Sermon on the Mount: Prayer

To Remember: God wants to know us

Vocabulary

• Pray - to talk to God

• Effectual - effective, produces results
• Fervent - heartfelt, with sincerity and passion
• Avails - produces, results in, accomplishes

Lesson - Matt 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4

Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. Prayer is speaking to God. Jesus
gave them a sample - or model - prayer.
Read Matt. 6:9-13 "9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is
in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
Let's look at what this prayer teaches us.

• Who - we are to pray to God - the Father

• What - give thanks, ask forgiveness, ask for our daily needs and protection from
evil, ask for peace (1 Tim 2:1,2), share our burdens (Phil. 4:6).
• Where - anywhere (Matt 6:6 says in secret - or privately)
• When - anytime (1 Thess 5:17 "Pray without ceasing")
• Why - for peace, forgiveness, health, to know God better, to know ourselves
better, to become dependent on God, and because He wants us to.

Do you talk to your parents or friends each time you see them? What would they think if
you didn't speak to them? Giving people the "silent treatment" usually indicates that
you're upset with them - or that you don't like them. How do you think God feels when
we give Him the "silent treatment"? God wants to be involved in our life, like a friend.
He wants us to include Him, to be close to us. He is always willing and ready to talk. He
leaves it up to us to approach Him.

Memory Work

• PK: 1 Thess 5:17 "Pray without ceasing"

• readers: James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another,
that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much."

Prayer worksheet - for readers - fill in the scripture

Prayer worksheet - for PK - circle the pictures
Practice Prayer - Tell the class you will have a prayer where each person contributes
one part. Have them decide in advance what they will say. The teacher begins and ends
the prayer. Discuss attitude and seriousness, as well as closeness to God.

Sing - He's Got the Whole World In His Hands

True or False

1. We can pray to God anytime. T

2. God will always give us what we ask for. F
3. God will always do what is best for us. T
4. All that is good comes from God. T
5. God cares how we feel about everything. T

Review Questions (can be used with gameboard)

linguistic questions

1. Define: hallowed revered, or kept special

2. Define: confess to reveal, make known, declare

activity questions

1. Name 2 ways you can pray for others. 1) leaders and government, 2) sick, 3)
those grieving or in difficult times, 4) that they avoid temptation or be drawn to
the gospel...
2. Act out: one of the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray.

emotion questions

1. What can make prayer unpleasing to God? When we do it to be seen of men,

when we do it purely because we have to, when we don't have faith in what we
ask for or in God...
2. Why does God want us to talk to Him? He desires a close relationship with us.
All close relationships are based on communication. Our prayers to Him reveal
our dependence and closeness to Him.

application questions
1. Explain what it means to "pray without ceasing". To make prayer a continual
part of your life. To constantly be in connection with God, as if he were standing
next to you all the time.
2. What limits our ability to be forgiven? We must repent, ask for forgiveness, and
have forgiven those who've trespassed against us. Matt 6:14-15 "For if ye forgive
men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive
not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

fact questions

1. Give 2 examples of prayer in the Bible. 1) Jesus in the garden, 2) Elijah and
the drought, 3) Hannah for a son, 4) Paul's prayer to be released of his thorn, 5)
the Christians' prayer for Peter while he was in prison.
2. Who are we to pray to? God

review questions

1. Are we allowed to pray for things we need? Like what? Yes - daily needs such
as food, clothing, and our livelihood. We can pray for our needs, but be careful
about the "wants".
2. When is it appropriate to pray? We can pray at any time. Sometimes it is more
appropriate to pray privately. Other times, public prayer is fine.