Just like the disciples back in the Bible, we can be confused about how to pray. When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer. This beautiful prayer is a blueprint for us to remember God's perfection, God’s plan, God’s goodness, and our weakness when we talk with God.
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The Lord's Prayer Lessons Overview:
MEMORY VERSE:
“Never stop praying.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIrV) and The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13
LESSONS:
How You Should Pray
Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15, Prayer
Prayer was an important part of Jesus' life on earth, and it should be an important part of our lives. Just like you talk to your friends or family every day, prayer is simply how we talk to God. Jesus showed his disciples – and us – how we should pray and how important prayer is.
Objective: Little ones will learn that prayer is an important part of following Jesus.
Our Father
Scripture: Matthew 6:9 & Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah's Commission
God is great and holy – Isaiah got to see that firsthand with God on a glorious throne surrounded by angels. God is so holy and awesome, and the fact that He would even allow us to pray to Him is amazing. But that same God, who is the most awesome and powerful being in the universe, not only allows us to talk to Him but also to call Him “Father” because He loves us.
Objective: Little ones will learn that prayer allows us to talk to a holy and loving God.
Your Kingdom Come
Scripture: Matthew 6:10 & Matthew 26:36-46, In the Garden of Gethsemane
In the last hours before His death, we see Jesus' sadness as He prays in the garden. Despite His own desires, Jesus ultimately prays for the Father's will to be done. In our own prayers, we should seek to know and follow God's way with our life.
Objective: Little ones will learn that prayer helps us put God's way before our own.
Our Daily Bread
Scripture: Matthew 6:11 & 1 Kings 17:7-16, Elijah and the Widow
Sometimes our situations seem hopeless – like in the story of Elijah and the widow – but God can work miracles to supply our needs. We should pray about our daily needs - food, clothes, health, etc. - to remind ourselves that all of these blessings come from God.
Objective: Little ones will learn that prayer helps us see how God provides.
Forgive
Scripture: Matthew 6:12 & Matthew 18:21-35, The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
God's forgiveness is available to everyone who accepts it and puts their faith in Jesus. Just as we have been forgiven, God expects us to extend forgiveness to others.
Objective: Little ones will learn that prayer reminds us of the importance of forgiveness.
Temptation
Scripture: Matthew 6:13 & 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Warnings from Israel's History
The Israelites give us an example of people who were tempted to sin against God and gave into that temptation. Jesus’ prayer closes with the reminder that we have hope in the fact that God always provides a way out of temptation, ultimately by giving eternal life to those who put their faith in Him.
Objective: Little ones will learn that prayer helps us resist temptation and accept God’s gift of salvation.
