Learn About Prayer

What’s on this page?

Explore prayer and related themes by choosing from the podcasts, teaching videos, suggested books, and other links. For resources geared more towards children and young people go back one-step and visit the Children and Young People’s pages

We’ve chosen resources from a range of speakers and organisations including Seedbed, Open Doors Youth, Thy Kingdom Come, The Methodist Church, and The Church of England with the hope that we can encounter different voices and perspectives. You can continue to explore more resources through their individual websites.

How do I start?

By clicking on the image or the link a new window will open in YouTube or another website or window. We’ve tried to arrange the sections by theme, so scroll down to find what you’re interested to explore.

Before you start…

Wherever you are, be still for a moment. Then, pause to pray – even if there are distractions and activity going on around you. Ask God to guide what you choose, ask God to help you to focus and to listen for His voice. Be open to how God might speak to you at this time and illuminate your thinking and actions.

When you’ve finished…

Pause for another moment before you move off to something else. Thank God for the time you’ve spent and ask him to continue to stimulate your thinking and actions in response to what you’ve learned so far. Don’t forget to share with others.

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints.

(Ephesians 1:16-18)


Basics

(Where possible, the videos have been grouped thematically but are not arranged in any particular order)

Three tips for prayer – Pete Greig (1 minute 33 seconds)
https://youtu.be/ERa57SkNr-4
What is prayer? – Danielle Strickland (4 minute 23 seconds)
https://youtu.be/ERa57SkNr-4
Why Pray? – 24/7 Prayer (2 minute 18 seconds)
https://youtu.be/ERa57SkNr-4
The Power of Confessing Our Sins – Kevin Watson (7 minutes 20 seconds)
https://youtu.be/2plNDULkwRk
What do we mean by Praise? (testimony/thoughts) – Jasmine Yeboah (2 minutes)
https://youtu.be/d4EV-Iax7zE
Saying sorry – Shane Claiborne (3 minutes 40 seconds)
https://youtu.be/d4EV-Iax7zE
Why We Pray – Pete Greig (6 minutes 34 seconds
https://youtu.be/tIqbRn6dC_Y)
The power of prayer – Revd Dr Kate Coleman (1 minutes 44 seconds)
https://youtu.be/tIqbRn6dC_Y
Silence and prayer – Archbishop John Sentamu (3 minutes 01 seconds)
https://youtu.be/tIqbRn6dC_Y
Starting to pray, ‘Help’ (a testimony) – Lizzie Driver (2 minutes 13)
https://youtu.be/Xfawb4PV5dM
What is Praise in our prayer? – Revd Dr Kate Coleman (3 minutes 51 minutes)
https://youtu.be/-D6II_Nq-tQ
Who is Jesus? – Prof NT Wright
https://youtu.be/-D6II_Nq-tQ

Deeper

(Where possible, the videos have been grouped thematically but are not arranged in any particular order)

Unanswered Prayer – Pete Greig (3 minutes 34 seconds)
https://youtu.be/lTyEo83Y0Fg
Praying for hard situations – Pete Greig
https://youtu.be/mBLfWhSmSnc
Silence – Gavin Calver
https://youtu.be/FloN9OHEMuk
The Fatherhood of God in the Old Testament – Svetlana Khobnya (7 minutes 16 seconds)
https://youtu.be/eV5JtoC28qA
What do we mean when we pray Thy Kingdom Come? – Archbishop Justin Welby and Muyiwa (10 minutes 12 seconds) https://youtu.be/FloN9OHEMuk
What is adoration? – Sheran Harper, Teresa Carvalho, Prof NT Wright (2 minutes 4 seconds) https://youtu.be/FloN9OHEMuk
Answered Prayer – Pete Greig (1 minute 33 seconds))
https://youtu.be/CFJv8QITVt4
The Lord’s Prayer as adoptive father – Krish Kandiah
https://youtu.be/JtJMsEVEIfA
Silence – Members of the Community of St Anselm (3 minutes 33 seconds)
https://youtu.be/T1xfAaGuCTI
What the Psalms teach us about prayer – Ben Wayman (6 minutes 50 seconds)
https://youtu.be/T1xfAaGuCTI
Praying to God as Our Father – Caleb Friedeman
https://youtu.be/s6zdj2p0FKU
Praying for the persecuted – Pete Greig (2 minutes 4 seconds)
https://youtu.be/z1E8HTYeyFo

Suggested reading…

(Where possible, resources have been grouped thematically but are not arranged in any particular order)

Notes on spiritual fasting

Eunice Attwood takes a brief look at Jesus’ words about fasting from the Sermon on the Mount (From the Methodist Church in Britain)

CLICK HERE to read


Prayer as Worship Leading to Sanctification

A short reflection on Prayer as Dialogue with God: Worship Leading to Sanctification by Stéphane Tibi (Regional Education Coordinator, Eurasia, Church of the Nazarene)

CLICK HERE to read


Authentic Christian Worship

Rev. Todd A. Stepp. He approaches Christian worship from a Wesleyan point of view (2009). He delves into the four criteria that John Wesley would use to identify “authentic Christian worship”.

CLICK HERE to read


Prayer through Personal Situations

A short reflection on Prayer as Dialogue with God: Through Personal Situations. Written by Stéphane Tibi (Regional Education Coordinator, Eurasia, Church of the Nazarene)

CLICK HERE to read


Prayer and Fasting Guide

Samantha Chambo explores prayer and fasting as a time to petition God to ignite a hunger and passion for holiness in unprecedented ways within us and throughout the Church of the Nazarene in Africa (2016).

CLICK HERE to read


Prayer through Scripture

A short reflection on Prayer as Dialogue with God: Prayer Through Scripture. Written by Stéphane Tibi (Regional Education Coordinator, Eurasia, Church of the Nazarene)

CLICK HERE to read



The following ‘reads’ are excerpts from the video series Nooma. Nooma is a series of short films (10-15 minutes) written by Rob Bell reflecting on individual life experiences and the Christian faith. You can watch official trailers and buy the films individually via the NOOMAtube webpage or unofficial full versions on YouTube.

Nooma – Breathe
Is our physical breath actually a picture of a deeper spiritual reality?
https://library.adu.edu/sites/default/files/docs/014_Breathe-full.pdf
Nooma – Open
How do you pray? Does prayer really help?

https://library.adu.edu/sites/default/files/docs/019_Open-full.pdf
Nooma – Rhythm
Are our lives in tune with God’s plan for the world?
https://library.adu.edu/sites/default/files/docs/014_Breathe-full.pdf
Nooma – Kickball
If God really cares about us, why don’t we have what we want?
https://library.adu.edu/sites/default/files/docs/019_Open-full.pdf
Nooma – Noise
Why are we so afraid of silence?

https://library.adu.edu/sites/default/files/docs/014_Breathe-full.pdf
Nooma – Rain
Where’s God when life isn’t going like we want it to?
https://library.adu.edu/sites/default/files/docs/019_Open-full.pdf

More…

(Where possible, resources have been grouped thematically but are not arranged in any particular order)

Forgiveness, ‘Sorry’ (testimony) – Ray and Vi Donovan (5 minutes 30 seconds)
https://youtu.be/tOhKGjYB4cU
Fred Drummond Perth (Scotland) Church of the Nazarene – Psalm 63 looking at when bad things happen, and how we should respond to them https://www.trinitychurchperth.org/mediacast/psalm-63/
Psalms are often used to help us pray
How to the Bible: Psalms
https://youtu.be/dpny22k_7uk
Fred Drummond – Missional Prayer (2018)
https://youtu.be/VebUje0xt5M
Jim Ritchie Perth (Scotland) Church of the Nazarene – The start of a series of services on ‘Thy Kingdom Come.’ Matthew chapter 6 verses 9 through to 13 ‘Our Father in Heaven.’
https://www.trinitychurchperth.org/mediacast/week-1-our-father-in-heaven/
We offer prayers of confession – where we confess our sins
This video explores what sin means
https://youtu.be/aNOZ7ocLD74

%d