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Prayer Course Description
(Updated 2008)

This is the course description and materials for a class on Prayer, given at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

 

Course Description

 

A biblical study of prayer with practical application to personal discipline, family worship and congregational ministries of intercession. Special attention will be given to prayer’s relationship to spiritual awakening, spiritual warfare, church growth and world missions.

Course Objectives

• Students will recognize the importance of a theological foundation for prayer as evidenced by reading, writing, listening, reporting, interacting, researching, and testing.
• Students will distinguish the uniqueness of a personal passion for prayer as evidenced by reading, writing, listening, reporting, interacting, researching, and testing.
• Students will evaluate the nature of a corporate expression of prayer as evidenced by reading, writing, listening, reporting, interacting, researching, and testing.
• Students will examine the global impact of prayer as evidenced by reading, writing, listening, reporting, interacting, researching, and testing.

Course Outline

• Section One: The Theological Foundation of Prayer: This section of the course will help the student recognize the importance of a theological foundation for prayer as the basis of any approach to the study of prayer principles and any development of prayer strategies.
• Section Two: The Personal Passion for Prayer: This section of the course will help the student distinguish the uniqueness of a personal passion for prayer.
• Section Three: The Corporate Expression of Prayer: This section of the course will help the student evaluate the nature of a corporate expression of prayer as well as equip the student to lead such expressions.
• Section Four: The Global Impact of Prayer: This section of the course will help the student examine the global impact of prayer as well as participate in global intercession.

Course Textbooks

• Giving Ourselves to Prayer: an Acts 6:4 Primer for Ministry, Dan R. Crawford, Compiler, Prayer Shop Publishing.
• The Prayer-Shaped Disciple, Dan R. Crawford, Hendrickson Publishers
• The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer, Compiled by Leonard Allen, Howard Publishing Company.
• Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, Richard Foster, Harper San Francisco

Course Prayer Room

An online Prayer Room will be a part of Blackboard’s menu. Students should click on the item entitled “Prayer Room” to meet weekly prayer assignments.

Course Grade Determination

Grades will be posted weekly in the Online Grade Center. If an assignment is worth 3% of the course grade and the assignment is completed correctly and submitted on time the number “3” will appear in the grade column for that assignment. If the assignment is incomplete or incorrect, a lesser number will appear in the grade column. Questions answered in one or two sentences are not acceptable for master’s level work. If the assignment is submitted late the grade will be lowered. Blackboard will record the time each assignment is submitted. The only exception to the “late” policy is if Blackboard is down. If all assignments are submitted correct and on time, the final grade will be 100.

Course Options

• Dr. Dan’s Coffee Break. At selected times throughout the semester a time may be set for a class Chat Room – better known as “Dr. Dan’s Coffee Break.” These are optional as far as student participation, but are available for students who wish to “chat” with the professor or fellow students in the online class.
• Free Speech Mall. On the student menu click on the item entitled, “Free Speech Mall” to leave any non-academic items. Among items left here could include: responses to résumés of other students, news bits, warm fuzzy stories, ideas that must be shared with someone, great spiritual insights, etc. You can go to this site to read and respond to the postings of other students. By doing so, it will free up the Discussion Board for academic, class-related use.

Course Bibliography

• There is a two-hundred-eighty-nine-book bibliography available at the end of The Prayer-Shaped Disciple.
• For a more thorough bibliography go to www.discipleallnations.org and click on “A Bibliography of Books on Prayer.”

COURSE REQUIREMENTS SCHEDULE:

Week One:

Each student will post their definition of prayer as well as a prayer concern in the “Discussion Board” site, no later than Friday, January 16. This assignment is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Each student will watch the video entitled, “Who is the Professor?” A completed Q&A form will be submitted on Friday, January 16 and is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Week Two:

Each student will read Giving Ourselves to Prayer, Section One, Chapters 1-10. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. There will also be questions on the form from the video, “The Theological Foundation of Prayer,” which each student should watch. This assignment is due on Friday, January 23, and is worth 4 % of the course grade.

Each student will also select one type of prayer (chapter) from Part One (Moving Inward) of Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home and practice praying that type of prayer for the next two weeks.

Each student will read one author of their choice from Chapter I: (The Purpose of Prayer) in The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer and post a response on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, January 23 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, January 23 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Three:

Each student will read Giving Ourselves to Prayer, Section One, Chapters 11-20. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. This assignment is due on Friday, January 30, and is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Having selected a prayer (chapter) from Part One (Moving Inward) of Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, each student will continue to practice praying that type of prayer for the next week.

Each student will read one author of their choice from Chapter II: (The Psalms as Prayer) in The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer and post a response on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, January 30 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, January 30 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Four:

Each student will read The Prayer-Shaped Disciple, Part One, Chapters 1-3. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. This assignment is due on Friday, February 6, and is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Having practiced a prayer (chapter) from Part One (Moving Inward) of Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, each student post a response of their experience on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, February 6 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, February 6 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Five:

Each student will read Giving Ourselves to Prayer, Section Two, Chapters 21-30. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. There will also be questions on the form from the video, “The Personal Passion for Prayer,” which each student should watch. This assignment is due on Friday, February 13, and is worth 4 % of the course grade.

Each student will also select one type of prayer (chapter) from Part Two (Moving Upward) of Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home and practice praying that type of prayer for the next two weeks.

Each student will read one author of their choice from Chapter III: (Patterns for Prayer) in The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer and post a response on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, February 13 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, February 13 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Six:

Each student will read Giving Ourselves to Prayer, Section Two, Chapters 31-40. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. This assignment is due on Friday, February 20, and is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Having selected a prayer (chapter) from Part Two (Moving Upward) of Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, each student will continue to practice praying that type of prayer for the next week.

Each student will read one author of their choice from Chapter IV: (A Passion for Prayer) in The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer and post a response on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, February 20 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, February 20 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Seven:

Each student will read The Prayer-Shaped Disciple, Part One, Chapters 4-6. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. This assignment is due on Friday, February 27, and is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Having practiced a prayer (chapter) from Part Two (Moving Upward) of Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, each student post a response of their experience on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, February 27 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, February 27 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Eight:

Each student will read Giving Ourselves to Prayer, Section Three, Chapters 41-50. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. There will also be questions on the form from the video, “The Corporate Expression of Prayer,” which each student should watch. This assignment is due on Friday, March 6, and is worth 4 % of the course grade.

Each student will also select one type of prayer (chapter) from Part Three (Moving Outward) of Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home and practice praying that type of prayer for the next two weeks.

Each student will read one author of their choice from Chapter V: (The Posture of Prayer) in The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer and post a response on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, March 6 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, March 6 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Nine:

Each student will read Giving Ourselves to Prayer, Section Three, Chapters 51-60. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. This assignment is due on Friday, March 13, and is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Having selected a prayer (chapter) from Part Three (Moving Outward) of Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, each student will continue to practice praying that type of prayer for the next week.

Each student will read one author of their choice from Chapter VI: (Problems with Prayer) in The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer and post a response on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, March 13 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, March 13 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Ten: Spring Break – no assignments

Week Eleven:

Each student will read The Prayer-Shaped Disciple, Part Two, Chapters 7-12. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. This assignment is due on Friday, March 27, and is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Having practiced a prayer (chapter) from Part Three (Moving Outward) of Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, each student post a response of their experience on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, March 27 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, March 27 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Twelve:

Each student will read Giving Ourselves to Prayer, Section Four, Chapters 61-70. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. There will also be questions on the form from the video, “The Global Impact of Prayer,” which each student should watch. This assignment is due on Friday, April 3, and is worth 4 % of the course grade.

Each student will read one author of their choice from Chapter VII: (Powerlessness and Prayer) in The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer and post a response on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, April 3 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, April 3 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Thirteen:

Each student will read Giving Ourselves to Prayer, Section Four, Chapters 71-80. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. This assignment is due on Friday, April 10, and is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Each student will read one author of their choice from Chapter VIII: (Public and Private Prayer) in The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer and post a response on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, April 10 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, April 10 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Fourteen:

Each student will read The Prayer-Shaped Disciple, Part Three, Chapters 13-15. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. This assignment is due on Friday, April 17 and is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Each student will read one author of their choice from Chapter IX: (Pastoral Private Prayer) in The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer and post a response on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, April 17 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, April 17 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Fifteen:

Each student will read The Prayer-Shaped Disciple, Part Three, Chapters 16-18. On the “assignment” form provided, each student will answer the questions. This assignment is due on Friday, April 24, and is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Each student will read one author of their choice from Chapter X: (The Power of Prayer) in The Contemporaries Meet the Classics on Prayer and post a response on the Discussion Board. This post is due on Friday, April 24 and is worth 2 % of the course grade.

Each student will post either a prayer request, an answer to prayer or an actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, April 24 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Sixteen:

Each student will select one country or people group of the world (other than their own) for prayer research. A completed form is to be submitted on Friday, May 1 and is worth 3 % of the course grade.

Each student will select one scripture passage that is a prayer (minimum four verses). A completed research form is to be submitted on Friday, May 1 and is worth

3 % of the course grade.

Each student will post one final prayer request, answer to prayer or actual prayer for some other student’s prayer request. This post, to be done in the Prayer Room, is due on Friday, May 1 and is worth 1 % of the course grade.

Week Seventeen:

Each student will watch the video, “My New Concept of Prayer” before completing the final assignment of the course.

Each student will post a new definition of prayer based on what they have learned during the semester. Then they will compare and contrast their first-week definition of prayer and make comments. This post is due on Wednesday, May 6 and is worth 5 % of the course grade.