Hi Kids. Our topic for today is the Lord's Prayer.
The Lord's Prayer is one of the most beautiful and important prayers in the Bible. It's a prayer that Jesus himself taught his disciples, and it's a wonderful guide for how we can talk to God. But for kids, some of the words can seem a little tricky! Let's break down Matthew 6:9-13 into easy-to-understand parts so your children can grasp the meaning of this powerful prayer.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
This part teaches us that God is our Father. Just like our earthly parents love and care for us, God loves us even more! He is in heaven, which means He is powerful and in charge of everything. "Hallowed be your name" means we show respect and honor to God. His name is special and holy. It's like saying, "God, you are amazing and wonderful!"
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Here, we're asking for God's perfect plan to happen everywhere. Think about how everything in heaven is perfect and just the way God wants it. We're praying for that same goodness, fairness, and love to be here on Earth too. It's about wanting what God wants!
Give us today our daily bread.
This line is about trusting God to provide for our needs. "Daily bread" means the things we need to live each day—so it's not just food, but also clothes, and a safe home. We're asking God to give us what we need, not necessarily everything we want, and to help us be grateful for it.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
This is a very important part about forgiveness 🙏. "Debts" here means our sins, the times we make mistakes or do things that aren't pleasing to God. We're asking God to forgive us, just like we should forgive others when they make mistakes or hurt us. It reminds us to have a kind and forgiving heart.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
In this last part, we're asking God for protection and guidance. "Temptation" is when we feel like doing something wrong. We're asking God to help us make good choices and to keep us safe from bad influences or anything that might lead us away from Him. It's like asking God to hold our hand and show us the right path.
Suggested Learning Activities:
Here are some fun ways to help kids remember and understand the Lord's Prayer:
Lord's Prayer Hand Motions: Create simple actions for each line of the prayer. For example:
"Our Father in heaven": Point up to the sky.
"Hallowed be your name": Bring hands together in a prayer pose.
"Your kingdom come": Make a crown shape above your head.
"Give us today our daily bread": Pretend to eat.
"Forgive us our debts": Cross your hands over your chest.
"Lead us not into temptation": Put hands out as if stopping something.
"Deliver us from the evil one": Make a strong, protective gesture.
Practice these motions together as you say the prayer.
Prayer Jar/Box: Decorate a jar or shoebox. On small slips of paper, write down things related to each line of the prayer.
Our Father: Write names of family members or people they love.
Your Kingdom Come: Draw pictures of things that are good and fair.
Daily Bread: Draw or write favorite foods or things they are grateful for.
Forgiveness: Write down times they need to ask for forgiveness or forgive someone else.
Temptation/Evil: Write down things that are hard to do or choices they struggle with.
Have kids pick one slip each day and talk about how it relates to the Lord's Prayer.
Lord's Prayer Storyboard: Print out the prayer, broken into its key phrases. Have kids draw a picture or use stickers to illustrate what each phrase means to them. For example, for "daily bread," they might draw a plate of food or their house. This helps them visualize and personalize the prayer.
"Thank You, God, For..." Gratitude Circle: Focus on "Give us today our daily bread." Sit in a circle and go around, with each child saying one thing they are thankful for that God provided that day. This reinforces the idea of God's provision and encourages gratitude.
Teaching the Lord's Prayer to children doesn't have to be complicated. By breaking it down into simple concepts and making it interactive, you can help them understand its profound meaning and develop a deeper connection with God through prayer.
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