8

"What is Prayer?”

Big Idea

Prayer is talking with God. You can tell him anything, anywhere, and at anytime.

Materials Needed:

1. Various objects for communication: Phone, Letter and envelope, Keyboard,

Setup:

1. Place the communication objects in a bag and have them near you as you begin the lesson.

Lesson

1. Review the big idea from last meeting's lesson: "Make God your Master and believe that Jesus died and rose again for your sins." Ask the question, "Who can I have a relationship with God?" and have the children repeat the big idea a few times, doing the motions below as you say each word.

2. Explain the following:

    Last time, we learned how we can have a relationship with God. Now, it wouldn't be much of a relationship if we never talked to God, would it? That's why we're asking today's question, "What is prayer?" (Write "What is prayer at the top of a chalk/wipe board.)

    To put it as simple as possible, prayer is talking with God. (Write "Talking with God" on the board.)

3. Ask, "What are some ways you can tell another person something?" As the children respond, write the responses on the board. When their responses reference the objects listed in the "Materials Needed" section, pull them out of the bag and briefly discuss how someone would use them to talk to another. Also, discuss how they aren't needed to talk to God. (Example: We use a phone to call other people, but to talk to God, we don't need his phone number and we don't need to call him on the phone).

4. Explain the following:

    So, to talk to God, we don't need to know his phone number, we don't need to know his street address and zip code, and we don't need to know his email address. How, then, are we supposed to get a hold of him?

    Do you remember, earlier, when we answered the question, "Who is God?" (Do the suggested motions after you say each word.) We said that God is all-knowing (point to temple), all-powerful (flex your arm muscles), everywhere (move arms out in a big circle), and good (thumbs up sign).

5. Explain the following:

    First, since God is all-knowing, he already knows what we're thinking. We can't hide anything from him. So, when we talk to him, or pray, we can tell him anything. (Write "anything" on the board.)

6. Explain the following:

    Second, since God is everywhere, we can talk to him no matter where we are: at home, at school, at a mountain top, on Jupiter. We can pray to God anywhere. (Write "anywhere" on the board.)

7. Explain the following:

    Third, since God is all-powerful and doesn't need to take a nap, he's ready to listen to us any time of the day or night: in the morning, at lunch, at 2:43 am in the morning. (Write "anytime" on the board.)

8. Explain that the big idea from today's lesson is: "Prayer is talking with God. You can tell him anything, anywhere, and at anytime." Ask the question, "What is prayer?" and have the children repeat the big idea a few times, doing the motions below as you say each word.