Schedule (bolded portions led by you)
Introduction and teaching on individual listening prayer (approx. 35 minutes in sanctuary)
Individual breakout exercise on listening prayer (approx. 30 minutes individually spread out throughout building)
Debrief in breakout groups (approx. 15 minutes, facilitated by you in designated breakout location—listed on handout everyone will receive when they arrive)
Teaching on prophetic/interpersonal listening prayer (approx. 30 minutes)
Practicing prophetic/interpersonal listening prayer (approx. 25 minutes, facilitated by you in designated breakout location—listed on handout everyone will receive when they arrive)
Corporate Q&A (approx. 15 minutes in sanctuary)
Dismiss
Instructions for leading the first breakout session
Notice that we will have a half-hour of teaching in the sanctuary on individual listening prayer to start. Steve Curry will then dismiss everyone into an individual time of practicing listening prayer. Everyone will then regather into their designated breakout groups. You will facilitate that time by inviting people to briefly share about their experience. There’s only fifteen minutes allowed for that, so it will go quickly. Everyone will have questions provided for them in their handout for this individual listening time. You can simply ask people to respond to those questions. Here they are:
Is there a word of encouragement or comfort that you would like me to bring to anyone in this group tonight?
Is there anything that you have been talking to me about that I have ignored? If so please give me another chance to hear you.
Father, how do you feel about me tonight?
Then we will all regather in the sanctuary for the second teaching session of the night, where Steve Curry will teach us about how to listen to God on behalf of others—interpersonal listening prayer, if you will, which the New Testament describes as prophetic prayer. We will work to lay basic ground rules and demystify this often-intimidating aspect of interpersonal prayer. Then we will send you all back into your breakout groups, for you to simply identify one, or at most two, people willing to receive prayer, in order to allow you all practice praying for someone out of a posturing of listening to and being directed in your prayers by the Holy Spirit.
Instructions for leading the second breakout session
Here are ten concrete action steps to help you lead through that time.
Be praying about who you might invite to receive prayer, based on any sense or prompting in your gut you might have from the Lord. Or, more simply, if you’re not comfortable with that first method of selection, or no one seems to be presenting themselves in your mind, simply ask the group in a light-hearted way whose birthday is closest to today. “Hey, everyone should get the blessing of being prayed for on their birthday.”
Once a person is chosen, ask them if they would allow you to pray for them.
Put a chair in the middle of the circle, and ask their permission to lay hands on them.
The key is to get into actually praying for someone quickly, and avoiding the group moving into a debrief or discussion of what they just heard. There will be time for Q&A after the breakout concludes.
Instead of interviewing the person and asking them how you can pray for them, simply invite the Holy Spirit’s presence to bless, speak, and act, and then invite the group to be silent for two minutes, warning against viewing that silence negatively, and seek to listen to the Lord.
Pray any Scriptures, pictures, words, thoughts, or impressions that come to mind, using the manner and method Steve will teach on.
Function like a facilitator, and in moments of silence, ask those present “Are you getting anything?” Invite those who feel nervous or scared to take a small risk and step out and share anything that they feel might be from the Lord. “I know there’s probably one more here who should share, and it’s probably freaking you out, but I encourage you to step out.” Sam Storms advises along these lines, "Make room and time… for people to express what God has laid on their heart. Give everyone an opportunity to share any prophetic insights or words of knowledge. Encourage them to step out in faith (take a risk!). But be certain that you’ve established a safe environment for them to do this. They need to know that it’s okay to fail or to miss it and that no one will be judged or excluded or laughed at if they don’t always hit the nail on the head."
Pray into and out of silence as a group. Don’t feel rushed. Keep your eyes open and observe the person being prayed for, and those praying for them.
If you have time, feel free to debrief with the person who was just prayed for. You can gently ask them, “Did any of that particularly stand out to you?” or "Did any of that feel particularly meaningful or accurate?” You can then ask the group members a similar question.
If you have time, invite a second person to receive prayer.
Call me with any questions. If any of this makes you feel nervous or overwhelmed, please call and let me know. I'm here for you!
J. J. Seid
(405) 651-5100