Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn prayer is our way of communicating with God.
- Students will learn God wants us to pray about certain things, including praising Him, asking for forgiveness of our sins, asking Him to help us avoid temptation and asking for the things we need.
- Students will learn prayer is not about putting on a show, but about our personal relationship with God.
- Students will learn the various parts of prayer.
Guiding Question: How can students learn important components of prayer?
Materials: Paper, writing/drawing utensils
Procedure: Share the Lord’s Prayer with the students from the scriptures above. Explain to the students that prayer is used to communicate with God and help us have a closer relationship with Him. God wants us to use prayer to come to Him about anything and as a way for Him to give us guidance and wisdom. God values genuine prayer and communication that helps us grow our personal relationship with Him.
Go over with students the various parts of the prayer. Some have broken it down to ACTS: adoration/praise, confession of sin, thanking God for His blessings, supplication/ asking God for the things we/others need. Ask students to share some of the prayers they normally say. What parts are they missing (usually adoration and thanksgiving)?
Have students make and decorate a prayer card to help them remember the four parts of prayer and include the ones they normally forget more often. Make sure students understand God listens to one word prayers, prayers when we aren’t sure what to say, etc. This is to help them remember when they have time to praise and thank God instead of just asking Him for forgiveness and their needs.
Additional Questions: How can students prepare themselves to pray?
Supplemental Activity: Have the students create a template or model prayer that includes “ACTS”. The students can use this to guide them as they pray to God and help them remember what to include in their prayers.