Our Focus Today Helping children discover that every wish, hope, and worry can become a conversation with God through prayer.
Key Truth God wants us to bring everything to Him in prayer.
Bible Passage 1 John 5:14-15
Memory Verse “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15(NIV)
At A Glance
Approximate Lesson Time: 45–60 minutes Welcome, Snack & Lesson Activity • 10–15 minutes Gather Around God’s Word • 10–15 minutes Read the Story • 10–15 minutes Truth in Action • 5–10 minutes Open Your Bible • 10–15 minutes Closing Prayer & Clean-Up • 2–3 minutes
Leader Encouragement
Every child carries hopes, dreams, questions, and worries. Some are easy to talk about, while others stay tucked away deep inside their hearts. Today you have the opportunity to help children discover that every one of those thoughts can become a conversation with God. As you lead, remember that you aren’t simply teaching children how to pray. You’re helping them begin a lifelong habit of talking with a God who delights in hearing from them.
The story God is writing in a child’s heart is always bigger than the lesson on the page.
Leader Preparation
Lesson Supplies Study books Pens Highlighters Small Wooden Boxes Permanent markers Gem stickers Acrylic paint pens Colored paper squares
Teaching Supplies Bible Two balloons Marble Bible verse posters
Prep Ahead Highlight today’s Bible passage in your Bible. Practice today’s Truth in Action. Completed Heart Box sample Set out Heart Box decorating supplies for each group. Display a completed Heart Box. Print/enlarge today’s Bible verse posters.
Volunteer Roles
Lead Teacher Welcome the group and guide each part of the lesson. Read the Bible passage and story aloud. Lead the Truth in Action, discussion, and closing prayer.
Small Group Leaders Welcome children and encourage conversation. Support children throughout the lesson. Answer questions, encourage participation, and offer extra help as needed.
Floater Welcome families and direct children to their groups. Help with transitions and assist wherever needed throughout the lesson.
Leading the Lesson
Welcome, Snack & Lesson Activity
Time: 10–15 minutes Welcome children, help them get settled, and enjoy the time together as they complete today’s lesson activity.
Instructions Welcome children as they arrive. Invite them to begin today’s lesson activity. Encourage conversation while everyone enjoys a snack. As children finish, encourage them to continue chatting with their group until it’s time to begin.
Conversation Starters What’s something you’ve wished for recently? If you could ask God one question, what would it be? When do you usually pray?
Gather Around God’s Word
Time: 10–15 minutes
Transition Give children a two-minute warning before beginning. Invite everyone to simply set aside today’s lesson activity and grab only their study book, Bible, and pen. There is no need to clean everything up. Children can return to the activity later if time allows or take home any remaining supplies to finish.
Opening Prayer Begin with a simple prayer, inviting God to prepare hearts and minds to learn from His Word.
Bible Reading
Read 1 John 5:14-15 directly from your Bible.
Connect today’s Bible passage to the story by explaining that God already knows every wish, hope, and worry we carry. Even so, He invites us to come to Him, seek Him, and talk with Him through prayer.
Read the Story
Today’s Stair-Step Reading
Lesson 1 Read Lesson 1 aloud while children follow along.
Engage Children By… -Announcing page turns for younger readers. -Reading speech bubbles together. -Asking observation questions. -Pointing out humorous moments. -Inviting predictions as the story unfolds.
Truth In Action
Time: 5–10 minutes
Supplies Two balloons Marble
Let’s Begin Hold up the first balloon.
“Today we’re talking about prayer. Prayer is simply talking with God. He wants to hear about the good, the hard, the exciting, and even the things we’re embarrassed to tell anyone else. The Bible teaches us lots of ways to pray.”
Count them off on your fingers. We praise God. We confess our sins. We thank Him. We pray for others. And we pray for ourselves.
“This balloon and marble are going to help us take a closer look at prayer.”
Inflate the balloon a little as you say some example prayers: “Dear God, thank You for loving me.” “Please help my friend who is sick.” “Please help me be kind today.” “Thank You for always being with me.”
Tie or pinch the balloon closed.
“Those are all such wonderful prayers.”
Now hold up the marble. “This marble represents sin.”
Place the marble inside and let it fall all the way in. “Sometimes we hold on to sin instead of talking honestly with God about it. It’s like carrying something around inside that doesn’t belong there.”
Inflate the balloon.
“God already knows what’s in our hearts. He isn’t asking us to confess our sins because He doesn’t know about them. He’s inviting us to come honestly to Him because He loves us and wants to have a close relationship with us.” Wiggle the marble to allow it to lodge in the opening so the air struggles to escape. Pause and let the girls notice.
“What happened?” Allow children to answer.
“The marble got stuck. Sin can be like that in our relationship with God. It kind of gets in the way, but God says, ‘Let’s take care of that together.’ It doesn’t stop God from loving us, but when we hold on to it instead of bringing it to Him, it can keep us from enjoying the close relationship He wants to have with us.”
Remove the marble from the balloon.
“When we confess our sins, we’re honestly bringing our hearts to God and trusting Him to forgive us and draw us closer to Him.”
Hold up the empty balloon.
“Then we’re ready to keep talking with Him about everything else. Our wishes, our worries, our thankfulness, and our questions because that’s what prayer is…a conversation with a God who loves you.”
Ask What are some things we can talk to God about? Why do you think God wants us to come to Him honestly? Which part of prayer do you think you do the most?
Wrap Up “God wants to hear from you every single day. He invites you to praise Him, thank Him, pray for others, pray for yourself, and honestly confess your sins. Prayer isn’t about having perfect words, it’s about talking with a perfect God who loves you.”
Open Your Bible
Time: 10–15 minutes
Activity 1 Complete Activity 1.
Invite children to write or draw some of the things they wish for inside the stars.
Then draw sticks and invite several girls to share one wish. As they share, write the wishes on a large group poster.
Explain that every wish can become a prayer when we bring it to God.
Ask What are some things children your age wish for? Which wishes do you think God cares about? What can we do with all of our wishes?
Activity 2 Complete Activity 2.
Have children look up today’s Bible passages, highlight them in their Bibles, and read them aloud. Depending on the age of your group, children may work independently, with a partner, or in small groups. If looking up all of the passages feels overwhelming, read one or two of the verses aloud together before having children find the remaining verse(s) on their own.
After each verse, encourage children to write one word or short phrase that is especially meaningful to them.
Ask for volunteers to share their words or phrases, then add them to your group poster.
Bible Verses Jeremiah 29:11–13 1 John 5:14–15 John 15:7 Psalm 37:4
Ask What do these verses teach us about prayer? How do they encourage you to talk with God?
Closing Prayer
Pray the prayer at the end of Lesson 1.
Clean-Up
Invite children to: -Organize their supplies. -Throw away trash. -Help tidy their small group area. -Continue working on today’s lesson activity if time remains or take home any remaining supplies to finish later.
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? -Corrie ten Boom
