2 nd /3 rd Grade Oct 8 Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done Bible Verse Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) Teacher Enrichment This lesson is the sixth lesson in the Teach Us to Pray series which emphasizes the practice of prayer using The Lord s Prayer. Each week will examine a stanza of The Lord s Prayer, what it tells us about God and how it directs our prayer life. Today s lesson explores Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. This portion of The Lord s Prayer asks God for something we frequently hear referenced in popular culture: heaven on earth. When we hear that phrase in movies or songs, it typically refers to an immense happiness. While our culture tries to achieve happiness in ways that are not always positive, The Lord s Prayer tells us heaven on earth happens when God s will is done. As we discussed earlier in this series, heaven is a perfect place where God s will is always done. In heaven, there is no temptation, no sin and no brokenness. This part of The Lord s Prayer petitions God that His will would be done here on earth just like His will is done in heaven. But what is God s will? In Luke 10:27, Jesus told us it is for us to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. Romans 12, after directing us not to conform to the patterns of this world, but to determine God s will, provides us with a detailed account of what love for others looks like in practice. As you prepare to teach this lesson, read Romans 12:9-21 and consider how you show love to others. How are you accomplishing God s will here on earth? Today s lesson encourages children to imagine what our world would be like if everyone followed God s will. Children will consider how they can personally follow God s will and how they can pray for heaven on earth.
Before Class Begins Place the Sign In sheet and a pen where parents can see it upon arrival. Place the Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards and pens where students can see them upon arrival. Check that you have supplies for this lesson: Arrival Activity, Love One Another Coloring Page 1 per child Butcher paper Love One Another worksheets 1 per child Place an arrival activity at each place on the table. Welcome SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards, Attendance chart, stickers, pens, Love One Another coloring page, crayons Greet each child individually as they arrive. Introduce yourself by name. Help children find or add their name on the attendance chart. Provide each child with a sticker to place in today s column on the attendance chart. Encourage children to complete a Joy or Concern card if they have a particular joy or concern they would like to express. Collect completed Joy & Concern cards. Encourage children to complete a Time or Talent offering card if they gave their time to God or used their talents to serve God or others during the previous week. Children should keep their own completed Time and Talent cards. If children bring monetary offering, they should keep it with them. Direct children to complete the Love One Another Coloring Page. Encourage conversation among the children and with you! Get to know the children in your classroom by asking about their week including school, activities and families. Introduce new children to each other and encourage friendships. Children s Worship SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards
Arrive at Ruth Hall at 9:20 or 11:05. Bring the Sign In sheet and completed Joy & Concern cards to Ruth Hall. Hand the Joy & Concern cards to the Children s Worship leader as you arrive. Have children bring their completed Time & Talent cards and any monetary offering. If additional children arrive while in Ruth Hall, have parents complete the Sign In sheet and remind parents that pickup is in Room 105. Encourage children to participate in Children s Worship and provide re-direction if necessary. Assist the Children s Worship leader as needed. At the conclusion of Children s Worship, have children line up and return to Room 105. The Lesson SUPPLIES: Butcher paper, pencil, Love One Another worksheets SAY: Today we learned that for earth to become more like heaven, we need to do God s will. We also learned that God s will is for us to love Him and to love others. In heaven, everyone listens to God everyone does God s will. Heaven is a perfect, happy place. It s our job to follow what God wants while we are here on earth because we want earth to be more like heaven! SAY: People can show love to God and to each other in many different ways. We are going to use the parts of our bodies as a guide to thinking of some of the ways to show love to God and to others. Ask for one volunteer. Have that volunteer lay on top of the butcher paper and trace the outline of their body. (Note: this does not need to be super accurate tracing them loosely is more than sufficient!) Hang the butcher paper on the wall. SAY: As we draw some of our body parts onto this shape, I want you to come up with ways you can use them to show love. One at a time, have volunteers draw a body part onto the shape. Have the class as a whole come up with ways to show love using each part. Record the ideas onto the butcher paper near the body part.
Refer to the Showing Love Discussion Guide for ideas. You may need to give the children the first example of ears so they get the idea of the activity. SAY: There are so many ways to show love to others! I think if you use your body to do all of these things you will help make earth more like heaven! I want you to think about three specific things you can do this week to show love to others. Give each child a Love One Another worksheet. Have them color the worksheet and record in the hearts three ways they can show love to others this week. Encourage children to make their choices as specific and personal as possible. For example, being kind is general, but asking the new girl in my class to sit with me at lunch and play together at recess is specific. Closing Lead the children in a closing prayer. You may say your own prayer, ask one of the children to say a prayer or use the one below. God, Help us to do your will by loving you and loving others. Help us to make earth more like heaven! Amen If time remains before parents arrive, encourage children to return to their Love One Another Coloring Page if they did not complete it. Also encourage conversation between children and with you. This is another opportunity to build relationships with the children in your classroom.
Showing Love Discussion Guide Ears Listening when others are talking Listening in church Eyes Reading the Bible Seeing when someone is hurting and needs help Seeing when someone is lonely Nose & Mouth Mind Singing hymns and praise music Speaking kind words Telling others about God Telling people you love them Learning about God Thinking of new ways to help others Heart Praying to God Being kind to others Hands/Arms Feet Holding the door Helping clean at home or at church Hugging someone Sharing toys or other things Going on mission trips Going to grocery store to buy food for food pantry
Love One Another Worksheet