Use this free children’s sermon and Bible object to show kids the power of praying for others. Use it as a standalone teaching moment in your Sunday School or Kids Church. If you need more, don’t miss the 18-page Sunday School lesson based on 1 Timothy 2:1-6.
Main Objective: We are not made to be alone, and we cannot live on our own. God created us to rely on and help one another, and we can do that in a variety of ways. This message celebrates the power of praying for and with other people. We are called to intercede for all people, and we know that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. This message uses a few interactive exercises to emphasize how we need those around us for help. It then describes the importance of going to God in prayer for others.
Law/Gospel Theme: We need the prayers and support of other people. We can come to God with all of our needs, and can also ask for things that others might need. Most importantly, we need the Lord’s help in our lives. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don’t have the right prayers, and it’s a blessing to remember that He is with us always. We can do nothing without the love, help, and salvation of Jesus. And we can do all things through Him!
Optional Materials: (Optional) A string or piece of yarn, jar or water bottle
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.
Bible Passage: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Children’s Sermon Object Lesson on Prayer
Greet children and start things off with some challenges geared to getting students to need one another. If they figure this out ahead of time and want to use a partner, allow them to do so!
Hello, Children of God!
I have some challenges for you this morning…are you ready to try some strange activities? Here’s the first one: I am going to give you a string, and I want you to tie it on your wrist with the other hang. Ready? Go for it! (Allow some time to attempt tying the ribbon, which should be rather difficult. Move on when timing seems appropriate). Well, I guess that was a little tricky for you, wasn’t it? Okay, admittedly that was hard. Here’s another one: Can you describe for me exactly what the back of your head looks Like? You might want a mirror for this one, huh? It’s hard to explain when it’s usually behind you!
Okay, for the next couple of things, you’re going to need to put one hand behind your back. You can only do what I ask using one hand. First, I would like you to open this jar/water bottle for me…challenging? All right, last task: I want you to clap!
Now, those all seemed like things that were hard to do…at least, on your own they were hard to do. You might have figured out that if you got some help from a friend or neighbor, it made things a lot more manageable, right? Two hands are a lot better than one! Using another person to help you made things simple. And there are actually a lot of things in life that are the same way. God has not made us to go through this world alone, but to rely on one another. We should be ready and willing to help others with all that they might need.
Do you know one of the best ways we can serve other people? We can pray for them! In fact, the Bible calls us to pray for one another, not just those who we love and get along with well, but all others. We should pray for friends and loved ones, but we should also pray for people we might not know or like as well, and we should pray for leaders in government. These might be the last people you’d want to offer up prayer for, but they often need it the most! Prayer is powerful. It might not seem like that much, but it’s the greatest thing we can do. God hears our cries and responds to our prayers. And we know that the Holy Spirit prays on our behalf, interceding when we aren’t sure what to say. We don’t always have the best words and we might think that God doesn’t care much for what we would bring before Him. But Jesus came to live and die so that we could have direct access to the Father. We are His beloved children and our prayers to Him are precious. He will always hear and respond. So next time you see someone in need, near or far, and you’re not sure how to help…say a prayer!
Let’s say a prayer now to thank God for giving us the gift of prayer.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for letting us come to you in prayer
Remind us to come to you with needs
For ourselves and others around us
Thank you for helping when we don’t have all the right words
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. -1 Timothy 2:1-7