Encouraging Prayer

SmallCatechism.org encourages teaching prayer at the very first session. Introduce the A.C.T.S. acronymn and have them identify what each of the letters mean (e.g. “A”-Adoration, “C”-Confession, “T”-Thanksgiving, “S”-Supplication).

Then have them write two short one-sentence prayers for each of the letters in class. After they share them, assign them to do four short-one sentence prayers for homework. Let them know they will share it in class.

During the sharing, break the group into smaller groups of 3-5. In each group, have them go around the group reading one of their one-sentence prayers. After each has shared, have them go around the group and share their second prayer, etc.

Then assign each of them to do two prayers for the following week, using 2 of the four letters in A.C.T.S. When they return to class, begin the class by breaking into small groups. Have each individual share one of their two prayers in the group.

The exciting thing that begins to happen after 2-3 weeks is that the confirmands become comfortable writing prayers and leading the group in prayer.  In order to reinforce this new praying skill, assign confirmands who will begin the class with prayer and others who will close it in prayer. In larger classes, break each class into small groups and have one person from each group lead the prayer at the beginning and end of class.

SDG

TF

This entry was posted on September 14, 2009 at 06:26 and is filed under Small Catechism.org Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.