David C Cook COVID-19 Response

Taught to Pray

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Materials Needed:

  • Internet access

Once all students have arrived, divide students into pairs or small groups. If possible, ensure at least one person in each pair or group has a pair of shoes that tie with laces.

Once students are in their small groups or pairs, instruct the students with laced shoes to untie their laces.

Today, we will pretend that the people with laced shoes have never learned how to tie them. It’s the job of their teammates to teach them to tie their shoes using only their words or hand motions. Give as many detailed instructions as possible, seeing if your teammate can tie their shoes in less than two minutes using only your instructions (and not their prior knowledge on how to do this task!)

If possible, model with another leader how this exercise will go. Then, give teams or small groups about two minutes to instruct their teammates on how to tie their shoes.

Ask the “teacher” of the group:

  • What teaching tactics did you use to teach your teammate how to tie their shoes? (Answers will vary, but may include: I told them what to do. I showed them a part of the recipe. I modeled it for them.)

Ask the large group:

  • Do you prefer to be a teacher or a learner? (Answers will vary.)
  • What is your favorite way to learn something new? (Answers will vary.) 
  • What are some things we need to be taught to do—things that don’t just come naturally? (Answers will vary, but after some discussion, students will find that almost everything requires a teaching/learning process of some kind.)

Just as we learn practical life skills like how to tie our shoes, we can also learn spiritual skills, such as how to pray. In the movie The War Room, the character Miss Clara teaches the character Elizabeth how to pray, by comparing prayer life to a cup of coffee—it can be hot, cold, or lukewarm.

  • If a person has a “hot” prayer life, how would he/she pray? What would that look like in a real life? (Miss Clara implies that a “hot” prayer life involves attending church regularly and knowing the Lord. Someone who has a “hot” prayer life probably prays often. They may pray using Scripture, pray by themselves, pray with others, sing their prayers, write out their prayers, ask for pray requests, pray for other people’s prayer requests, etc.)
  • What do you think a “cold” prayer life looks like? (A person with a “cold” prayer life probably doesn’t pray at all.)
  • What do you think a “lukewarm” prayer life looks like? (Someone with a lukewarm prayer life might only pray occasionally such as at church or mealtimes.)

The Bible tells us to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). But many of us just don’t think much about prayer. Good prayer habits are like anything else—they need to be taught. Today we are going to find out how to pray from the greatest Prayer Coach of all time! Let’s hear what He has to say.

Looking for Steps 2 & 3?

You can find Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher’s guide. To purchase a teacher’s guide, please visit: Bible-in-Life or Echoes.

Materials Needed:

  • Prayer board printouts on cardstock (1 per student; template here)
  • Markers (extra-fine tip)
  • Optional: Invited guest speaker with a strong prayer life; additional copies of prayer board

Spread the word

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Share This