Prayer in house groups/cell groups can be a great place to begin or to learn confidence on public prayer and can also be a great place to build a powerful praying group.

House groups are often run by a lay leader or a non-trained member of the church. This is not to belittle their skills or their contribution. Fare from it! In fact I believe that it is vitally important that the church develops the contribution of church members and attendees. House groups are a fantastic place for people to begin a leadership roll.

As pastors/leaders we should be training people to move into these rolls and supporting and training those who are already functioning within these rolls. With regard to prayer there are a few things we should be addressing.

1. The loaner in the crowd.

   We all are aware that it is possible to a a loan in a crowd. But this is so much more so if you are in a small intimate group and feel that you are not one of the group. And with no bad intent it is possible for us to leave one of two people feeling shut out of the group. House group leaders should be aware of this. No one will be free to pray or share in a group that they feel not included in.

   We should have a training programme for our house group leaders, but just for now lets think of getting our leaders looking for those who might feel out of the group. Then working to build group cohesion. A whole bunch on things can be done to build outsiders into the group.

   1. First be aware

      The first and most important tool or action to prevent people from being left out of a group is for the leader to be aware and alert, maybe even to talk to a few of the stronger members of the group and getting then to watch out for people who might be fealing left out and then taking actions to work them into the group.

   2. Pare people off

      Do not make an obvious thing of this – but at times make sure that the confident and the shy or outsider are pared off. Like to make the coffees or to do the washing up.

   3. Involve all the group

      Keep a mental note about who had not taken part in a group for a while. Do the same people always volunteer to read, pray, choose a song etc. sometimes ask people to do one of these jobs at the house group.

      You need to make sure that it is within their capability – even if it is at a stretch for their comfort-zone. You are not trying to humiliate them but liberate them, so do not ask them to do something that will be too hard. A poor reader may manage a few verses from a well know passage, but die if asked to read Matthew chapter one. They may love to share their faverate verse and why it is a faverate to them, but hope the floor would open and swallow them if asked to explain what circumcision is!

      Get to know your group and what they can do. You can always ask them or God.

   4. Team games/social events can also get the whole group involved and be good group builders.

2. Confidence that all are accepted

   It is important to make people feel accepted. The intimacy of a house group can be a help and a hindrance here too. The way that we react to questions asked, answers given, requests for prayer, can make a big impact. Especially at a house group people should feel confident to ask questions and to try answers, being helped gently.

   The question “Why did Jesus teach in parables” can be treated in several ways.

• • “Are you supped? Everyone knows that!”

  • or “That is a very interesting questions and the answer is not as obvious as many people thing. Lets look as see what Jesus said Matthew 13:10-18”

This may bit over the top but you get the idea. If they get an answer like the first one, not only will they never ask another question, they will not pray and may not actually ever come again.

The same is true of answers giving, If someone answers a question “Well of course God loves the sinner, but hates the sin” You can gently correct them, or stomp them down.

1. Confidentiality of things shared

   Not only must they feel confident to ask and answer question, but feel that their confidences are going to be kept. While it is probably not good to encourage the most intimate sharing at a house group, confidences that are shared, should be respected. If someone shares that they have – well… lost a job, possibly the last thing they want is to have is everyone in the church to know. If you think that the church should know or it would be good to share it on the church prayer chain – ask their permission.

   I do not believe that we should be sworn to secrecy either. You need the freedom to aks for help from the Pastor or others if you can not handle what is being shared.

2. Prayer helps

   Most of the items covered in other payer subjects can be implemented in a house group. Things like being comfortable with silence, giving people fuel for prayer, etc.