How to pray
Children's sermon
Object:
some nails, a hammer, a board to hammer the nails into
So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock,
and the door will be opened for you. (v. 9)
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have a hammer? (let them answer) Outstanding! A hammer is a wonderful tool. So are nails. I love to pound nails into a piece of wood. It has a wonderful sound and usually you get to do it several times when you are making something or hanging something up. I think people who build houses must have a wonderful time hammering the nails into pieces of wood.
I brought along with me today a hammer, some nails, and a piece of wood. Is there a volunteer that would like to hammer in the nails? (choose someone that will have some success) Let's try and hammer the nail into this piece of wood. How many times do you think it will take you to drive the nail into the wood? (let him/her choose a number) It will take (seven -- or as many times as child says it will) times to put this nail into the wood so that only the head of the nail is showing. Let's count how many times it takes. (each time he/she takes a stroke, make a count) It is harder than we think to drive a nail into a board. It takes a lot of experience. Sometimes we get tired of hammering or the nail gets bent and we have to stop and straighten it but with a lot of effort we will drive the nail into the board.
One day Jesus was trying to explain to his disciples how to pray to the Father in heaven. He gave them a sample prayer that they could use. We call it the Lord's Prayer. How many of you know the Lord's Prayer? (let them answer) It is a wonderful prayer and one that we use every Sunday and most people pray it everyday. Jesus also talked to them about how to think about prayer. God is not a machine, God is not a computer, but he is a Father. When you ask your father a question does he always give you an answer? (let them answer) Sometimes your father needs more information, sometimes he wants to know if this is something that you really need, and sometimes he thinks you are too young or it is too dangerous. There are lots of reasons why your father does not answer you instantly. The same is true with your Father God. Father God may be waiting for you to ask again when the time is right or Father God may want to tell you "no" but he is wanting to see if you will not come up with an answer of no yourself.
That's why hammering a nail into a board is a little bit like praying. It takes more than one pounding to drive in a nail and it often takes more than one prayer to God to receive the right answer. The next time you pick up a hammer think about praying to God and how sometimes it takes more than one prayer to hit home. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have a hammer? (let them answer) Outstanding! A hammer is a wonderful tool. So are nails. I love to pound nails into a piece of wood. It has a wonderful sound and usually you get to do it several times when you are making something or hanging something up. I think people who build houses must have a wonderful time hammering the nails into pieces of wood.
I brought along with me today a hammer, some nails, and a piece of wood. Is there a volunteer that would like to hammer in the nails? (choose someone that will have some success) Let's try and hammer the nail into this piece of wood. How many times do you think it will take you to drive the nail into the wood? (let him/her choose a number) It will take (seven -- or as many times as child says it will) times to put this nail into the wood so that only the head of the nail is showing. Let's count how many times it takes. (each time he/she takes a stroke, make a count) It is harder than we think to drive a nail into a board. It takes a lot of experience. Sometimes we get tired of hammering or the nail gets bent and we have to stop and straighten it but with a lot of effort we will drive the nail into the board.
One day Jesus was trying to explain to his disciples how to pray to the Father in heaven. He gave them a sample prayer that they could use. We call it the Lord's Prayer. How many of you know the Lord's Prayer? (let them answer) It is a wonderful prayer and one that we use every Sunday and most people pray it everyday. Jesus also talked to them about how to think about prayer. God is not a machine, God is not a computer, but he is a Father. When you ask your father a question does he always give you an answer? (let them answer) Sometimes your father needs more information, sometimes he wants to know if this is something that you really need, and sometimes he thinks you are too young or it is too dangerous. There are lots of reasons why your father does not answer you instantly. The same is true with your Father God. Father God may be waiting for you to ask again when the time is right or Father God may want to tell you "no" but he is wanting to see if you will not come up with an answer of no yourself.
That's why hammering a nail into a board is a little bit like praying. It takes more than one pounding to drive in a nail and it often takes more than one prayer to God to receive the right answer. The next time you pick up a hammer think about praying to God and how sometimes it takes more than one prayer to hit home. Amen.
