Scripture Reference: Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-8
Objectives: To encourage children to develop a healthy prayer life and to remind them God loves for us to talk to him by praying.
Today we are going to look at two different stories Jesus told about prayer. The Bible tells us Jesus prayed to his Father in heaven on many occasions. If Jesus saw the need of praying, surely it must be important. When we pray, we talk to God just like we talk to other people. Even though we can’t hear God talk back to us, we can hear him in our hearts. God wants his children to talk to him. He’s our heavenly Father, and we should talk to him just as we do our earthly parents.
Let’s say our memory verse together: “Keep on asking, and you will receive . . . Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9 NLT).
Bible Story Time:
Jesus told stories that teach us different things about prayer. One was called The Friend at Midnight, and another was called The Parable of the Persistent Widow.
Just before Jesus told the story of the Friend at Midnight, he taught his disciples a prayer. We call it the Lord’s Prayer. How many of you have heard it? Let’s say it together:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Reflection: What do you think would happen if you went to your friend’s house late at night and asked for food?
Most people are asleep at midnight, so waking them and asking for something to eat might make them mad. Even if they were a good friend, they probably wouldn’t enjoy getting up, getting dressed, going to the kitchen, and cooking you something to eat. If they had children, all the noise might wake them too. And if it were a mom, she would probably wake the dad. If they had animals, the dog might bark and the cat might meow.
The person Jesus tells us about did this very thing. A friend came to his house at midnight, and he had nothing to feed him. The friend was probably traveling by foot and at night because it was cooler. During this time, people often brought their barnyard animals in at night to protect them. They slept on the lower floor, and the family slept on a raised part. The animals and people would have been asleep at midnight. Someone knocking on the door would have awakened the animals and the entire family. In order to get to the door, the man would have to step over the animals. Imagine what a ruckus it would have caused to answer the door.
But the person kept knocking. “I need food,” he hollered. “I don’t have anything to feed this friend of mine who just showed up.” Because he kept knocking and hollering—waking up the entire neighborhood—the man finally got up, disturbed his whole household, and gave him the bread.
Reflection: What do you think Jesus is teaching about prayer in this story?
The other story Jesus told is about a widow—a woman whose husband had died. During this time, there were no government programs to take care of widows. They had to rely on friends, strangers, family members, and people they went to church with.
Someone was harming this particular widow. Jesus doesn’t tell us what was happening, but she needed a judge’s help. She came to the judge repeatedly, but he didn’t want to help her. Finally, after she had bothered him numerous times, the judge finally decided to help her. The judge said, “This woman is driving me crazy.” He eventually helped her so she would quit bothering him.
Reflection: What do you think Jesus was teaching about prayer in this story?
In these stories, Jesus is teaching that we need to pray and pray often. We should make time every day to pray to God. How long we pray isn’t as important as the fact that we pray. In fact, we can say little short prayers throughout the day. Some people call these “microwave prayers.” The Bible tells us to pray without stopping. We don’t necessarily have to close our eyes when we say these short prayers.
If mom or dad needed to say a quick prayer while they were driving, you wouldn’t want them to close their eyes, would you? And what should we pray for? It’s okay to ask God for things we need, but our prayers should also be for other people and what they need. God has promised to give us everything we need, and we need to ask him to do the same for others.
Reflection: Before completing the activity break, let children give examples of selfish and unselfish prayers.
Reflection: Help children understand the importance of having a daily prayer time but also understanding this is not the only time they can pray. Also teach them that short prayers during the day don’t substitute for specific prayer times with God. Both are important.
Reflection: What are some things you might need to offer “microwave” prayers for during the day?
Activity Break:
Place a large sheet of paper on the wall and let children make a prayer list, telling why it’s important to pray for and about the things they mention. These can be things you as a class can pray for each week.
Wrap Up:
Give children a blank sheet of paper and let them draw and then color something related to prayer.
- God is with Us When There Is Conflict (Martin Wiles’ Lessons for Youth and Children) - August 15, 2021
- Grace and God’s Choice (A Study in the Book of Romans) - August 14, 2018
- Grace and Passion for the Lost (A Study in Romans) - August 5, 2018
