Teaching Children to Pray



Light the way Village

Curriculum

The Lord’s Prayer

February 20-March 13, 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview Page 3

Teaching Children to Pray Background Info Pages 4-10

Lamplighter Helps Pages 11-13

Adoration Background Pages 14-15

Created by the Spirit Workshop Pages 16-18

Confession Background Pages 19-20

Mary and Martha’s Bed and Breakfast Workshop Pages 21-24

Thanksgiving Background Pages 25

Village Improv Theater Workshop Pages 26-27

Supplication Background Pages 28-29

Moved by the Spirit Workshop Pages 30-31

The Lord’s Prayer Rotation Overview

There will be four Workshops each focusing on a different aspect of the model for prayer implied in the Lord’s Prayer. A.C. T. S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication) as well as learning the Lord’s Prayer in memorization and through singing in our opening time.

• Created by the Spirit (Adoration): “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,” (vs.9) this verse establishes that we are entering into an intimate relationship with the God of the universe when we pray and lifts God up in worship and adoration.

Activity: Making Prayer Bead Bracelets and praying

• Mary and Martha’s Bed and Breakfast (Confession): “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (vs. 12) is when we confess our sins and forgive others.

Activity: Newspaper print smears and washing hands, burning confessions and getting a tooth brush to remind us to pray every day and praying together in class.

• Village Improv Theater (Thanksgiving): “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” (vs. 9) A.C.T.S. divides worship into two categories: “A” for worshipping God for WHO HE IS and “T” for worshipping God for WHAT HE HAS DONE. Although his verse is not about “thanksgiving” per se, we can be thankful that God is in charge and that if we surrender our will to Him, we will be blessed.

Activity: Watching a DVD, eating popcorn, writing in Spiritual Journals and praying

• Moved by the Spirit (Supplication): “Give us this day our daily bread,” (vs. 11) and “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (vs. 13) Both of these verses are petitions. The first is for our needs and the needs of others, the second is for protection and guidance.

Activity: Various Prayer game activities and popcorn prayers

Each Workshop is structured by a series of steps called We Gather, We Think, We Reflect, We Wonder, We Pray and We Serve to help guide what you do during the SS time. Feel free to creatively work with these guides.

Teaching Children to Pray

Background Information

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:16). God has always welcomed children and young people into His presence, wanting them to develop a vital, prayerful communication they can maintain throughout their lives. As educators, there are few lessons more critical that we teach our students than how to pray. As God calls His people to be a part of the river of prayer He is not just calling adults, He calls children too! All of us are significant parts of the Body of Christ and possess qualities that make us effective prayer warriors.

In fact, children possess many qualities that we all should adopt in our prayer lives. Childlike faith is an “all things are possible” kind of trust in God’s ability and power. This is probably one of the qualities that Jesus referred to when He said, “Unless you are converted and become like little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3). Gloria Gaither explains a child’s faith like this:

“Children posses an uncanny ability to cut to the core of the issue; to expose life to the bone, and strip away the barnacles that cling to the hull of our too sophisticated pseudo-civilization. One reason for this, I believe, is that children have not mastered our fine art of deception that we call finesse. Another is that they are so “lately come from’ that faith and trust are second nature to them. They have not acquired the obstructions to faith that come with education; they possess instead unrefined wisdom, a gift from God.”

Children are also extremely compassionate about the needs of others, another key to effective prayer. They talk to God from the heart about issues that they see and experience. It is important that we acknowledge their perspective and encourage their compassion for others. God can and will use their prayers as intercessors.

Children also tend to be simple, straightforward, and honest with God in their prayers. Jesus must have appreciated brevity because He warned people not to imitate those who utter long, wordy prayers. He advised, “Do not use the meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:7-8)

As we give children the mechanics of how to pray, we want to continue to nourish the natural gifts of prayer that they already possess. We want to mentor kids in their prayer lives. We hope to lead kids from their natural wonder to worship. Most importantly, we want to give kids the tools and the confidence to pray anywhere and in every situation so that communication with the Father is a natural and daily part of their lives. Our prayer is that as you teach and encourage the children of First Presbyterian Church to pray, your prayer life will be enriched and refreshed.

We will be using a combination of the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication) prayer model in conjunction with The Lord’s Prayer. Memory verses will be verses of the Lord’s Prayer that correspond with the A.C.T.S. acronym. Because the verses connected to different workshop will not always be in the order of the Lord’s Prayer, the Lamplighters will help kids put it all in order. Also, in our opening time, we will be singing, “The Lord’s Prayer” so they will be learning the prayer itself in order. The memory verse schedule is as follows:

Created by the Spirit (Adoration): “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,” (vs.9) this verse establishes that we are entering into an intimate relationship with the God of the universe when we pray and we lift God up in worship and adoration.

Mary and Martha’s Bed and Breakfast (Confession): “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (vs. 12) is when we confess our sins and forgive others.

Village Improv Theater (Thanksgiving): “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” (vs. 9) A.C.T.S. divides worship into two categories: “A” for worshipping God for WHO HE IS and “T” for worshipping God for WHAT HE HAS DONE. Although his verse is not about “thanksgiving” per se, we can be thankful that God is in charge and that if we surrender our will to Him, we will be blessed.

Moved by the Spirit (Supplication): “Give us this day our daily bread,” (vs. 11) and “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (vs. 13) Both of these verses are petitions. The first is for our needs and the needs of others, the second is for protection and guidance.

We want the children to enjoy their study of prayer and we don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable. However, please stress that prayer, like all skills needs to be practiced to be perfected.

As we invite, equip, and release children to pray, God’s Spirit will meet them and they will have fellowship with Him. What a wonderful gift to bestow! Our goal is to help children understand that prayer is talking to their “father, who art in Heaven,” (their heavenly Dad!), that He is waiting for them and that He loves to hear from them. They should also be assured that there is no “right” language to speak to God. They don’t have to talk “fancy” or worry that they will “mess up.” Also, please encourage them to find their own prayer style. A.C.T.S. is a model, as is the Lord’s Prayer. Both contain important aspects of prayer, but we don’t want them to feel bogged down by form. In You Can Change the World, author Jill Johnstone explains, “Prayer is simply talking with God. As we do this, we get to know Him better, to understand God’s ways, to love God and become God’s friends. When we pray, we work together with God and He wants to change the world!”

A Prayer For Vision

Lord, thank You for the precious children you have entrusted to my care.

I pray You will draw them close and give them passion to love and serve You.

Give me a vision of what You want to do in the lives of the children of First Presbyterian Church and the wisdom to know my part in Your plan.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

The Importance of Silence

Various prayer options are provided for each workshop’s prayer time. As the end of these options, as well as in other places in the rotation, you will see a reminder to “leave a time for silence for God to speak to the children’s hearts.” Since prayer is about a relationship with God, kids need to realize that God doesn’t just want to listen. God wants to talk to communicate as well. This is sometimes harder to understand than learning what to say, or how to say it. Inevitably, they will ask the questions we all have asked. “How does God talk to me? And “How do I hear God? Most of the children have heard of the “still small voice,” but that seems pretty vague to kids trying to understand this concept. Without trying to provide all the answers, try to begin the process of teaching children to tune in to God’s voice. We’ve all experienced that scratchy feeling in the pit of our stomach when we have done something wrong or felt a sense of peace when moments before we were anxious or afraid. God has already had those “conversations” with us; we just didn’t always know it was Him. Still, we don’t want to give the impression that we need to let “feelings” dictate our lives. In his book Experiencing God Henry Blacaby says, “God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways,” There is no “formula” but the more time kids (and adults) spend with God, the more easily they hear His voice.

Praying the Scriptures

We can effectively teach children to “hide God’s Word in their hearts” (Psalm 119:11) by teaching them to pray the Scriptures. This practice provides a three-fold blessing. First, it teaches children that the Bible contains promises from God to them, which makes the Bible relevant and alive. Second, it assures that their prayers are “on target” with God’s will, rather than relying on their won emotions as a guide. Finally, a child who has personalized a scripture verse has that prayer readily available when the need arises. Below is an example of how to personalize scripture and on the next page there are listed some other scriptures to consider turning into prayers. This is a prayer activity that can be used every week in addition to or instead of the prayer options for some units. Please, try it at least once with your class.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your path.”

PRAYER: “Lord, help me to trust you completely today instead of trusting my understanding of things. Thank you that you direct my steps in a straight path.”

Teacher’s Prayer Challenge:  As you prepare for this rotation, spend some time praying for each of the children in your class by name asking the Lord to open their hearts and minds for this unit of study. Make your own personal Scripture prayer.

PSALM PRAYERS

Below you will find verses that can easily become Psalm Prayers. Please review them in your own prayer life and then pick ones to use with your class that might fit the various themes throughout this unit.

Psalm 16:8 ~ “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

Psalm 19:14 ~ “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Psalm 20:7 ~ “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord Our God.”

Psalm 41:10 ~ “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalm 86:11~ “Teach me your way O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”

Psalm 91:11-12 ~ “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways, they will lift you up in their hand, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Psalm 118:14 ~ “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”

Psalm 118:24 ~ “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 119:114 ~ “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

Psalm 139:14 ~ “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. . .”

Psalm 139: 23-24 ~ “Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 141:3 ~ “Set a guard over my mouth O Lord; keep watch over the doors of my lips.”

LAMPLIGHTER HELPS

Lamplighters – during this rotation on The Lord’s Prayer, your job will be to make the connections between the various themes in each workshop as well as spend time each week understanding the “We Wonder,” “We Reflect,” “We Think” and “We Pray” sections. At the close of each workshops activity the main focus for the children will be to actually pray. Various ideas for praying are listed. Feel free to use what works best for your class. Spiritual Journals will be available but will not be required in every workshop experience.

Here are some suggested ideas for the various sections within each workshop:

We Wonder

Ask a few of the following questions about prayer:

1. Why should we pray?

2. How should we pray? Do we need to say big words? Is there more than one way to pray? (Point out that there are indeed many ways to pray, including singing praise and worship songs.)

3. What kinds of things do you pray about?

We Reflect

Read/tell the Bible story for the day from Matthew 6:1-15 and reflect on the message the children heard during Words of Wonder or in our opening time.

We Think

While on Earth, Jesus called God “Father” over 200 times. “Abba”, the word for Father was never used to address God before Jesus used it in his prayers. It was an everyday “family” word, not considered respectful enough for God. Discuss with the kids why it is important that Jesus began his prayer model, “Our Father.”

Questions for discussion

1. Do you think God wants to spend time with you?

2. Why?

3. How do you spend time with him?

4. Are the prayers of grown ups and presidents and kings more important to God than yours are? (Be sure you read Luke 18:16 to them “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”)

We Pray

Explain that although you may have done most of the praying before, during our prayer unit the children need to exercise their prayer muscles. Use your prayer time as instruction. Ask questions to “lead” them and encourage them to ask questions.

PRAYER TIME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR EXPERIENCE FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS. ARRANGE YOUR SCHEDULE TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT NEGLECTED.

You might consider bringing in a ball, beanbag or stuffed animal. Toss it to a child in the circle. Whoever catches it pops in with a prayer. Some more structured ideas follow, use or adapt them to the “personality” and age of your class. If a particular prayer activity doesn’t work this week, it might work another.

1. Air prayers: Give each child a balloon. Sit in a circle and say, “As we go around the circle, say a short sentence prayer, then puff into your balloon. We’ll keep praying until all of our balloons are filled with prayers.” When the balloons are full, help them tie them off and then hit them in the air for awhile.

2. In the News Prayers: Older kids can search through the newspapers to find stories of people in need. After each child has chosen an article or topic, invite them to the circle to tell about their story. Then have them pray for the persons in the story.

3. Where in the World: Use the FPGE Missions Booklet for our Missionary needs. Pray specifically for these people we support in ministry.

4. Korean Style Prayer: Korean people all pray aloud at the same time, which can be helpful to children who are adjusting to group prayer. Because everyone is talking at the same time, they don’t feel on the spot or self-conscious.

5. Pray the Scriptures: Use the list in the teacher introduction materials to turn Scriptures into personal prayers.

6. Horn of Plenty Prayers: Place bowls of small goodies (M&M’s, mini-marshmallows, raisins, etc) on long table with spoons in each bowl. Provide stacks of pointed ice-cream cones, one for each child. Explain that a horn of plenty or cornucopia is brimming with vegetables and fruit from a good harvest. Today, we’re going to celebrate the “harvest” of good things God has done for us. The ice cream cones will be our horns of plenty. After they’ve been filled, site in a circle and have each child say, “God, thank you for ___________” After their prayers, they can enjoy their treat!

Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10). Be sure to leave a silence at appropriate times for the class to have an opportunity to hear God when He speaks to them.

Adoration: Honoring God’s Name

Background info for Created by the Spirit Workshop

When the disciples asked, “Lord, teach us to pray,” Jesus responded by providing a prayer model. Before we begin telling God about our needs, Jesus suggested that we first prayer, “Hallowed be your name” which means, “May your name be honored.” It is important to explain the word “Hallowed” several times during this workshop as children would have no other context for such a word as this. We are all so familiar with the word as we grew up reciting the Lord’s Prayer; however there is no guarantee that children have a proper mental context to place a word like this. When I was a child, growing up in Los Angeles, CA, I used to recite the Lord’s Prayer and assumed that everyone was saying “Hollywood be thy name.” I understood the word “Hollywood” – and since I didn’t know the word “Hallowed” in any context – I just translated the unknown word into something that I did know and assumed that was what people were saying. So take the time to explain words, ask the children what they think the words are and don’t worry about faulty thinking.

It’s important to realize that in ancient times a person’s name revealed his character. God has many names in the Bible that we can use when we pray to Him. They reveal different aspects of God’s character and all are praiseworthy.

He is Jehovah-nissi, The Lord, My Banner and His Banner over us is love (Exodus 17:15; Song of Songs 2:4)

He is Jehovah-jireh, The Lord Will Provide, and He knows our needs and provides for them. (Genesis 22:14)

He is Jehovah-shalom, The Lord is Peace, who gives inner peace (Judges 6:24)

He is Jehovah-raah, The Lord, my Shepherd, who promises to lead and guide us, to speak to us and show us what direction to go. Psalm 23:1)

He is Jehovah-rapha, The Lord who Heals (Psalms 103:3; 147:3)

He is Jehovah-tsidkenu, The Lord, our Righteousness. Because of Jesus, God forgives our sins. (Jeremiah 23:6)

He is Jehovah-shammah, The Lord is There, so that we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear or dread or be terrified.” (Hebrews 13:6)

Adoration means “to love God with all the power within us. Children can worship privately or in groups. They can worship by saying one sentence to tell God what they love about Him; they can sing praise and worship songs, play instruments or read a Psalm aloud. Tell them not to worry about the form. God hears them and He will be pleased with their worship.

There are four major reasons to start prayer with adoration. First, adoration sets the tone for the entire prayer. It reminds us who we are addressing, whose presence we have entered. It turns our focus to God instead of self. Second, adoration reminds us of God’s identity. As we honor God, listing his attributes, we reinforce our understanding of who He is. Third, adoration provides a purification of sorts to the one who is praying. You can’t help but be softened and humbled when you have just listed some qualities that prove how awesome is the God we serve. Fourth, and most importantly, we worship God first in our prayers because He is worthy of adoration.

Teacher’s Prayer Challenge: As you prepare for this workshop, spend some time worshipping God for who He is.

Created By the Spirit: Adoration

“Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name. . .” (Matthew 6:9)

Materials needed: Leather strips cut to fit children’s wrists, four beads for each child, one red, one white, one green, and one yellow. Other beads to also be used to represent people we are praying for (family, friends, missionaries etc.).

Newsprint or Marker Board and markers

We Gather:

Start this workshop by talking about the ACTS formula for prayer and that this workshop is going to focus on “A” for “Adoration.” And explain the activity of the prayer bracelets that we will make and wear to help us to remember to pray everyday.

Have the craft supplies on the table. In this workshop we will have the children make their own prayer bracelets. Each bead stands for one letter in our prayer model acronym. A=Adoration (red = the color of love), C=Confession (white = we are washing white as snow when we confess our sins), T=Thanksgiving (green=the new life we receive through salvation) and S=Supplication (yellow=our need to look heavenward for our needs). They can also add other beads to their bracelets to remind them to pray for their family, friends and missionaries.

We Wonder

Talk about the first line of the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Explain to the children how Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer as a model and ask them what they think “Hallowed be thy name means.” Explain that it means “May your name be honored.” Brainstorm a list of praises of the attributes of God from A-Z. Write them on the board or on a piece of large newsprint. Examples: A=Awesome, B=Beautiful, C=Caring, etc.

Below is a list to help you with your brainstorming activity

A Awesome, Able, Available, All-knowing, Attentive

B Beautiful, Beloved, Big enough, Best

C. Creator, Compassionate, Caring, Comforter, Counselor

D Deliverer, Defender

E Eternal, Exalted, Everlasting, Exciting

F Faithful, Forgiving, Friend

G. Gentle, Grace, Giver, Guide, Good

H High Priest, Holy, Hallowed, Helpful

I Indwelling, Inviting, Indivisible, Interested

J Just,

K King, Kind

L Light, Life-Giving, Loving

M Maker, Merciful, Majestic

N Nourishing, Nothing is too hard

O Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent

P Promise Keeper, Protector, Provider, Powerful, Perfect

Q Quiet

R Refuge, Reward, Reign over all

S. Shepherd, Sovereign, Strength, Sufficient

T Teacher, Truth, Tender

U Unchangeable

V Victorious, Valiant, Virtuous

W Wonderful Counselor, Worthy, Wise

X X-tra good, X-ellent! X-treme!

Y The same Yesterday, today and forever

Z Zealous

We Reflect

Read the scripture from Psalm 29 for today or reflect on what was shared during Words of Wonder.

We Think

If the children didn’t get to finish their bracelet or their list of praises, have them finish the bracelet as they brainstorm some more praises. You might want to consider making a poster or banner of these praises later to keep in the classroom that can be added to by each age group as they rotate through.

Before We Pray

Tell kids to wear their prayer bracelets as a reminder to pray this week. Encourage them to keep exercising their prayer muscles .

We Pray

Today’s prayer time should be devoted to nothing but praises. Use the list the kids have brainstormed and have each one tell what they praise God for. “God you are so awesome!” You might even want to bring a ball or stuffed animal to toss to “pray –ers” in a circle. When they catch the ball or animal they say a praise. This is the main “work” of your workshop today. If other things have to be left until next week, please be sure you leave enough time for the children to pray!

Be sure you leave a time for silence at appropriate times to give the kids an opportunity to “tune in” to God’s voice.

We Leave to Serve:

Prayer Challenge: Find at least three things each day this week to praise God for. Try to find things you have never thought of praising Him for before, things you might take for granted. Start your day with praise; praise God midday and praise Him in bed right before you fall asleep.

Confession: Getting Right With God

background information for Mary and Martha’s Bed and Breakfast Workshop

“Forgive us our debts as we have also forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12) No matter what our age, confession is a key component in our prayer life. God longs to hear from his children, and he longs to answer them, but the lines of communication clog up with unconfessed sin-anger, unforgiveness, wrong thoughts or actions. Even David, a “man after God’s own heart” declares in Psalm 66:18, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Confession reopens the lines of communication with God and restores our relationship with him.

While it is usually quite easy for children to come up with a list of possible wrong things they do: being mean to a sibling, talking back to Mom, lying, etc., it is less likely they consider unforgiveness a sin. Yet Jesus continues in Matthew 6:14-15 by saying, “Fro if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Max Lucado in his book The Great House of God illustrates this concept like this:

It’s as if God sends you to the market to purchase your neighbor’s groceries saying, “Whatever you get your neighbor, get also for yourself. For whatever you give him is what you receive.”

Pretty simple system. I’m not too bright, but I can this one out. I love thick, juicy hamburger meat. I’m crazy about double-chocolate ice cream. And when I drink milk, I don’t want the skimpy skim stuff that Denalyn makes me drink. I want Christian milk, just like God made it. So what do I buy my neighbor? Christian milk, just like God made it.

Let’s take this a step further. Suppose your neighbor’s trash blows into your yard. You mention the mess to him, and he says he’ll get to it sometime next week. You inform him that you’ve got company coming and couldn’t he get out of that chair and do some work? He tells you not to be so picky, that the garbage fertilizes your garden. You’re just about to walk across the lawn to have a talk when God reminds you, “Time to go to the market and buy your neighbor’s groceries.” So you grumble and mumble your way to the store, and then it hits you. “I’ll get even with the old bum.” You go straight to the skim milk. Then you make a beeline to the anchovies and sardines. You march right past the double-chocolate ice cream and head toward the okra and rice. You make a final stop in the day-old bread section and pick up a crusty loaf with green spots on the edge.

Chuckling, you drive back to the house and drop the sack in the lap of your lazy good-for-nothing neighbor. “Have a good dinner.” And you walk away.

All your brilliant scheming left you hungry, so you go to your refrigerator to fix a sandwich, but guess what you find. Your pantry is full of what you gave your enemy. All you have to eat is exactly what you just bought. We get what we give.

Kids need to embrace confession as a part of their prayer lives because sin makes God sad and because sin disrupts our communication with Him. Children should be encouraged to confess their sins privately and specifically during their daily prayer time. When you pray in class, you might want to say, “Lord, we confess our sins to you. If there is anything that we have said or done or anyone that we need to forgive, we do that right now in silence.” Then leave a silence for children to specifically confess their wrongdoings. For all of us, but especially for children, it is important to immediately be reassured that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” So we can say, “Thank you God for forgiving me and washing me as clean as snow.” We have a great motivation for not holding on to sins or un-forgiveness. The sooner children embrace this principle; the more intimate will be their walk with their heavenly Father.

Teacher’s Prayer Challenge: As you prepare for this workshop, take time to pray for each child in your class by name and start a journal of your prayers for them. If you have never used the A.C.T.S. prayer model, take this opportunity to do so.

Mary and Martha’s Bed and Breakfast – Confession

“Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12)

Materials Needed: Pages from a newspaper, bowl of water, soap and towels or handy wipes. Empty coffee cans, slips of paper, cheap toothbrushes to hand out when they leave.

We gather

Start this workshop by talking about the ACTS formula for prayer and that this workshop is going to focus on “C” for “Confession.” Explain how Prayer is talking with God and that there are things we do that God finds unacceptable. Keep them focused on things they might have done like being mean to a sibling, lying, taking something that wasn’t theirs, calling someone a name, using a bad word, etc.

Use the “Lord’s Prayer Dialogue” script on page 23-24 – asking one of the Lamplighters to be the voice of God somewhere unseen in the room.

We Wonder

This activity is a way to illustrate that we can be cleansed from our sins when we ask for God’s forgiveness. Have them rub the newspaper page on their hands. Read the memory verse and allow each child to wash and dry their hands. Then pray, “Thank you Lord, for forgiving us our sins when we confess them.

We Think

Questions for Discussion:

1. Why do we confess our sins?

2. Do we have to forgive other people when they do bad things to us? Why?

3. Why was the king mad at the servant who didn’t forgive?

4. Do you have someone you need to forgive?

We Pray/Reflect

Give each child a small piece of paper and a pencil. Sit in a circle and begin your prayer time with adoration. This would be a good time for the children to praise God using one of their praises from last week’s prayer challenge. Then ask God to reveal to each person something that they have done or said that makes God sad. Leave a silence for each child to hear from God. Have the kids write their confession on the paper. Then burn the papers in a coffee can. End by thanking God for forgiving our sins and forgetting them as soon as we have confessed them.

We leave to serve

As you brush your teeth before bed each night say this prayer, “Search me O God and know my heart,” (Psalm 139:23) Then take a minute to think back over your day. If there is anything you need to ask God to forgive you for or anyone you need to forgive, do it now. (Be sure to give each child a tooth brush as a reminder to take this week’s prayer challenge).

Lord’s Prayer Dialogue

YOU: (kneeling with hands folded) Our Father, who art in heaven. . .

God: You called?

YOU: (surprised) Who is this? Dad/Mom ( depending on gender of lamplighter you chose) is that you? Quit kidding around

God: I’m not kidding. You called and I answered

YOU: Come on – cut that out. Can’t you see I’m trying to pray here?

God: I’m not kidding. Trust me.

YOU: Opps. Maybe I. . . Where was I? Oh yes, Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name.

God: Thank you.

YOU: Thank you for what?

God: For honoring my name. This is what you said, isn’t it?

YOU: Well, I guess so. Hallowed. That means blessed, doesn’t it? Right. . . At least I think so. Anyway, where was I? Thy Kindgom come, thy will be done on earth. .

God: Do you know what you are saying? Do you really know?

YOU: Well, yes - - at least I think I do. Ahhh, what am I saying?

God: What you are saying is that you want the whole world to live according to my plan so that there is peace and justice for everyone

YOU: Oh, yea, right. I knew that. Anyway. . . moving on. (Clearing throat) “Give us this day our daily bread. . .

God: Do you mean you want me to give you everything you want or everything you need?

YOU: Ahhh, I mean – hey quit confusing me. I’m just repeating the words I’ve been taught to say.

God: Maybe you should pay more attention to what you are saying. So which is it? What you want or what you need?

YOU: What I want would be cool, but I guess I’m really asking for what I need. Can I finish this please??

God: Oh sure, go ahead. The good part is still coming.

YOU: Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. .

God: Do you mean that?

YOU: Mean what?

God: You just said that I should forgive you the same way you forgive your friends and family. So are you willing to forgive your sister for messing up your room? Are you willing to forgive that kid at school who teases you? Are you willing to forgive. . . .

YOU: Ok, ok I get it. . . You want me to stop thinking bad thoughts about people who have done things to me that aren’t nice. I shouldn’t carry a grudge right?

God: You got it!! Good job. If you carry a grudge than how will you ever feel thankful for what I’ve forgiven you for? I have forgiven you everything you’ve ever done, so you should be willing to forgive others.

YOU: I see, I should confess my own sins and be thankful that you’ve forgiven me and then I shouldn’t hold on to the things other people have done to me. OK, now, shall I finish?

God: Try it and see what happens

YOU: And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. . .

God: Ok, but you’ll have to do your part too. Don’t put yourself in bad situations. Be careful what you say and do. Listen to my advice. You’ll find it in my book.

YOU: What book?

God: Three guesses!

YOU: Oh, yea, the Bible?

God: Right!

YOU: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. . Wow this really is a great prayer. I didn’t think about it so much before. There is a lot in here.

God: You’re right. When you pray this prayer, you are giving me praise/adoration, you are confessing your sin, you are expressing thanks and you are even asking me for what you need. This tells me what you believe and you are asking for what is most important. Good job.

YOU: AMEN!

Thanksgiving – A Heart of Gratitude

Background Information for The Village Improv Theater

Many places in Scripture remind us to be thankful to God, but we’re to be especially thankful when we pray. An attitude of gratitude is God’s will for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18) “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this sis God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” He wants us to always be thankful, and it is a door through which we enter His presence. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4).

Thankfulness is an essential part of prayer because it acknowledges dependence on a sovereign God who knows what He is doing. Ask the children to think of all of the blessings in their lives: a new pet, their families, healing from illness, winning an important game. Then lead them to discover all the many blessings God has provided that they may not necessarily think of: their mother’s smile, a chance to spend time with a friend, a special time with their family, the Bible, and sending Jesus to save us. “Thanksgiving thinking” needs to become a habit for all of us. God provides plenty of opportunities for us to thank Him; we just need to remember to do it!

It might be helpful to discuss the different kinds of blessings in our lives. Most fit into one of four categories: answered prayers, spiritual blessings (encourage them to thank God ever day for sending Jesus), relationship blessings, and material blessings. How often do we take these blessings for granted instead of choosing to realize that “all good things are from God”? Just as a parent is touched when a child spontaneously thanks him for something, God is moved when we express our thanksgiving to him.

We need to be sure we teach the distinction between feeling grateful and expressing thanks. Of the ten men healed of leprosy in Luke 17:11-19, how many do you think felt tremendous gratitude as they walked away from Jesus, completely healed of their incurable, socially isolating disease? There’s no question that all ten did. How many came back, threw themselves at Jesus’ feet and thanked him? Just one.

Teacher’s Prayer Challenge: Spend time thanking God for all the children in your class as well as thanking Him for teaching you as you teach others. Pray for your students and keep up to date on your prayer journal for them.

The Village Improv Theater – Thanksgiving

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

Materials Needed: DVD “The Lord’s Prayer” by Nest Entertainment, popcorn, popcorn bags, napkins and small cups of water.

We Gather

Set up the DVD and start by asking the kids what it would have been like to be one of Jesus’ disciples and be with him when he answered their question “Teach us how to pray.” Today we are going to pretend we could be there by watching a movie of when Jesus was with his disciples and taught them.

We Think

Begin this workshop with an explanation of the ACTS acrostic for the Lord’s Prayer and that this workshop we will focus on the “T” for Thanksgiving. Spend a little time talking about thanksgiving.

1. What are some things you feel thankful for?

2. How have you said or shown that thanks to others?

3. How does it feel to be thanked when you have done something for someone else?

4. How does it feel to do something for someone and not be thanked?

We Reflect

Have the class sit on the floor, pass out the popcorn, dim the lights and watch the DVD.

We Wonder

After the movie, say “This movie showed us what it might have been like when Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. What are some of the things you noticed in this movie? Why do you think Jesus wanted his disciples to know how to pray?

Use the children’s Spiritual Journals and have them write out prayers of thanksgiving.

We Pray

1. Thanksgiving Collage: Bring in magazines and newspapers and have kids put together a thanksgiving collage.

2. Thank You Note: Have kids write a thank you card to God on stationary they design themselves. Have them take the card home to keep in their Bible or another private place to reread later or add to.

Remember to have your period of silence at an appropriate time to help kids practice on waiting on God’s voice.

We Leave to Serve

Prayer Challenge: Pretend that you have lived the last year in a poverty stricken village in India and you have suddenly bee transported to your present surroundings. Through those eyes, you see a lot to be grateful for. Spend time thanking God for things you have never thanked him for before. Time yourself. Can you pray at least 5 minutes every day.

Supplication – Our Daily Bread

Background information for Moved by the Spirit

Making supplication (definitely not a kid word) is asking God to supply our needs, as well as bringing Him the needs of others. When we have adored God, confessed our sins and thanked Him for all His good gifts, we are ready to make our requests of Him. In fact, He wants us to ask. Philippians 4:6 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Like thanksgiving, supplication reinforces our dependence upon God.

Our supplications fall into two categories: Requests of others and requests for our own lives. When we intercede to make specific requests for others, we are approaching God on their behalf. We need to gently move children beyond themselves to develop a concern and compassion for others. We start, of course, with people in their immediate circle of family and friends and move to prayers for people that they might not know, but that they discover has a need. . Examples would be a prayer for a homeless person on the street without a coat or prayer for the passenger of a passing ambulance. We must then introduce intercession for people in a larger venue, such as missionaries (this is where the Children’s Mission Year book will be helpful), the president, or people in other countries that are going through war, or people being persecuted for being Christian (as is happening in many countries).

It is normal for children’s requests to center around their own needs. They should not feel guilty or uncomfortable about asking God to help them. Although they might start with prayers that vaguely ask God to help them “have a good day”, they can be lead to ask God specifically to help them cope with a hurt, protect them in a threatening situation, or change something about their behavior that they know needs improving but that they just don’t feel they can do on their own. (“God, help me to have more self-control” for example). When they realize that nothing is too big for God to handle, or too small for Him to be interested in, they will be freer in their conversations with Him.

No discussion of prayer or supplication would be complete without including the matter of God’s will. It is such an overwhelming subject for many of us, and as many books have been written to explain God’s will, I wouldn’t dare to try to cover the subject in these brief teaching notes. However, one of the few times the concept of God’s will is actually defined is found in I Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Though surrender to God’s will is hard for most of us, children by and large are comforted by the fact that “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” carries the promise that God knows what is best for us and He is in control.

Does God hear every prayer? Absolutely! Does he answer every prayer? Again, the answer is yes . . . but, like earthly parents, He does not always answer “Yes”. Lloyd Ogilive in his book The Call to Prayer puts it this way, “When the request is wrong, He says NO! When the timing is wrong, He says SLOW! When we are wrong, He says GROW! When the request is right, the timing is right and we are right, He says, GO!”

Teacher’s Prayer Challenge: Use the A.C.T.S. prayer model for your prayer time every day this week. Update your prayer journal for your kids and pray for their specific requests by name. Read Nehemiah’s prayer, Chapter 1:5-11 and mark the A.C.T.S. components in your Bible.

Moved by the Spirit – Supplication

“Give us this day our daily bread,” (vs. 11) and “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (vs. 13)

Materials needed: Wheel of Fortune spinner. Divide the children into two teams. Use a modified “Hangman” game using verses/words from The Lord’s Prayer.

Cake walk: Number 1-10 on sheets of construction paper and tape them in a circle on the floor. Play some music on the CD/Tape player and stop at random. Whoever is standing on number 10 when the music stops tells one thing he or she asks God for or needs God’s help with.

We Gather/We Wonder

Start this workshop by talking about the ACTS formula for prayer and that this workshop is going to focus on “S” for supplication. Explain that supplication means asking God for things that we need or want for ourselves or for others. Talk about how the Lord’s Prayer includes asking for God what we need and how we ask God for help (vs 11, 13).

We Reflect

Since this is the “Game/Movement” Workshop, here are some other active things your students can do that shows how prayer is not just a still and quiet thing to do:

1. Jump Rope Praises: Have several jump ropes and have the kids read from your list of alphabet praises as they jump.

2. Bubble Praises: Bring in some bubbles. Sit in a circle and have them take turns blowing bubbles as they say their praise to God.

We Pray

Popcorn Prayers: Ask the kids if they can demonstrate how popcorn pops. Then share with the class that they are going to pray prayers that pop up just like popcorn. Lead this time by starting with “Thank you God for. . . “ and then let the kids take turns popping up with one or two words to say that finish that sentence. Repeat this activity with starting lines like “Lord, please help me with. . .” and “Please be with. . .” etc.

We Leave to Serve

As the children prepare to leave class today, open your prayer journal and ask them to update you on their prayer concerns. Remind them that you are praying for them by name during the week. Ask them to pray for you this week.

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