The purpose of this book is to help you help others talk with God. It s a pilgrimage from the basics of saying a brief public prayer, to leading small group prayer, and concludes with guiding congregational prayer. Whether you re a new Christian, just beginning your prayer walk with God, or a veteran prayer warrior; you ll find new insights all along the way. It s titled Prayer Guide because it will train you to guide others into the presence of God. It s called a manual because it s intended to be used and reused through the years as you grow in your service to Christ. Your pilgrimage of prayer will grow through three distinct stages of public prayer: saying, leading, and guiding. Saying your first public prayer can be one of the most frightening experiences of the Christian s life. Insights and practical guidance found in the early chapters will calm your fears. More importantly, you ll learn to become a channel of God s grace and power into any situation. Leading group prayer may be something you don t think you ll ever do, but virtually every follower of Christ eventually leads some form of group prayer even if it s just within their own family. Becoming a prayer guide is the final step of the pilgrimage. If you re ambitious for authentic, life-changing group prayer; the last three sections of this book will be a turning point for you and any group you lead in prayer. Many different situations of prayer leadership are discussed, but all are tied together by a fundamental progression of prayer : Preparation, Salutation, Petition, and Benediction. Chapters related to specific types of prayer begin with a general overview of the issues then present an outline based on this progression of prayer . The Table of Contents is detailed and there s an Index to help you locate particular issues when new prayer leadership opportunities arise or a refresher is needed. There is a study guide after every chapter and the book is arranged into five parts to facilitate study as a five week course. The five sections are easily identifiable by those seeking help with particular types of prayer leadership. For instance, if you re new to prayer leadership and have been asked to lead prayer at some function; the first two sections will help you prepare. If you re a minister seeking to bring prayer to the heart of worship; sections three and five will be most helpful to you. If you re pressed for time, you can go to the chapters that will be most helpful after reading the following section overviews. Section Overviews Part One Prayer Basics These chapters introduce enlightening principles that underlie public and group prayer. Here, you ll begin learning the nuts and bolts of public prayer. Part Two Saying & Leading Public Prayer This section is written for those who want to pray in public confidently and authentically. From saying a prayer at a sporting event to leading a simple group prayer time, each chapter can stand alone as a reference for a particular kind of public prayer. Part Three Group Prayer Techniques If a prayer leader is to graduate to being a prayer guide, he or she must learn to guide others into the Lord s presence. With the techniques taught in these chapters; any prayer event can become an encounter with God. Part Four Guiding Group Prayer From leading a prayer walk to guiding a large congregation in prayer for an hour or more, these chapters help you apply the techniques learned in Part 3. Part Five Guiding Prayer in Worship The greatest need in many churches today is meaningful congregational prayer at the heart of worship. Applying the prayer guide concepts to this vital area of church life will return congregational prayer to its rightful place at the heart of worship.
Lowell Snow brings a unique blend of practicality, Biblical insight, and spiritual depth to the issues of leading prayer. Combining degrees in church music, Bible, and Christian ministry with thirty years of experience as both worship leader and pastor, he knows what works.
Perhaps just as importantly, having spent some of the early years of his life as an angry agnostic who questioned everything about the church, he brings to the table a fresh and dynamic view of prayer that will open doors of understanding to many who are trapped by those seven last words of the church; we never did it that way before.
If you re new to leading prayer, you ll enjoy the way he presents basic concepts with interesting experiences and Biblical situations. If you ve studied corporate prayer for years, you ll be challenged to experience group prayer in new ways.
