Scripture:
for
teacher background: Luke 6:12-16 Matthew 14:22-32
Making
contact:
Have
something locked up that needs a key to unlock it – demonstrate finding the key
and being so excited when it opened the box or padlock.
Or
Place a transparent bowl of water half filled
with water, a stick, a stone, a straw and a little sugar or salt on a table in
front of the class.
Ask your class to guess which of these items will sink or
float if placed in the water as you drop each item into the bowl.
Discuss what
makes each item sink or float depending on the material and discuss how Jesus
(heavy as He was) could walk on water.
Exploration:
Prayer
was very important to Jesus. One night Jesus went up a hill and He spent the
whole night praying to God. When day came He called his disciples and He chose
12 of them to be apostles –
Simon
(He named him Peter), his brother Andrew;
James
and John
Philip
and Bartholomew
Matthew
and Thomas
James
and Simon
Judas,
son of James and Judas Iscariot
Another
time after teaching all day long on the hillside, the disciples got in a boat
to go on ahead to the other side.
Jesus stayed behind and went up a hill to
pray by Himself.
He could see the boat was getting tossed about and as hard as
the disciples rowed they couldn’t get across.
Between 3 and 6 in the morning
Jesus came walking on the water towards them. They screamed in fear, thinking
He was a ghost.
Jesus called out to them telling them it was He.
Peter said
“Lord if it is really you call me to come to you.”
Jesus said “Come” So Peter
got out the boat and began walking on the water.
Then he noticed the strong
wind and the big waves and he was afraid. He began to sink.
At once Jesus
reached out and saved him. He asked him why he doubted. When they got back in
the boat the wind died down. They worshiped Him and exclaimed that He truly
was the Son of God.
Application
Prayer
is a key that unlocks God’s power.
Jesus prayed many hours and still prays for
us now at the right hand side of the Father.
He has given us this special key
and we can use it. Here are some guidelines on how to use it:
Prayer
is simply talking to God who is our Father who loves and cares for us
Pray
believing that God is listening and has the power to answer your prayers….
Pray
in the name of Jesus….He carries our prayers. He is our only mediator…Peter
called out to Jesus when he was sinking.
Pray
in your heart or out aloud…..
Pray
by yourself often and also with others. It is powerful when you agree on
something and ask together for it.
Don’t
show off when you pray – rather pray in secret
Keep
your prayers simple – don’t use clever words
Pray
for people who are sick and need God’s help.
Pray
for your family and friends everyday
Pray
for people by name and be specific
Don’t
look too much at the circumstances around you – the big waves, - like Peter did
– keep your eyes on Jesus and trust Him
Get
someone to share a short testimony on how prayer worked for them – getting lost
and then praying and finding way or finding lost keys…………calling on the name of
Jesus when frightened……..
Share
how it is important to pray before we make decisions. We need to ask God for
wisdom.
It is a good idea to ask God to bless food before we eat. It shows we
love Him and honour Him before we feed our tummies.
If
we are afraid we can call on the name of Jesus, because Jesus has won the
victory over all evil.
Pray
the Lord’s Prayer together.
Read
Psalm 91
Challenge to Mission
Does
your church have prayer groups? – Join one or start one.
The true measure of a
church is the size of the prayer meeting!
Does
a member of your family or a friend need to meet Jesus? Pray for them everyday.
Children
often have more faith than adults. Does your church need something?
Get the
children praying. Pray and ask Jesus to provide for your church. Pray often.
Teachers,
do you pray for the children?
Consolidation
There
is a worksheet with a picture of Jesus praying and Peter sinking in the water
calling out to Jesus. The mission challenge is a challenge to pray and then do
something to help answer the prayer.
Memory verse
“If you believe, you will
receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Matthew 21:22
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