📖

Praying in the Garden

Gethsemane and Peter's Denial

Day 161of 180
Week 33of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that Jesus prayed to God the Father before His crucifixion

2

Learn that Jesus chose to obey God even when it was difficult

3

Develop empathy for Jesus' emotional struggle

📖 Scripture Connection

Matthew 26:36-39

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I go over there and pray.'”

— Matthew 26:36-39 (WEB)

Demonstrates Jesus' dependence on God and His willingness to follow God's plan

📦 Materials Needed

  • World English Bible
  • Green construction paper
  • Tear-shaped cutouts
  • Pencils
  • BibleMouse Prayer Journal
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

Welcome to today's BibleMouse adventure! Let's remember how Jesus shared a special meal with His disciples last time.

💭 Review Question: What did Jesus say about the bread and wine?
2Teaching (8 min)

Today, we'll learn about a very special moment when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew something very hard was going to happen, but He trusted God.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Jesus took His closest friends to the garden
  • He was feeling sad and worried
  • He prayed to God the Father
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Have you ever felt worried and needed to talk to God?
  • What does it mean to trust God when things are hard?
3Activity: Gethsemane Prayer Garden (10 min)
prayer journaling

Create a prayer garden using green paper, adding tear-shaped prayers to represent Jesus' emotions

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw a garden scene on green paper
  2. Cut out tear-shaped paper
  3. Write or draw prayers on the tears
  4. Place tears in the garden
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Parents help with cutting and writing

Challenge: Write full sentences about trusting God

4Closing (3 min)

Review our BibleMouse lesson about Jesus' love and obedience

📝 Review Questions:
  • Where did Jesus go to pray?
  • How did Jesus show He loved God?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, help us trust You like Jesus did, even when things are hard.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn how Jesus said 'Not my will, but Yours be done'

💎 Memory Verse

John 13:34

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

— John 13:34 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Love Chain: Create a paper chain where each link has a way to show love, with children adding links throughout the week

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson introduces the concept of spiritual struggle and trusting God during difficult times

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use a gentle, compassionate tone when discussing Jesus' emotions
  • Encourage children to share their own feelings
  • Connect the lesson to age-appropriate examples of trusting God
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children may find it hard to understand complex emotions and spiritual concepts

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Empathy, curiosity about Jesus' feelings, willingness to pray

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Act out the garden scene with simple costumes
  • Create a prayer box using the BibleMouse Printables Library
  • Sing a worship song about God's love

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 162 →Back to Bible