I Can Pray Anytime

Host

Welcome to the Lab!

Co-Host

You were four seconds late welcoming the kids.

Host

Four seconds?

Co-Host

Time is a big deal. If you’re four seconds late five times, then we’re…

Host

20 seconds late?

Co-Host

Oh yeah, never mind, we have plenty of time. I’m taking a break.

Host

Since we have so much extra time, why don’t we fill it with a game. We’ve chosen two kids to play. I don’t know about you, but I don’t love hearing the alarm clock in the morning. In this game, the contestants will lay down and “go to sleep.” When the alarm clock rings, they have to find it so they can turn it off. The first one to find the alarm clock wins that round.

Have the kids lay down on the stage with the pillow and blanket. Have some fun and encourage them to snore or toss and turn. At random times in each round, play Alarm Clock sound. The kids run and find the clock. Play as many rounds as time allows.

Co-Host

Some things you mainly do in the morning, like waking up, and some things you primarily do in the evening, like going to bed. But today we’re going to hear about something you can do at any time of the day.

Host

First let’s check in at the lab.

Co-Host

Alex makes a pretty good “Cat in the Hat.” I just wish all of that bad stuff hadn’t happened to his play.

Host

True, but Rusty gave him a great idea. Praying and chatting with God is the best decision because God can help us.

Co-Host

When should they start?

Host

Our Big Point will tell us that answer. I need a volunteer to help us reveal it.

Co-Host

You will read it for us after we count down from three.

Host

Let’s all say it together, “I Can Pray Anytime!”

Co-Host

Our Big Point makes it clear that we can pray at any point in the day. If something comes up that you want to share with God, then you can just stop and chat with Him about it right away.

Host

Let’s see how this works. Look at these slides. On each one we’re going to see a reason why someone might think that he or she can’t pray.

Host

When you think of a pillow, what do you think of? Sleeping. Look at this verse from the Bible,

Host

Psalm 121:4 (NIrV) says, “In fact, He who watches over Israel won’t get tired or go to sleep.” God is always awake and available to listen and talk.

Co-Host

What about this picture? It looks like a traditional church building. Do you think that Sundays or Wednesdays are the only time when a person can really pray?

Co-Host

John 4:24 (NIrV) says, “God is spirit. His worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Jesus said that to let us know that now we can worship God anywhere.

Host

Of course, we know that is planet…Earth, right. No matter where you are on earth, you are never too far from God to speak to Him. Listen to

Host

Deuteronomy 4:7 (NIrV), “The Lord our God is near us every time we pray to Him.” You don’t have to wait for the earth to rotate to a new day to talk to God. Let’s see what happened when Rusty and Alex prayed.

Host

I can’t believe Rusty and Alex think that they can only pray at a certain time.

Co-Host

I can’t believe they made Herman rhyme. You’re right, they should listen to the Big Point. Let’s say our Big Point,

Co-Host

I Can Pray Anytime!

Host

Let’s turn to the Bible and learn our Big Verse.

Co-Host

After we count down from three, read the Big Verse.

Co-Host

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIrV) says, “Never stop praying.” Does that verse mean something like this? I need a couple of volunteers to help us. (Bring up two kids) It’s time for a race. When I say, “Go,” read this without stopping to take a breath. Keep reading it as long as you can without stopping. I’ll time you on my phone. Go!

Co-Host

They did a good job, but they both had to stop. Can we really never stop praying?

Host

That verse doesn’t mean that we can’t take a break from praying or that we can’t breathe or that we can’t have conversations with other people. It means that prayer should be something we utilize all the time.

Co-Host

So, God wants us to pray throughout the day, even if we can’t pray out loud, like in the middle of a math test.

Host

Yes, chatting with God can be such a normal thing that we just chat with God everywhere we go, even if we do it quietly or in our minds. That’s actually something Jesus did. Before we hear that story, let’s take a moment to stand and worship God.

Do you know that you can actually use the Bible to pray? Praying the scriptures we read in God’s Word is a great way to pray the way God wants us to pray. Our Big Verse is a great one to pray. Let’s do that now. Repeat this prayer after me, “Dear God, help me to never stop praying and chatting with you.” (Repeat 3x) That’s called meditating on God’s Word, and it's a great way to keep praying throughout the day.

Co-Host

I’m glad that Rusty and Alex discovered they can pray anytime.

Host

They’re on their way to a great performance. While He was here on earth, Jesus prayed all the time. He spent time with His Heavenly Father. Jesus is a great example of our Big Point,

Host

I Can Pray Anytime!

Co-Host

That’s a story you can share with your family when you do this week’s Big Do.

Host

Chat with God in a place where you’ve never prayed before. You could pray on the playground, in the car, or even in the bathtub.

Co-Host

Our Big Verse told us to never stop praying. In this final game, your job is to not stop popping balloons until you find the Big Verse. Each team must keep popping balloons until they find all the words in our Big Verse, but you cannot use your hands. You must use only your feet to stomp them. Are you ready? Go!

Host

Great job to our winners. Let’s turn and connect with our small groups and talk about prayer.

• Do you have a place or time where you normally pray? Do you think it’s okay to pray at other times or in other places? Why?

• Why did Jesus pray often? He loved talking with His Father and wanted to make sure that He always said and did exactly what His Heavenly Father told Him to say and do. Why do you think it was important for Jesus to pray on the night before He died on the cross? It helped Jesus prepare for the difficult time ahead

• Why would it be helpful for a kid to pray when they face a problem at school? They can pray and ask for God’s help right when a problem happens, or they could pray for wisdom or what to say. How could it help them to pray right away and not wait? They could get answers right away, receive peace and help.

• What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? Pray somewhere you’ve never prayed before

• Our Big Point says I Can Pray _____!

  • Anytime

  • At Night

• How often did Alex think he could pray?

  • Once a week

  • Once a month

• What did Jesus do on the night before he died on the cross?

  • Partied

  • Prayed

• While Jesus prayed, what did His disciples do?

  • Slept

  • Prayed

• Jesus didn’t really need to pray while He was on earth.

  • True

  • False

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIrV), “Never _____ praying.”

  • Stop

  • Start

• Name one place where you can pray.

• Jesus’ disciples learned their lesson, and later in their lives, they prayed often.

  • True

  • False

• Name a reason why it might be a good idea to pray right away at school instead of waiting.

• What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do? Pray somewhere you’ve never prayed before