📖

How Not to Pray

The Lord's Prayer

Day 126of 180
Week 26of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that prayer is a conversation with God, not a performance

2

Identify wrong motivations for prayer according to Jesus' teaching

3

Develop a heart of genuine communication with God

📖 Scripture Connection

Matthew 6:5-8

“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.”

— Matthew 6:5-8 (WEB)

Demonstrates the importance of sincere, private prayer focused on relationship with God

📦 Materials Needed

  • Bible (World English Bible)
  • Notebook
  • Colored pencils
  • BibleMouse Prayer Journal
  • Poster board or large paper
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

In today's BibleMouse lesson, we'll explore what Jesus taught about REAL prayer versus fake prayer!

💭 Review Question: Can you remember how Jesus taught us to love people who are difficult to love?
2Teaching (8 min)

Jesus wants us to understand that prayer is a special conversation with God, not a way to impress others.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Prayer is talking to God, not performing for people
  • God cares about our heart, not how fancy our words sound
  • We can talk to God simply and honestly
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What do you think it means to pray 'for show'?
  • How can we make our prayers more genuine?
3Activity: Prayer Poster: Real vs. Fake (10 min)
contrast study

Create a poster showing the difference between prayer that honors God and prayer that's just for show

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw a line down the middle of the poster
  2. On one side, draw/write 'Prayer to Impress'
  3. On the other side, draw/write 'Prayer from the Heart'
  4. Use BibleMouse colored pencils to illustrate
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Parent helps with drawing and writing

Challenge: Add Bible verse references to support each side

4Closing (3 min)

Review key lesson about prayer being a conversation with God

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did Jesus teach about prayer?
  • How can we pray in a way that pleases God?
🙏 Prayer:

Invite child to pray a simple, honest prayer to God

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore the first words of the Lord's Prayer: 'Our Father in Heaven'

💎 Memory Verse

Matthew 6:9-10

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

— Matthew 6:9-10 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Prayer Verse Puzzle: Write each word of the memory verse on a separate sticky note, mix them up, and have the child reassemble the verse in order

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Jesus was teaching about authentic spiritual practices that come from the heart

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Model genuine, conversational prayer
  • Encourage child to pray in their own words
  • Don't force long or complicated prayers
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might feel self-conscious about praying out loud

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Increasing comfort in talking to God honestly

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a prayer journal in BibleMouse Resource Guide
  • Practice writing simple prayers throughout the week
  • Listen to BibleMouse prayer meditation songs

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 127 →Back to Bible