Objective
This activity is a variation of the normal group prayer that provides youth both an element of personal attention while at the same time keeping the entire group actively engaged.
Resources
None needed
Preparation
Divide the youth into two groups of equal size. In case of an odd number the person without a partner will be given a special task. Leaders are encouraged to be part of the groups.
What to do
- Assign one group (if the groups are uneven use the larger group) to form a circle with everyone in the circle face to the outside of the circle. (i.e. Standing in a circle facing away (not looking at each other) from the other members of the circle.
- Next assign the second group of youth to each line up facing one of the youth that have formed a circle. So there will be an outer circle of youth facing inward, with each youth facing another one in the inner circle.
- If the circles are uneven, there will be one youth in the inner circle without a partner.
- Then give the youth the following instructions. Not now, but when I say “begin” you will pray for the person you are facing. If you do not have a partner you will be praying for the youth group as a whole. You need to keep praying until I say “change”. When I say “change” all those in e outer circle -Outer circle members raise you right hand- all of you with your hands raised will move to your right. So that you are facing the next person in the inner circle. Inner circle, do not move, stay where you are. Does everyone understand? (Depending on the comfort level of the youth, you can suggest the prayers be out loud or silent)
- Ok. Let’s “begin”.
- Give the youth some time to prayer for the person they are facing. After a set amount of time, call out change. Youth are to silently move to the next person. Ask them to “begin” again, but this time for the new person they are facing. Once again, if there is a teenager without a partner that youth is to pray for the youth group as a whole. Continue until the circles rotate until they are facing their original partner again.
Guidelines for Prayer
Here are some of the things that the Bible teaches about prayer:
- God Answers Prayer – Matthew 21:21-22
- Pray regularly – Psalm 55:17
- Pray at all times – 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
- Pray together – Matthew 18:19-20
- Pray secretly and honestly – Matthew 6:5-7
- Prayer is asking – John 16:23-26
- Pray for enemies – Matthew 5:44
- Pray for the sick and those in need – James 5:13-14
- Pray for everything – Philippians 4:6-7
- Pray about anything – John 14:12-14
- Pray with Thanks – Philippians 4:6-7
- Pray with confidence – John 15:7-8,16
- Pray in Jesus’ Name – John 16:23-26
- Confess sin as part of prayer – 1 John 1: 9
- Prayer keeps us from sin – Matthew 26:41
- Prayer gives courage – Luke 18:1
MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.