The Lord's Prayer

Reader's Theater Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activity: 

Readers Theater of the catechism questions related to the Lord’s Prayer; each question is accompanied by a tale or scripture reference. Everyone learns to tell the parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee.

Rotation Notes:

this lesson is most appropriate for grades three and up (proficient readers)

Background comments on the story:

The Lord’s Prayer is included in the Temple Service instruction portion of the Sermon on the Mount. It is “the very center of the Sermon on the Mount, structurally and theologically” (Boring). Jesus is not teaching that long and/or public prayers are wrong. Rather, he is telling his listeners to be aware of their motives for doing what they do. The prayer form Jesus teaches is similar to that of other Jewish prayers, and consists of an address to God and two sets of three petitions.

Scripture Reference:

Matthew 6: 1-18 (and Luke 11: 1-4)

Workshop Objectives:
At the end of the session the children will be able to:

• Locate the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and know the Gospels are the Good News about Jesus.
• Relate the story of Jesus teaching his disciples and others to pray as part of the instructions included in the Sermon on the Mount.
• Know the Lord’s Prayer.
• Understand the Lord’s Prayer through the framework of the Catechism questions.

Teacher preparation in advance:

• Read background notes
• Gather materials from supply list.

Supply List:

• Props, scenery, costumes.
• Bibles, pencils, paper, flipchart and markers.
• Books for sharing before and after class: there are illustrated versions of the Lord’s Prayer (although many have unattractive illustrations). Also look for picture book collections of New Testament stories and collections of prayers.

Presentation

Opening-Welcome and Introductions:

Welcome kids.

Group time:
Open with prayer.

Early arrival activity: Compare the Good News Bible (Today’s English Version) (Matthew 6: 9-13 and Luke 11: 1-4) to how we say the Lord’s Prayer. (Do this in groups of two or three.)

Read the scripture:  Matthew 6: 1-18

Assign the 11 scripture passages and help the students find them. Give them time to read through their assigned passages and help them pronounce any words they find difficult. Remind the students to state the scripture reference (e.g. “This reading is from the book of Matthew, chapter 18, verses 1 to 5) before reading the scripture.

Dig- Main Content and Reflection

Application:

Do you sometimes feel that you need someone to teach you how to pray? Jesus disciples felt they needed help talking to God.
If time permits: Compare the Good News Bible (Today’s English Version) to how we say the Lord’s Prayer.

Lesson Activity:

Bringing the story to life: Choral reading

• Practice the choral reading of the catechism questions and related scripture.
• Decide who will read which parts.
• Have the class split in half and designate one group “left” and the other “right;” select Reader 1 and Reader 2. (Depending on the size and makeup of the class, you may wish to re-designate certain parts.)
• If time permits, you may wish to read through once without the scripture readings, so that everyone can get a feel for the musical nature and rhythm of the choral reading.

 Discussion/Reflection:

• Why do we pray to God? (Belonging to God: a First Catechism question #46)

Because we were created to live with God, who desires the prayers of our hearts. Our hearts long for God, for we need God’s help and guidance every day.

• When are some times that you talk to God in prayer?
• What are some ways that you talk to God in prayer?
• Is there a right way and a right time to pray?

Closing:

Pray the Lord’s Prayer together.
The Lord’s Prayer: A Choral Reading with Bible Stories
Based on Belonging to God: A First Catechism -

https://www.presbyterianmissio...god-first-catechism/

Reader 1: How did Jesus teach his followers to pray? [Question #48]

Reader 2: He taught them the words of the Lord’s Prayer.
In the book of Matthew, Chapter 6, it is written

All:

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.

Students: What do we mean when we pray to God as “Our Father”? [#50]

Teachers: As Jesus taught us, we call upon God like little children who know that God cares for them and loves them. Because Jesus prayed to God as his Father, we too can pray to God in this way.

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-5

Girls: When we pray to God as our Father, do we mean that God is male? [Question 51]

Boys: No. Only creatures who have bodies can be male or female. But God is spirit and has no body.

Scripture: Genesis 1:27

Right side: What do we mean when we pray to God “in Heaven”? [#52]

Left side: We mean that God draws near to us from beyond this world and hears our prayers.

Scripture: Luke 2: 13-14.

Right side: What do we mean when we pray “hallowed be your name”? [#53]

Left side: We pray that God’s name will be honored in all the world and everywhere treated as holy, because God’s name really stands for God.

Scripture: Exodus 3:13-15

Reader 1: What do we ask when we pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”? [question 54]

Students: We ask God to fulfill God’s purposes for the whole world. We also ask God to make us able and willing to accept God’s will in all things, and to do our part in bringing about God’s purposes.

Scripture: Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians 3: 7-13

Reader 2: Why do we pray “Give us today our daily bread”? [question 55]

Girls: Because all good things come from God. Even in our most ordinary needs, God cares for us completely.

Scripture: Psalm 78: 23-29

Teachers: What do we ask when we pray “Forgive us our sins”? [#56]

Boys: Telling God we are sorry, we ask God not to hold our sins against us, but to accept us again by grace.

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Girls: Why do we continue with “as we forgive those who sin against us”? [question 57]

Boys: Because we are to forgive others, just as God has forgiven us.

Scripture: Colossians 3:13

Reader 1: What do we ask when we pray “Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil”? [# 58]

Students: We ask God to protect us, especially when we most need it. We pray for God to free us from all desires that would lead us to sin, and to shelter us from the powers of evil that may threaten us.

Scripture: I Corinthians 10: 12-13

Students: What does it mean to pray “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever?” [question 59]

Teachers: We praise God for being able and willing to do everything we have asked in this prayer. We give ourselves over to God’s wise and gracious rule, because we know that God can be trusted to make all things work together for good, now and forever.

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29: 10-12

Teachers: Why does our prayer end with “Amen”? [question 60]

Students: “Amen” means “so be it” or “let it be so.” It expresses our complete confidence in God, who makes no promise that will not be kept and whose love endures forever.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:20

All: Amen!

Resources:

• Belonging to God: A First Catechism, PCUSA. https://www.presbyterianmissio...god-first-catechism/
• The New Interpreter’s Bible: Volume VIII. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995. (Matthew commentary by M. Eugene Boring.)

A lesson written by Amy Crane for: Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church
Tampa, FL

Permission granted to freely distribute and use, provided the copyright message is included.

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