Preparation

Before the lesson photocopy one worksheet for each child.

Lesson

Once again today, the children are going to pretend to be God and listen to some more prayer requests. Talk through the worksheet What God Hears - 2 before asking the children to complete it.

As God, how are they going to respond to these requests? Are they going to deny some? Why?

Ask children to reflect again on the last time they really prayed and their prayer did not 'work'. Invite volunteers to share their experiences with the rest of the class.

If Christians believe that God loves us all the same, how come some people's prayers 'work' and some people's don't? Is God playing dice?

Christians believe that an answer to this question lies in our understanding of God. In his prayers, Jesus addressed God as 'Dada'.

Do the children's Mamas and Dadas always do what they want them to do?

Activity

Role play a number of situations in which parent denies a child's request.

1. Child asks parent for pet wolf.
2. Child asks parent to do some menial task which child can do for herself.
3. Child asks parent to bash up sibling who child does not like.
4. Child ask parent for Christmas present in October.

Outcome of each role play should illustrate Christian views on why prayers are not answered.

1. God is not prepared to grant a person something which is dangerous.
2. God believes in D.I.Y.
3. Like a good parent, God loves His children all the same.
4. Christians often mistake 'Not yet' for 'No'.

Ask children to reflect once again on their own prayers which didn't 'work'. Were their prayers denied because of any of the reasons above? Discuss.

Even though some prayers appear not to 'work', Christians believe that God is always 'at work' in their lives, although this is often hard to see.

To illustrate this point, share with the children the story.

Discuss the meaning of the story with the children.

Notes

This lesson is a good opportunity to invite a visitor into school to talk about how God has responded to their prayer requests in the past and how He is still at work in their lives today.