[cs_content][cs_element_section _id=”1″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”2″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”3″ ][cs_element_text _id=”4″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id=”5″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”6″ ][cs_element_image _id=”7″ ][cs_element_text _id=”8″ ][cs_element_line _id=”9″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id=”10″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”11″ ][cs_element_image _id=”12″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”13″ ][cs_element_text _id=”14″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id=”15″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”16″ ][x_gap size=”100px”][cs_element_text _id=”18″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”19″ ][cs_element_image _id=”20″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id=”21″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”22″ ][x_gap size=”100px”][cs_element_text _id=”24″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”25″ ][cs_element_image _id=”26″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id=”27″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”28″ ][x_gap size=”100px”][cs_element_text _id=”30″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”31″ ][cs_element_image _id=”32″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id=”33″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”34″ ][cs_element_button _id=”35″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”36″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”37″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”38″ ][cs_element_content_area _id=”39″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”40″ ][cs_element_content_area _id=”41″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”42″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”43″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”44″ ][cs_element_text _id=”45″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id=”46″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”47″ ][cs_element_video _id=”48″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”49″ ][cs_element_video _id=”50″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”51″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”52″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”53″ ][cs_element_content_area _id=”54″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id=”55″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”56″ ][cs_element_content_area _id=”57″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”58″ ][cs_element_content_area _id=”59″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”60″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”61″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”62″ ][cs_element_text _id=”63″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”64″ ][cs_element_text _id=”65″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content][cs_content_seo]Bible Story
Unit 23, Session 3: Jesus Taught About Prayer
Prayer is personal communication with God. Many people aren’t sure how to pray or feel uncomfortable praying. To pray effectively, then, we must be taught how to pray. This is why Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them to pray.
Jesus began with the Lord’s Prayer, not to establish the words we should use but to show how we should pray and what we should pray about. Through prayer, we demonstrate our dependence on and faith in the Lord. We should approach God as a Father and pray for His kingdom first and then for ourselves and others.
Then Jesus told a story about a man who went to his friend in the middle of the night to ask for food for a visitor. The friend did not want to be bothered but because the man did not give up, the friend finally gave him what he needed. God is not a sleepy neighbor. If a grumpy friend will reward persistence, how much more so will God! He cares about His children and is happy to give us what we need when we ask.
In a similar way, a human father who loves his child would not give him a snake if he asked for a fish. Will God give us everything we ask for? No, but when we are persistent with our prayers, we can trust Him to answer according to His glory and our good.
Jesus used another parable in Luke 18: A judge was unwilling to grant a widow’s plea for justice, but the woman did not give up. So the judge gave her justice. We should not give up praying if we have not received an answer from God. God is not like a wicked judge. When we pray consistently, God will give us justice and He will act quickly.
Jesus taught us to pray. Because of Jesus, we can pray to the Father and ask for what we need. We can trust that God is good and loving, and we can count on Him to do what is right.
Jesus Taught About Prayer Luke 11; 18
Jesus taught us to pray. Because of Jesus, we can pray to the Father and ask for what we need. We can trust that God is good and loving, and we can count on Him to do what is right.
STORY POINT:
KEY VERSE:
BIG PICTUREQUESTION:
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Family Discussion Questions
What is prayer?
Why does God want us to pray?
Can you think of a time God answered a prayer in an unexpected way?
Discuss a time your family can pray together (mealtimes, bedtime, and so on). Commit to praying regularly.• What keeps you from praying?• How do you feel knowing God hears us when we pray?
Worship
Game Ideas
Make a Prayer Chart
-Draw lines to divide a large piece of paper into quadrants.
-In the first quadrant, write a large A as you explain that the first thing we do in prayer is adore God.
-Ask children what is awesome about God (He is holy, He is good, and so forth) and write down their answers under the A.
-In the second quadrant, write a large C as you explain that the next thing we do in prayer is confess sin. Ask children if they’ve made any wrong choices they need to ask forgiveness for and write down their answers under the C.
-Next, write a T for thanksgiving and ask children what they would like to thank God for.
-Finally, write a S for seek. Remind children that if we seek our needs from God, we will find what we need.
-Ask children what they need God’s help with and write down their answers.
-Then pray, modeling gospel- centered prayer. Invite children to pray as desired.
CONNECTION:
Jesus taught people how to pray. He taught us to adore God, confess sin, thank God, and seek what we need from Him. Because of Jesus, we can pray and ask God for everything we need. God is good and loving, and we can trust Him to care for us and to do what is right. We may not always get the answer we want, but God always gives us what we need.
Play Catch
-Form a circle.
-Toss a ball to a child and encourage her to catch it.
-Then invite her to toss it to another child to catch.
-Praise all attempts and encourage children to keep trying even if they don’t catch the ball.
-Emphasize not giving up.
CONNECTION:
Good job practicing catch without giving up! Jesus taught people how to pray without giving up. He said that even people who do not care about God or others will respond when someone keeps asking. But God is good and loving, so we can trust Him to care for us and to do what is right! Because of Jesus, we can pray and ask God for everything we need.
Serving Jesus
As a family, talk about this upcoming school year and about how you can be praying for teachers and those who work in schools. They are having to work really hard in order to figure out how to get ready for school to be back in session. Pray for teachers and those who work in schools. If you know a teacher, write them a note or send them a text and encourage them.
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