lessons, and you can see the response. That would help you to know if it is an example of what you want to see accomplished. There are more lessons to come, which are listed in the syllabus.
This is the third time I have presented this course. The first two times were in a classroom environment. Now I am reworking it for presentation in this environment on the internet. My observation, take God's word, share from what the Lord has led me, and let the Lord work in the hearts -- This course is not about how much I know, but Christ working in hearts to help people pray for others.
Please pardon my delay in responding Lewis...thank you for your kindness. I'm deeply grateful to you. I've not had the opportunity to carefully review your material, but from just a brief perusal, I believe your material will be very helpful.
Thank you so much for your kindness and may the Lord bless you abundantly for your kindness!
I have found that most people need to start with the premise that prayer is a relationship with God, a friendship and conversation based on mutual trust. I've written a six-week study called Prayer Begins with Relationship for NavPress that lays that foundation. It was very well received in pilots last year. It is due to release in June, but I would be happy to send you a sample preview, if you'd like to look at it. Let me know.
Please forgive my long delay in acknowledging your very kind message. I am so sorry; but due to time constraints I'm not on this site as much I would like to be as it really does offer such a wonderful resource. I would love to have the opportunity to review your 6 week study if you could still make it available to me.
I was recently invited to do a class on prayer, and chose in that setting to use "Love to Pray" by VanderGriend - a DVD plus study guide/daily devotionals for a 40 day study. This is the 3rd time I have used this, each time a different response, but each very positive. He has also written "The Joy of Prayer" in the same format.... hope to have opportunity to use it soon.
The other book I have used in a mentoring setting is "Secrets of the Secret Place" by Bob Sorge. He also has a workbook to go with the book of 52 chapters. We did one a week and discussed and prayed together. Outstanding! A friend of mine has used selected chapters from that book for a number of studies she has done.
I am starting to put together a day/weekend retreat for prayer coordinators. I am focusing on the fact that worship and prayer are both intimate personal conversations with God and intertwine in our lives. Any suggestions you have would be very much appreciated!
I secured a copy of "Secrets" by Bob Sorge...he is one of my favorites and I am so enjoying the book for my personal devotional reading. I understand he offers a DVD teaching series for small groups.
I, too, like the idea of a "prayer school," and I've not heard anything like it!
Personally, Paul, I've found using a prayer journal is very helpful -- so perhaps a prayer journal could be a part of your curriculum. I've been using one since the early 1990s, and it's really helped me to focus my prayers. I started out with a beautiful, four-color one from Chuck Swindoll's "Insights for Living." Since then, it's been hard to find a prayer journal that men can feel comfortable using. In fact, that's why I proposed writing a prayer journal for NavPress in the first, place, and the result is The Pray! Prayer Journal. Again, for your curriculum purposes, you may wish to check out this one from NavPress or others that are on the market . . .
Another source that may be of help is the online prayer page I've begun called Pray Every Day at www.facebook.com/prayerjournal . . . In fact, if you're on Facebook, I'd be greatly encouraged if you'd hit "Like" on the page and chime in as the Lord leads . . . I'm encouraged by others who are committed to be intentional about prayer.
I'll look for other ideas here. And please let us know what you decide, as there seems to be a dearth of material in this area!
I've not been on this site for a while (to my chagrin)due to ministerial time constraints. I really love what this site offers and I'm so deeply grateful to you for your kind message. My apologies for not acknowledging it sooner. :-(
Thanks, Dean, for your input and suggestions...they're deeply appreciated. I apparently already selected "like" on your facebook page but realized that I'm not seeing your posts so I need to get that corrected. I love what you're posting there.
Have you taken a look at Andrew Murray's classic- With Christ in the School of Prayer ? It is written as a devotional, but I believe could be easily adapted as a "prayer school" curriculum. Also, the book is available for free online.
Lord- Raise up and bless these prayer schools--- "Lord, teach us to pray"-- In Jesus Name.
Michael, a friend and I read the book and discussed it together over a period of meetings . . . It's excellent. Do you make your study guide available? Thanks for considering this . . .
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Paul,
You present a good question. Most of us have had little or no prayer training so the only way we expanded our understanding of prayer was to read and work with those who have had a focus of prayer in their ministry. They need example to help them, and scripture to ground them and to help their praying be focused on God's word.
You may wish to take the opportunity to at least observe the Praying Together Course group. We have presented 5 lessons, and you can see the response. That would help you to know if it is an example of what you want to see accomplished. There are more lessons to come, which are listed in the syllabus.
This is the third time I have presented this course. The first two times were in a classroom environment. Now I am reworking it for presentation in this environment on the internet. My observation, take God's word, share from what the Lord has led me, and let the Lord work in the hearts -- This course is not about how much I know, but Christ working in hearts to help people pray for others.
Trust this might provide a little help.
Lewis Turner
Wheatland Ministries
Please pardon my delay in responding Lewis...thank you for your kindness. I'm deeply grateful to you. I've not had the opportunity to carefully review your material, but from just a brief perusal, I believe your material will be very helpful.
Thank you so much for your kindness and may the Lord bless you abundantly for your kindness!
Blessings,
Paul
Paul,
I have found that most people need to start with the premise that prayer is a relationship with God, a friendship and conversation based on mutual trust. I've written a six-week study called Prayer Begins with Relationship for NavPress that lays that foundation. It was very well received in pilots last year. It is due to release in June, but I would be happy to send you a sample preview, if you'd like to look at it. Let me know.
Cynthia
Dear Cynthia,
Please forgive my long delay in acknowledging your very kind message. I am so sorry; but due to time constraints I'm not on this site as much I would like to be as it really does offer such a wonderful resource. I would love to have the opportunity to review your 6 week study if you could still make it available to me.
Blessings to you!
Paul
I was recently invited to do a class on prayer, and chose in that setting to use "Love to Pray" by VanderGriend - a DVD plus study guide/daily devotionals for a 40 day study. This is the 3rd time I have used this, each time a different response, but each very positive. He has also written "The Joy of Prayer" in the same format.... hope to have opportunity to use it soon.
The other book I have used in a mentoring setting is "Secrets of the Secret Place" by Bob Sorge. He also has a workbook to go with the book of 52 chapters. We did one a week and discussed and prayed together. Outstanding! A friend of mine has used selected chapters from that book for a number of studies she has done.
I am starting to put together a day/weekend retreat for prayer coordinators. I am focusing on the fact that worship and prayer are both intimate personal conversations with God and intertwine in our lives. Any suggestions you have would be very much appreciated!
Thanks, Jolene,
I secured a copy of "Secrets" by Bob Sorge...he is one of my favorites and I am so enjoying the book for my personal devotional reading. I understand he offers a DVD teaching series for small groups.
Blessings to you in your ministry!
Paul
I, too, like the idea of a "prayer school," and I've not heard anything like it!
Personally, Paul, I've found using a prayer journal is very helpful -- so perhaps a prayer journal could be a part of your curriculum. I've been using one since the early 1990s, and it's really helped me to focus my prayers. I started out with a beautiful, four-color one from Chuck Swindoll's "Insights for Living." Since then, it's been hard to find a prayer journal that men can feel comfortable using. In fact, that's why I proposed writing a prayer journal for NavPress in the first, place, and the result is The Pray! Prayer Journal. Again, for your curriculum purposes, you may wish to check out this one from NavPress or others that are on the market . . .
Another source that may be of help is the online prayer page I've begun called Pray Every Day at www.facebook.com/prayerjournal . . . In fact, if you're on Facebook, I'd be greatly encouraged if you'd hit "Like" on the page and chime in as the Lord leads . . . I'm encouraged by others who are committed to be intentional about prayer.
I'll look for other ideas here. And please let us know what you decide, as there seems to be a dearth of material in this area!
Lord bless . . .
Hey Dean,
I've not been on this site for a while (to my chagrin)due to ministerial time constraints. I really love what this site offers and I'm so deeply grateful to you for your kind message. My apologies for not acknowledging it sooner. :-(
Thanks, Dean, for your input and suggestions...they're deeply appreciated. I apparently already selected "like" on your facebook page but realized that I'm not seeing your posts so I need to get that corrected. I love what you're posting there.
Blessings to you dear brother,
Paul
Have you taken a look at Andrew Murray's classic- With Christ in the School of Prayer ? It is written as a devotional, but I believe could be easily adapted as a "prayer school" curriculum. Also, the book is available for free online.
Lord- Raise up and bless these prayer schools--- "Lord, teach us to pray"-- In Jesus Name.
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