. UNIT 2 JESUS LOVED AND HELPED PEOPLE / PRESCHOOL SESSION 3 - JESUS TAUGHT ABOUT PRAYER BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 4:23-25; 5:1-2; 6:5-13 LIFE POINT: God wants people to talk to Him. CHRIST FOCUS: Jesus talked to God. BIBLE VERSE: Pray to God. Matthew 6:6 (Paraphrase) But when you pray, go into your priate room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (HCSB) But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:6 (KJV) But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (NIV) But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (ESV) But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you hae shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6 (NKJV) Production Notes p From simple to inoled, you can tailor Worship for Life to your kids and leaders: Short on supplies and leaders? For an easy prep, enlist a host, a music leader, and prepare the Connection Point game. Then show the ideos for the worship songs and other segments. Do you hae musicians who would like to lead worship songs? Check out the lead sheets on the DVD-ROM or substitute your songs! This symbol denotes that the segment or song is aailable on ideo. h This symbol indicates props that will be needed for today s session. 1
Schedule and Props This symbol indicates that a ideo is proided on the DVD-ROM. p This symbol indicates that the actiity is host or leader-led no ideo for this actiity. Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders Supplies: Jesus Taught About Prayer Coloring Sheet (DVD-ROM), crayons or washable markers Intro Backstage 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: clipboard, headset Countdown and Welcome 1-5 minutes People: Host Props: none Worship Song 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Point Game p Connection 5-10 minutes People: Host, eeryone Props: none Story Bible 5-6 minutes People: Storyteller Props: Bible Song Worship 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Set-up, Host Briana and Friends Video 2 minutes People: Host p Closing 2 minutes People: Host Props: none Outro Backstage 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: clipboard, headset off ears and around neck Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders Supplies: play money, numbered cube FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 2
t TECH Video and/or audio capabilities Microphones for singers Lights (optional) Optional sound effects aailable (see sound effects file) m music Be a Leader Eerywhere I Go God s Loe I Gie All My Thanks to You Jesus Is Alie We Can Loe Jesus Need help planning your session? Additional training for Worship for Life: Kids is aailable at ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 3
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) Optional huddle ups are for churches that hae a drop-off time before the session begins. There are multiple ideas for interaction during this time, such as simple games that preschoolers can play on the floor or within whateer arrangements you gather your kids. (Print the following for your small group leaders.) Simon Says Play the traditional game of Simon Says. Remind the kids how important it is to follow the instructions and only obey when the leader says: Simon says. Take turns letting other kids lead. Kids will sit down if they don t wait for Simon says. Color Jesus Taught About Prayer Coloring Sheets Tell preschoolers that today they will hae the opportunity to learn that God wants people to talk to Him. Distribute coloring supplies and coloring sheets to the preschoolers. Allow them to color on their pages while they wait for the session to begin. If the kids prefer to use blank paper, they can color on the back of the page. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 4
BACKSTAGE INTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option aailable, t Session Title slide p People: Stage Manager h Props: clipboard, headset (Show ideo or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Session Title slide.) Hey, eeryone! I m glad we re back together today. It s great when we get to do things together, isn t it? Did you know that Jesus had a whole group of people who followed Him? They were the disciples, and they learned from Him as He traeled from town to town. Jesus taught the disciples something ery important that we can learn today! First, I just need to check in with my team and see if they are ready to go. (into headset) Hey, team! Are you ready? Great! PLACES! (runs offstage) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 5
COUNTDOWN AND WELCOME c Estimated time: 1-5 minutes Tech: Countdown ideo, Life t Point slide, Bible Verse slide p People: Host h Props: none HOST (Play Countdown ideo. Host walks out at around 30 seconds.) Hey, eeryone! Let s get ready to count it down! Here we go! 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!! Great job! I am glad that we all get to be together. It would be pretty boring if you came here eery week and no one else was here, wouldn t it? Well, Jesus enjoyed being with people, too. He wanted to talk with them. Did you know that we can still talk to Jesus? Today we want you to know that God wants people to talk to Him. (Show Life Point slide.) Let s say that again together. (Repeat with slide.) God wants people to talk to Him. (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred ersion.) Our Bible erse today tells us exactly how that happens. Let s say it together: Pray to God. Matthew 6:6 (Paraphrase) But when you pray, go into your priate room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (HCSB) But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:6 (KJV) But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (NIV) But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (ESV) But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you hae shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6 (NKJV) Let s all stand up and worship Jesus together! (Host leaes as worship team gets in place.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 6
SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Music or lyric ideo, mics t fortech:singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader p and/or Worship Team h Props: none Music: Jesus Is Alie (lead m sheet aailable on DVD-ROM) or worship song of your choice (Show ideo or gie the following to your worship leader.) LEADER (Music begins.) First Thessalonians 5:17 says: Pray constantly. Can you imagine praying all the time? Would that seem strange? But prayer isn t always getting down on your knees and folding your hands. Prayer is any time we are talking to God. This song we will sing can be a prayer to God. Let s sing it together. (Show the music or lyric ideo.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) Now, let s get ready for Connection Point! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 7
p CONNECTION POINT GAME c Estimated time: 5-10 minutes Tech: Connection Point slide, t Connection Point theme music p People: Host, eeryone h Props: none Game Instructions Lead the group to sing the familiar heads, shoulders, knees, and toes song with corresponding motions. Words to song: Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees, and toes. Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees, and toes. Eyes and ears and mouth and nose! Head and shoulders, knees, and toes, knees, and toes. On the first few repetitions, sing slowly to allow kids to get the hang of things. Then speed up. To add more ariety and excitement, try remoing one word at a time (such as head) but still doing the motions. Continue until kids are left saying only and while doing the motions. host (Play Connection Point theme music and show Connection Point slide.) (Enters after theme music plays) Hi, eeryone. Welcome to Connection Point! Today let s all play a game together. All you hae to do is sing this song and do the motions with me. (Sing the song slowly while doing the motions with the kids. Add the ariety listed aboe and encourage fun and excitement.) Great job, eeryone! We did a great job singing the song with no words! Words can be ery important. Is it hard to talk to your mom and dad or a friend if you don t use words? Well, today we re learning about how God wants us to use our words to talk to Him! (Theme music/slide to transition. Host leads into next segment.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 8
BIBLE STORY c Estimated time: 5-6 minutes Tech: Christ Focus, Life Point, and t Bible Story slides; Bible Story ideo p People: Storyteller h Props: Bible (Play the Bible Story ideo or tell the following Bible story.) STORYTELLER (Show Bible Story slide.) Hello! I am so glad to see you! You know, I loe talking to God. I asked Him to help you know Him more. Eery time that we hear God s Word and spend time studying it or talking about it, we are learning something new about God. Did you know that as long as you lie on this earth, you ll neer learn eerything there is to know about God? There s always something new to learn! Do you pray for other people like I just prayed for you? (allows for responses) Who do you pray for? (allows for responses) That is so good! God wants us to talk to Him, and He loes when we pray for other people. Are you ready to hear a true story from God s Word today? (allows for responses) Great! Jesus had been teaching people about God in a town called Galilee. While He was there, He healed the people who were sick and He made them well. Let s say Jesus heals. (allows for responses) The news of Jesus and His healings were spreading throughout the town. More and more people who were sick came to see Jesus. Jesus healed all of their sickness. Let s say Jesus heals. (allows for responses) Jesus made them well again. Let s say, Jesus heals. (allows for responses) The people were amazed by Jesus and a large group began to follow Him. Jesus saw the large group of people, so He went up on a mountainside and sat down. Let s pretend to climb a mountain. (demonstrates for kids) Wow, we are up high! Let s sit down. While Jesus was sitting on the mountainside, He taught the large group of people how to pray. Jesus said, When you pray, go to a special place by yourself and talk to God. (Open the Bible to Matthew 6:8 and read.) Then Jesus said, Your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him. That means if you are sick, God already knows it. If you need God s help, He already knows it. God is so good! Then Jesus said, Pray like this: God, we loe You. Help us do things You want us to do. Gie us the food we need. Help us remember to loe those who hurt us just as You loe us. Help us to make the right choices. Amen. God wants people to talk to Him. He loes to hear your prayers. You can talk to God at any time and anywhere because He is with you. I am so thankful that Jesus taught us how to pray. (Show Christ Focus slide.) Jesus talked to God, and God wants us to talk to Him, too! Let s bow our heads and talk to God right now. God, thank You that we can talk to You. Thank You that You hear our prayers anytime, anywhere. Thank You for Jesus who teaches us how to pray. We loe You. Amen. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 9
SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Music or lyric ideo, mics t fortech:singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader p and/or Worship Team h Props: none Music: We Can Loe Jesus (lead m sheet aailable on DVD-ROM) or worship song of your choice (Show ideo or gie the following to your worship leader.) LEADER (Music begins.) (Music begins.) Jesus taught us to pray so that we would know how to communicate with God. Jesus also worshiped God and the Bible says that He een sang songs with His disciples. We can follow His example. Let s sing together now. (Show the music or lyric ideo.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 10
HOST SET-UP, BRIANA AND FRIENDS VIDEO c Estimated time: 2 minutes t Tech: Briana and Friends ideo p People: Host h Props: none HOST Today we learned that God wants people to talk to Him. Let s talk to our friend, Briana, about it. Listen carefully and remember, when she asks you a question, be sure to say your answers aloud! (Play ideo.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 11
p CLOSING c Estimated time: 2 minutes Tech: Session Title slide, t Bible Verse slide p People: Host h Props: none HOST (Show Session Title slide.) We e heard about talking to Jesus, and we e actually talked to Jesus today, too, both with our words and with our words in songs. But church isn t the only place we can pray, and it isn t the only place we can worship. Worship and prayer should be part of our lies eery single day. (Show Life Point slide.) Our life point today is God wants people to talk to Him. Let s say that one more time so we don t forget it. (Repeat with slide.) God wants people to talk to Him. Optional Giing Segment: Talking to God is definitely one of the ways we show Him that we loe Him. Another way is by giing to Him. If you d like to gie to God today, (Gie your own directions for how the kids can gie to God. Perhaps you hae buckets in the back of the room, a chest up front, or an enelope that each small group leader passes.) (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred ersion.) Let s go oer our erse one more time, OK? Pray to God. Matthew 6:6 (Paraphrase) But when you pray, go into your priate room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (HCSB) But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:6 (KJV) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (NIV) But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (ESV) But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you hae shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6 (NKJV) 12
BACKSTAGE OUTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option aailable, t Session Title slide p People: Stage Manager h Props: none (Show ideo or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Session Title slide.) Jesus taught us some great things about how to talk to God. You know, prayer is so important, and it s easy to do! Remember, you can pray any time. Just talk to God. He always listens! Be sure to grab the One Conersation page on your way out. It will help you talk with your family about what you e learned. And remember, you can always ask your leaders about things you may not understand. Can t wait to see you next week! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 13
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) This time is designed for churches that hae a pick-up time from a large room as parents arrie. It s a great time for follow-up conersations and questions from small group leaders about the session s content. You also can use the missions emphasis (below). (Print the following for your small group leaders.) What did Jesus teach His disciples and followers? (how to pray) How can we pray to God? (Talk with kids about ways they can pray or what they can tell Him.) MISSIONS EMPHASIS (OPTIONAL) Gather play money and a numbered cube. Tell kids we can support missionaries by giing. Gie each child the same number of bills. Each person will roll the cube and gie away that many bills. After fie minutes, call time. The person with the least amount of money wins. Comment that when we gie to missions, people can know about Jesus. Reiew the missions story and talk about how money gien to missionaries helps them tell people all oer the world about Jesus. Missions Story: Songhai Kingdoms A long time ago, the Songhai (SONG-hi) people were great warriors. They built large buildings and had lots of money and possessions. Today the Songhai are ery poor. They lie in the West African country of Niger (nih-zheer). Donkeys, goats, and sheep run wild in the place where the people lie. Most children do not go to school. They must work from a young age to help support their families. Many young children die from diseases. The Songhai people are not like they used to be. Most Songhai people do not beliee God sent His Son Jesus to sae us from our sins. They beliee in other gods. The Songhai lie in a place where there are no Christians or churches. They hae neer heard about Jesus. That is the job of the missionaries to the Songhai people to tell them who Jesus is, that He loes them, He died for them, and He wants a relationship with them. They hae neer heard that before. It is not easy for the Songhai people to beliee in Jesus. They are often pushed away by family and friends because of their belief in Jesus. Een though becoming a belieer is hard for the Songhai, some are still choosing to follow Jesus. Pray that God will continue to work in the lies of the Songhai people and more people will beliee in Him. Pray for the missionaries who are telling the Songhai people about the good news of Jesus and how they can hae life that will grow and last foreer. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 14