This isn’t so much a teaching session as it is an opportunity to put what we have been teaching into practice. Many Christians may struggle with the idea of spending a sustained period in prayer. This session gives a structured and supported approach to praying together in a way that is shaped by the Lord’s Prayer. How you do this will depend on the cohort, but if a regular DTP session is 90 minutes, then running this to 90 minutes is likely a good option.

If your Church is used to praying together, then I’d recommend you working with the format that is familiar to you. If not, then here are some thoughts that might help get you started:

You may want to start with a short meditation on Prayer as part of discipleship. I’d focus on Jesus’ own experience of prayer and His dedication to praying as the Christ (Anointed with the Spirit of … supplication Zech.12:10). The same Spirit wants to cultivate the same dependence in prayer in us. It might be helpful to have a short introduction to each section of the evening, reminding people of key points from earlier in the term.

You may find it helpful to let people know in advance this is how you will spend this last session of the term, so that they can prepare. If you have read the essays in Matthew' Henry’s ‘Method for Prayer’, you’ll be able to encourage those on DTP that preparation is an important part of leading others in prayer, and isn’t somehow an inferior way to pray publicaly.

Depending on resources, think about other Scripture passages, Psalms, hymns, songs, etc. that can be included to give shape to the evening. But, whatever else you include, make sure that prayer remains the key element. Allow each clause of the Lord’s Prayer to shape a section of the session, giving a focus to our prayer that will develop as we go through that session. In one section pray together as a larger group, in others split into smaller groups of 3,4 or 5. ‘Forgive us our sins…’ might give scope for people to pray individually. Does your Church have mission partners… could they be prayed for as part of the evening?

The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.  He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but He trembles when we pray.

Samuel Chadwick

There is no specific group discussion or activities for this session.