How to Teach Your Church to Pray

As you consider your role in teaching church members to pray, there’s no better place to start than the prayers of the Bible.

By Laura Magness

Few practices in the Christian life draw a person closer to God than the act of prayer. Designed by God to be a beautiful gift of communication between the Creator and the children created in His image, prayer simply means talking with Him. Why, then, is it such a struggle?

Poll your church members, and the number of people who feel they don’t pray often enough or struggle to know the right ways to pray may overwhelm you. You may even feel this way yourself. Oftentimes, we find it difficult to pray consistently, or we feel like our prayers lack passion and power. Sometimes, we make it to the end of busy days (or dare I say weeks?) only to realize we haven’t prayed at all. In other moments, our needs and longing overcome us so we struggle to find words to express the groanings of our hearts.

We are a world of born communicators, so prayer should come naturally to us. But the infrequency and frustrations behind our prayer lives make it clear that for most of us, it doesn’t. At one point in the Gospel of Luke, we read Jesus “was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’” (Luke 11:1, CSB). Of all the conversations the four Gospels give us between Jesus and His disciples, this is the only time a disciple asks Jesus to teach him how to do something.

“We are a world of born communicators, so prayer should come naturally to us. But the infrequency and frustrations behind our prayer lives make it clear that for most of us, it doesn’t.” — Laura Magness Share on X

When you pray

It seems that disciple knew what you also know: Prayer is important, and it’s hard. He also knew Jesus was the right One to ask. Jesus’s response to that question included His model prayer. “Whenever you pray, say, Father, your name be honored as holy…” (Luke 11:2, CSB).

Thankfully, just as Jesus taught His disciples to pray, God’s Word gives us invaluable insight on this topic, too. As you consider your God-given role in teaching your church members to pray, there’s no better place to begin than with the prayers found in the Bible. And there are so many.

Studying prayers of the Bible

Some prayers are deeply personal

In Psalm 13 David cried, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day?” (Psalm 13:1-2a, CSB).

Other prayers are for a gathered group

After returning from exile and rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, the Israelites gathered and proclaimed in corporate prayer, “Blessed be the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You, Lord, are the only God. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their stars, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them, and all the stars of heaven worship you” (Nehemiah 9:5b-6, CSB).

Some are carefully composed

“Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21, CSB).

“From the garden in Genesis 3 to John's cry, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” at the close of Revelation, the Bible is full of examples of when, where, why, and how the children of God can talk to Him.” — Laura Magness Share on X

Others seem more spontaneous

“Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. Making a vow, she pleaded, ‘Lord of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut’” (1 Samuel 1:10-11, CSB).

Some prayers are cries of longing or agony

“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39b, CSB).

Other prayers are songs of praise

“I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well” (Psalm 139:14, CSB).

Some are confessions of sin

“Ah, Lord—the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands—we have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from your commands and ordinances” (Daniel 9:4b-5, CSB).

Others are intercessions on behalf of others

“I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me (John 17:20-21, CSB).

I could go on and on.

Teaching your church to pray

From the garden in Genesis 3 to John’s cry, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” at the close of Revelation (Revelation 22:20b), the Bible is full of examples of when, where, why, and how the children of God can talk to Him. No matter the style, each prayer—every single statement we utter to the Lord—is to be a means of positioning ourselves to hear from Him and know Him more.

“The prayers of Scripture give you and your church members the tools to jump-start a more active and never-ending conversation with the Lord.” — Laura Magness Share on X

Whether you’re interested in teaching your church to pray from the pulpit, strengthening your own prayer life, or perhaps a mix of both, the prayers of Scripture give you and your church members the tools to jump-start a more active and never-ending conversation with the Lord.

For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.

“When You Pray,” a new Bible study from Lifeway Women examines six of the categories of prayer that frequently show up in Scripture—the Lord’s Prayer, petition, adoration, lament, intercession, and prayers for the unity of the church. With the help of Bible teachers Kelly Minter, Jackie Hill Perry, Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Jada Edwards, and Kristi McLelland, you’ll learn how those prayers can inspire your own.