11 Best Prayer Courses To Build New Skills In 2024
As a pastor, I've had times where prayer felt dry and routine. Encouraging my church members to engage in consistent, meaningful prayer can also be tough. Without the right prayer ministry courses, you also might notice these common struggles:
- Prayer meetings can feel monotonous and uninspired.
- Prayer times lack a deeper spiritual connection or direction.
- Leaders struggle to inspire heartfelt and consistent prayer.
In my own ministry, I've found that sometimes, a fresh take or perspective can help spark new growth or engagement. That’s where these prayer ministry courses come in. They can equip you with tools and ideas to breathe life into your prayer meetings, inspire deeper connections, and build a culture of consistent prayer in your church.
Best Prayer Courses Shortlist
Here's a shortlist of the best prayer courses I think are worth your time in 2024:
- Prayer Basics (Our Daily Bread University)
- Help Me Pray! (Udemy)
- The Prayer of Serenity (Christian Leaders Institute)
- The Prayer Course (Kerith Church)
- The Lectio Course (24-7 Prayer)
- Learning the Art of Intercession (The School of Prayer)
- Prayer as a Strategy (Udemy)
- THE 350 - Prayer (Christian Leaders Institute)
- The Lord's Prayer (Udemy)
- The Power Packed Magic of Contemplative Prayer (Udemy)
- Christian Prayer Methods (Udemy)
Find more details about each course below.
Overview Of The Best Prayer Courses
1. Prayer Basics (Our Daily Bread University)
This online course helps students discover the adventure God desires prayer to be and deepen their relationship with Him. It provides a scripturally-based understanding of prayer's vital importance for the Christian life. Students will benefit from practical strategies for pursuing prayer personally.
- Who It’s For: Beginners in prayer
- Topics Covered:
- Importance of prayer
- Different types of prayer
- Practical steps to effective prayer
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 5 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 17 minutes per lecture
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: ODBU
2. Help Me Pray! (Udemy)
This course is designed to help students learn to pray through God's Word and realize the blessings of prayer. It guides students to develop a heart that yearns to pray and confront the pride that hinders prayer. By the end of the course, students will refresh their view of God and see an example of prayer from the Apostle Paul.
- Who It’s For: Evangelicals who struggle to pray and would like help
- Topics Covered:
- Basics of prayer
- Techniques for effective prayer
- Overcoming obstacles in prayer
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $8.68 (discounted)
- Take The Course: Udemy
3. The Prayer of Serenity (Christian Leaders Institute)
This course explores the Serenity Prayer, its history, and its application in daily life. It includes video lectures, reading materials, group discussions on spiritual warfare, and moments where we pray together.
- Who It’s For: Those interested in the Serenity Prayer
- Topics Covered:
- History of the Serenity Prayer
- Application in daily life
- Spiritual growth through the prayer
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Christian Leaders Institute
4. The Prayer Course (Kerith Church)
The Prayer Course is an 8-week journey that helps participants explore and deepen their prayer life. Centered around "The Lord's Prayer," the course provides practical insights and guidance to enhance your connection with God. Created by Pete Greig and 24-7 Prayer, this course offers a structured approach to growing in spiritual discipline.
- Who It’s For: Individuals and groups wanting to deepen their prayer life
- Topics Covered:
- The importance of prayer
- How can we enjoy God’s presence in praise and worship
- The significance of asking God in prayer
- The power and importance of praying on behalf of others
- The challenges and realities when our prayers aren’t answered
- How spending time with God in silence can enrich our relationship with Him
- Practical ways we can tune into hearing God’s voice
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Both
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 8 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour per week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Kerith Church
5. The Lectio Course (24-7 Prayer)
The Lectio Course is a 5-session resource designed to teach participants how to hear God's voice through the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. Each session includes a 15-minute video that offers practical guidance on engaging with Scripture in a deeper, more contemplative way. Filmed at significant spiritual locations, the course is crafted to facilitate meaningful discussion and personal reflection within small groups.
- Who It’s For: Those interested in Lectio Divina
- Topics Covered:
- Introduction to Lectio Divina
- Steps of Lectio Divina
- Practical application
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 5 sessions
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: 24-7 Prayer
6. Learning the Art of Intercession 9 (School of Prayer USA)
Learning the Art of Intercession is a course designed to equip participants with a deep understanding of intercessory prayer. It provides biblical instruction and practical insights to help learners develop a disciplined and impactful prayer life. The course aims to remove common hindrances to prayer and ignite a passion for daily intercession as a vital spiritual practice.
- Who It’s For: Those wanting to learn intercessory prayer
- Topics Covered:
- Understanding prayer
- The different forms of prayer
- Keys to answered prayer
- Moving heaven through prayer
- The purpose of intercession
- The character and lifestyle of the intercessor
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $55
- Take The Course: School of Prayer USA
7. Prayer as a Strategy (Udemy)
Prayer as a Strategy is a course designed to emphasize the critical role of strategic prayer in missions work. It challenges participants to move beyond self-reliance and recognize the necessity of involving God directly in their efforts. The course offers practical guidance on how to incorporate prayer effectively into mission strategies to achieve divine results that go beyond human capability.
- Who It’s For: Individuals looking to use prayer strategically
- Topics Covered:
- Strategic prayer techniques
- Applying prayer in different life areas
- Developing a prayer strategy
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Udemy
8. THE 350 - Prayer (Christian Leaders Institute)
THE 350 - Prayer is a course designed to help students deepen their relationship with God through prayer. It provides a comprehensive exploration of what the Bible teaches about prayer, offering practical guidance for developing a consistent and meaningful prayer life. The course encourages learners to engage with God passionately and to integrate prayer as a vital part of their spiritual discipline.
- Who It’s For: Those seeking an in-depth study of prayer
- Topics Covered:
- Biblical foundations of prayer
- Practical prayer techniques
- Spiritual growth through prayer
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Christian Leaders Institute
9. The Lord's Prayer (Udemy)
This course, led by Prof. N.T. Wright, provides an in-depth exploration of the Lord's Prayer, offering insights into its meaning and significance within the context of Jesus' life and teachings. It guides participants to a deeper understanding of how this prayer can enrich their spiritual lives and draw them closer to God.
- Who It’s For: Those interested in the Lord's Prayer
- Topics Covered:
- Meaning of the Lord's Prayer
- Application in daily life
- Historical context
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $19.99
- Take The Course: Udemy
10. The Power Packed Magic of Contemplative Prayer (Udemy)
The Power Packed Magic of Contemplative Prayer is a course that introduces participants to the transformative practice of contemplative prayer. It offers practical exercises and insights to help integrate this form of prayer into daily life, fostering a deeper spiritual connection. Through consistent practice, learners can unlock new levels of spiritual growth and experience a richer, more profound relationship with the divine.
- Who It’s For: This course is for those who wish to improve their lives and grow in spirituality
- Topics Covered:
- Introduction to contemplative prayer
- Techniques for contemplative prayer
- Benefits of contemplative prayer
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: Self-paced
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 4 hours 27 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $44.99
- Take The Course: Udemy
11. Christian Prayer Methods (Udemy)
This course covers various Christian prayer methods, offering practical guidance and techniques. It includes video lessons on topics such as "Kingdom Come" and "Why Pray," along with downloadable resources focused on deepening your relationship with Christ.
- Who It’s For: Those wanting to learn different prayer methods
- Topics Covered:
- Prayer of Jesus, Paul and the Early Christians
- Prayer and Christian Spirituality
- Basic Ingredients of Personal Prayer
- Praying With Scripture (Lectio Divina)
- Centering Prayer
- Christian Meditation
- Breathing Prayer
- Praying Psalms
- Praying with Icons and Art (Visio Divina)
- Dealing with Distractions
- Supports for Daily Prayer
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour 43 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour 43 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Udemy
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