Prayer within small groups can quickly become dull and profunctory. As prayer leaders we need to work hard at helping small group leaders to make prayer more meaningful in their groups.

While I know of no resources available solely on prayer in small groups, two more general books on small groups have valuable prayer ideas as part of their collection. The small group experience of Discipleship Journal magazine shines through in its two resource books: Best Small Group Ideas Vols. 1 and 2 (NavPress). Both of these books are collections taken from DJ’s small group section DJ Plus. Each book has ideas for Prayer, Fellowship, Evangelism, Bible Study, Serving and Missions.

While a prayer leader may not need all that, Best Small Group Ideas’s helpful, unique prayer ideas make them worth the price of the books. Ideas such as “Proclaiming a Group Fast,” “Worship in Small Groups,” and “Pass the Mug, Please” were simple things that would enhance the power of prayer in members’ lives. “Cures for Humdrum Prayer Times” and “The Prayer Sandwich” offer creative ways to spice up prayer in small group meetings. And while both books are categorized into sections, be sure to mine through the non-prayer sections. The Missions sections have a number off ideas on praying for missions within a group. The Evangelism sections offer great tid-bits to foster praying for the lost.

Each book has 101 ideas, and they are valuable resources for both prayer leaders and small group pastors or lay leaders. The books sell for $12 each and can be purchased through a local Christian bookstore or  on line at www.navpress.com.