VERSES: Luke 11:5-13
MEMORY VERSE: Luke 11:9 "...ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Joshua. Write "Joshua" on small slips of paper and hand out to students at the end of the class.
PRAYER: Remember to pray to God, thanking Him for his many blessings. Ask for favors from God, according to His will.
SPECIAL SONG: Read, Read Every Day (see February 2014 – Songs We Sing in Bible Class #1 for tune)
VISUAL AID: Divide the whiteboard or chalkboard up into six boxes. Draw the following pictures as you tell the story. In Box One, draw Jesus talking to His disciples. In Box 2, draw a door with a hand knocking. In Box 3, write the words “Don’t bother me now.” In Box 4, draw a door and a hand knocking. In Box 5, draw a door and a hand knocking. In Box 6, draw the friend giving three loaves of bread through an open door.
LESSON POINTS:
- As Jesus continued teaching His disciples to pray, He told them more things about prayer. He asked them a question, “Which one of you has a friend and would go to him at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread? When you told your friend that you had another friend who had been traveling and came to visit you, but you had nothing for him to eat and needed three loaves of bread, would your friend give it to you? Your friend would say, “Don’t bother me now because my door is shut and my children are in bed. I cannot get up and help you.”
- Jesus said to His disciples, “Even though he was your friend, he would not get up and give what was asked, but he would get up and give what was needed if you asked over and over and over again. Finally, the friend would give in and get whatever was needed.’ Jesus was talking about importunity or persistence.
- Jesus went on to say what this story meant. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will open to you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who seeks will find. Everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Jesus also said, “If a son asks for bread from his father, would he give him a stone? If he asked for a fish, would he give him a snake? Or if he asked for an egg, would he give him a scorpion? Even though you do bad things and sin, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your heavenly Father give you what you need if you ask?”
- Jesus was telling His disciples to ask for the things they needed and God would give it to them. All they had to do was ask. Never give up asking if it is important.
"Older Student" Tips:
- It is interesting that the order that Jesus tells His disciples to ask God for their desires spells the word ASK: Ask, Seek, Knock. This may help us to remember.
ACTIVITY: Be Persistent When You Pray! (Short story, but longer activity. Make sure there is enough time to do both. To shorten the activity, delete the bolt on the door, Steps 9-12.)
Materials needed: 9” x 12” black construction paper, 6” x 10”
dark brown construction paper, 4” x 5” tan construction paper, two 2” x 3” dark
brown construction paper, 5” x 9” orange construction paper, 1” x 6” dark brown
strip of construction paper, three 2” x 4” tan rectangles of construction
paper, one small round fastener, glue, scissors, crayons.
- Hand out black paper. This is the background.
- Hand out large brown paper. This is the door.
- Hand out two 2” x 3” brown rectangles.
- Fold ½” on top of rectangles.
- Glue the edges of both rectangles to the upper part of the door, so the rectangles can open upwards. (see picture at top)
- Draw black or brown lines on door to resemble wood, drawing over brown rectangles.
- Lift up each rectangle.
- Write “Don’t bother me!” under one rectangle and write "My children are in bed!" on the other rectangle. (see picture below.)
- Make small hole in the door under the small rectangle on the right side of the door. (see picture below.) (I used the point of the fastener to make the hole--the teacher may help with this step.)
- Make a hole in long brown strip. This is a "pretend" bolt on the door.
- Place fastener through the door and then through the bolt on the door.
- Open the fastener to secure. The bolt or latch can be "unlocked" when loaves are given.
- Fold ½” on left side of door.
- Glue edge of door ONLY.
- Place on bottom in the middle of black paper.
- Hand out orange paper.
- After opening door, glue orange paper in the middle of the black paper.
- Hand out three small rectangles of tan paper. These are the three loaves of bread.
- Write "LOAF OF BREAD" on each tan rectangle.
- Round corners of loaves and glue onto orange paper.
21. Hand out large tan paper.
22. Make a fist out of one hand and trace on tan paper.
23. Cut out fist.
24. Color and write "KNOCK! KNOCK!" on the fist.
25. Glue fist to outside of door.
26. Write "Be Persistent When You Pray!" in white crayon at top of black paper.
27. Write "Luke 11:5-13" and "Don't Give Up!" around door on black paper.
28. Student should be able to tell the lesson with this activity. Might try it if there is time at the end of class.