Prayer is an important part of a believers’ life, it is how we talk and listen to our God! Prayer is how we express ourselves, it is where we seek comfort, and it is a precious time with our savior who loves us. This lesson is designed to teach children how to pray using The Lord’s Prayer. This lesson will be best utilized in a Sunday School or Kid’s Church setting.
Objective: To teach children how to pray
Targeted Age Group: Upper Elementary
Game: Communication: Have a number of solo-cups and string. Break the group into teams of two and give them both a long string and two solo-cups with small holes in the bottom of them. Get the kids to attach the string to the solo-cups and to pull it tight. If one person holds the cup up to their ear and the other person speaks into the other cup they should be able to hear each other like a telephone. Whichever team has the best communication wins.
Memory Verse: At this time the kids can recite the previous week’s memory verse. Give them this verse to bring home and memorize for next week. “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving,” (Colossians 4:2, ESV).
Worship: Please note that if you do not have a copy of these songs then you can find them on YouTube for free.
- Hey! Jesus Loves me!
- Just Wanna Say (Veggie Tales Song)
- I Give You My Heart
Prayer: Dear God, thank you that we can come together as a class today to focus on you and learn about your Word. Help us to come close to your heart and to learn about who you are. Fill us today and let us love you well, amen.
Lesson Reinforcement: Give each kid a Bible so that they can fallow along with the lesson.
Lesson:
(Ask one of the kids to read Matthew 6:9-13)
Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13).
This prayer is called The LORD’s prayer; Jesus used this prayer to teach His disciples how to pray. Today we are going to look at this prayer and we are going to learn how to pray. There isn’t one way to pray, but when we do not know how to pray or what to pray for then this prayer is a good place to return to.
The first section says, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” does anybody know what this means? (give them time to answer). This is a praise of who God is. When we enter into our prayer time we could start by honoring and worshiping God. We could acknowledge that God is good, or lovely, or kind, or awesome. What else could we acknowledge about who God is? (give them time to answer).
Next it says, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. What do you think this means? (give them time to answer). This is a time where we pray for God’s will. We can pray that God’s will be done in our churches, homes, or even our government. If we are having trouble with a friend we can pray for God’s will to be done in that friendship. Or if we know somebody is struggling we can pray for God’s will in their life.
The next section is small, “Give us this day our daily bread,” what do you think this means? (give them time to answer). Very good, but it isn’t just a prayer for food, it is a prayer for all of our needs. Now, our needs are different that our desires. What do you need in your life? (give them time to answer). Very good answers.
Okay, the next section says, “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” What could this possibly mean? (give them time to answer). This is where we ask God to forgive our sins and where we pray that God helps us to forgive others.
The last section says, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” This is where we ask God to protect us and to help us to not walk in sin. We need God’s help in everything that we do.
Amen.
Questions:
- Did you learn how to pray today?
- How do we stay a prayer? (Answer: By honoring God).
- Do you feel like you are able to pray now?
Application:
God loves each one of you very much and He wants to hear you speak, He loves your voice and He wants to know your needs, your fears, and your heart. Pray to God because He loves you so much and He hears you.
Craft: Have the Lord’s prayer printed out onto paper for the kids, get them to decorate it and frame it so that they can take it home to always see and use.
Suggested Snack: Hand shaped cookies and juice.
Thank you very much for this lesson.
I pray that the Lord will continue to use you to be a blessing to children and children’s leaders/teachers, throughout the world through the lessons such as this.
God bless you.
What a nice lesson, The Lords Prayer. I taught my class and they loved it so much and were happy to learn how they can pray, even the parents were so happy their little kids can say the Lords prayers.
Thank you for this lesson and God bless you.
Thank you, I am so glad that the kids and parents enjoyed this lesson
Thank you, God bless