Family Worship (June 7)

Have you ever needed help with something and wondered who to ask? Maybe you couldn’t reach a snack on a high shelf, needed help with homework, or felt scared during a thunderstorm. Most children know exactly what to do—they call for Mom or Dad. Why? Because they trust that their parents care about them and will help if they can.

Jesus says prayer is a lot like that. Prayer is talking with our heavenly Father. Sometimes we think prayer has to use fancy words or happen at a special time. But Jesus teaches us that prayer is simply coming to God as his children. We can praise him, ask for help, tell him about our needs, confess our sins, and trust him to guide us.

The amazing thing is that God is never too busy to listen. Through Jesus, we can come boldly to God because he loves us. Prayer is not just about getting things from God. It is about spending time with God and growing closer to him every day.

Luke 11:1-4, 9-13 (NIV)
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus taught his disciples to call God “Father” when they prayed?
2. What are some things you can ask God for besides toys, treats, or things you want?
3. Jesus says to ask, seek, and knock. What does that teach us about how we should pray when we need God’s help?

Family Activity: The Hand Prayer
Have everyone hold up one hand. Count to five on your hand and learn the five key words of the Lord’s Prayer:

Father (1 finger pointing up) –– Thank God for being your one loving Father.
Kingdom (2 fingers make a peace sign) –– Pray for God’s kingdom of peace, love, and justice to come.
Bread (3 fingers say three words “our daily bread”) –– Ask God to provide everything you need today.
Forgive (4 fingers say “four give”) –– Confess your sins to God, and ask for help to forgive others.
Lead (5 fingers open hand) –– Trust God to lead you, guide you, and protect you  wherever you go.

Go around the room and let each family member pray one sentence for each finger. By the end, your family will have prayed through the pattern Jesus taught.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us and listening when we pray. Thank you for sending Jesus so we can come to you as your children. Help us trust you with our needs, confess our sins, forgive others, and follow your ways. Teach our family to pray with boldness and confidence because you are a good Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Work:

New City Catechism
23. Why must the Redeemer be truly God?
That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective.

Memory Verse
Matthew 6:9-13
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’