“The Bible teaches us to pray to Jesus.”

“Thank You, Jesus, that I can talk to You.”

Selected Psalms and Lord’s Prayer Phrase

Children repeat after you:

“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Song 1 – B-I-B-L-E

• Bible hands, hug the “book,” step on “I stand alone.”

Song 2 – Let The People Praise you O God

Song 3 – “I Can Talk to God”
(Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”)
“I can talk to God,
Any time I want.
Morning, noon, and nighttime too,
God hears every word.”

Motions: praying hands, tap watch/air on “any time,” hand to ear for “hears.”

Sit kids in a circle. Have: a Bible, picture cards or simple drawings of a child praying in different places (bed, table, playground, church).

a) What is prayer?
Hold up the Bible.

• “The Bible tells us many times to pray. Praying means talking to God. We can tell Him thank you, please help, I’m sorry, and I love You.”

Show a card of a child praying.

• “The Bible says God hears us when we pray. He is a good listener and loves to hear our voices.”

b) We can pray anytime, anywhere
Show different images: at bed, table, outside.

• “The Bible shows people praying in many places—at home, in the night, in the day, in happy times and sad times. That means we can pray anytime and anywhere. We can pray before we eat, before we sleep, when we are scared, or when we are thankful.”

d) Simple prayer pattern
Use fingers or simple motions:
“Thank You” (hands open).
“Please help” (hands together).
“I’m sorry” (hand on heart).
“I love You” (hands up).

Explain briefly:

• “The Bible helps us pray by giving us words and stories. We can say: ‘Thank You, God,’ ‘Please help,’ ‘I’m sorry,’ and ‘I love You’—just like people in the Bible did.”

e) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:

• “The Bible helps me pray. I can talk to God anytime.”

Motions:
Hands like an open book on “Bible.”
Praying hands on “pray.”
Point to self on “I can,” tap air-clock on “anytime,” point up on “God.”

Say it several times: loud, whisper, standing and sitting.

c) Jesus connection (Jesus teaches and models prayer)
Hold the Bible near your heart.

“The Bible also tells us that Jesus prayed. Jesus talked to His Father often. He prayed when He was happy and when He was sad. Jesus even gave us a special prayer to teach us how to pray (the Lord’s Prayer). He shows us that talking to God is very important.”
“Because Jesus loves us and died for us, we can come to God like children coming to a loving Father.”

Goal: 
Simple “when I pray” poster with the key phrase.

Steps

• Give each child a paper.
• In each box, help them draw or glue a picture of a place they can pray, e.g.:
  • In bed.
  • At the table.
  • At church.
  • Outside/at the park.
• Add the phrase at the bottom:
  • “The Bible helps me pray. I can talk to God anytime.”
• As they draw, ask, “Where do YOU like to talk to God?”

Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)

• “You are drawing places where you can pray. The Bible tells us we can pray all the time. God hears you at home, at church, outside—everywhere. When you see this picture, remember: ‘The Bible helps me pray. I can talk to God anytime.’”

Have children hold up their pages and say:

• “The Bible helps me pray. I can talk to God anytime.”