To make the most of this journey, consider the spiritual maturity and prayer experience of your group members. Whether you’re leading new believers or long-time Christians seeking renewal, there are practical steps you can take to help everyone grow.
1. Let Scripture Be Your Foundation
The best way to begin learning to pray is by studying how people in the Bible prayed. Scripture is full of rich and varied prayers—from Jesus’ teaching on prayer in the Sermon on the Mount to David’s emotional psalms and Paul’s passionate intercessions for the early church.
Reading and discussing these prayers as a group helps participants understand that prayer is a dialogue with God, not a performance. Ask guiding questions like: What do you notice about the tone? What is being asked? How is God being addressed? Let these biblical examples inspire and shape your group’s own prayers.
2. Introduce Different Types of Prayer
As your group is learning to pray, help them explore the different ways we can talk to God. Prayer isn’t just about asking for help—it also includes worship, confession, thanksgiving, lament, and intercession.
Dedicating a session to each type of prayer allows your group to grow in understanding and expression. During a week on thanksgiving, encourage members to share blessings from the past week. When focusing on lament, reflect on psalms of sorrow and how God welcomes our grief. The variety keeps your group engaged and helps members discover their personal prayer rhythms.
RELATED: Praying the Psalms
3. Normalize Silence in Prayer
One often-overlooked aspect of learning to pray is embracing silence. In a world full of noise and distractions, silence can feel uncomfortable, but it’s a deeply biblical and powerful form of prayer.
Introduce short periods of silent prayer during your meetings. Start small—perhaps one or two minutes—and increase over time. Silence teaches stillness, helps us listen to God, and cultivates a sense of reverence. Encourage your group to view silence not as an absence, but as a sacred space to encounter God.
4. Model Honest, Simple Prayer
One of the most freeing lessons in learning to pray is realizing that God is not looking for eloquence—He desires honesty. Encourage your group to speak to God with sincerity rather than trying to use the “right” words.
Lead by example. When you pray, be open about your own struggles, needs, and gratitude. This authenticity creates a culture of trust and gives others permission to approach God without pretense. Over time, group members will become more comfortable expressing themselves in prayer.
5. Use Small Groups Within the Group
If praying aloud in a larger setting feels intimidating, start with pairs or trios. These smaller groups reduce anxiety and allow deeper connections. Give simple prompts, such as “Share one thing you need prayer for this week,” or “Thank God for something specific today.”
This practice builds confidence and trust. As your group becomes more accustomed to praying in smaller settings, they’ll naturally become more open in larger ones.
6. Celebrate Growth in Prayer
As your group progresses in learning to pray, recognize and affirm the steps they take. Maybe someone who was previously silent offers a short prayer, or another begins praying consistently outside of group time.
Celebrate these moments. Acknowledge that every effort matters and that growth in prayer is a journey, not a destination. Encouragement fuels persistence, and persistent prayer deepens faith.
7. Equip with Resources
To support your group in learning to pray, consider using tools like prayer journals, devotional books, or prayer apps. You might also do a group study focused on prayer, choosing a book or curriculum that guides discussion and offers daily practice.
Make sure any resources you use align with the needs of your group and reinforce the message that prayer is for everyone—not just the spiritually mature.
