Free Bible lesson for kids · Ministry in Galilee
The Lord’s Prayer
Jesus taught His disciples not to pray to be seen by others, but to talk to their Father in heaven, and He gave them a pattern for prayer.
- Bible passage
- Matthew 6:5–15 · Luke 11:1–4
- Big idea
- We can talk to God as our Father.
- Memory verse
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Matthew 6:9 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
Jesus taught that we should not pray like the hypocrites, who pray on street corners to be seen by people (Matthew 6:5). Instead, we can go into a room, shut the door, and pray to our Father, who sees in secret (Matthew 6:6). We do not need to repeat empty words, for our Father knows what we need before we ask (Matthew 6:7–8).
Jesus said, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). We ask for His kingdom to come and His will to be done (Matthew 6:10). We ask for daily bread, for forgiveness as we forgive others, and to be kept from temptation and evil (Matthew 6:11–13). Another time a disciple said, “Lord, teach us to pray,” and Jesus taught this prayer again (Luke 11:1–4).
Read it in the Bible: Matthew 6:5–15 (KJV)
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Read it in the Bible: Luke 11:1–4 (KJV)
1And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3Give us day by day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Questions to ask
Who did Jesus say we pray to?
Our Father which art in heaven.
What does “hallowed” mean?
Holy, honored as holy.
What does the prayer ask God to forgive?
Our debts (our sins), as we forgive others.
What this story teaches
- God is our Father in heaven, and we may talk with Him (Matthew 6:9).
- God hears quiet prayers that no one else sees (Matthew 6:6).
- God knows what we need before we ask (Matthew 6:8).
- God’s name is holy and should be honored (Matthew 6:9).
- God forgives us, and we must forgive others too (Matthew 6:12, 14).
Jesus Is the Way
We can come to God as our Father because of Jesus. He is the way, and no one comes to the Father except through Him.
John 14:6
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Pray the Lord’s Prayer together. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “We can talk to God as our Father.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Matthew 6:9 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · activity · indoors · about 12 minutes
Prayer Hand
You need: Paper, crayons
- Trace your hand on paper.
- Write or draw on each finger: thumb, people close to me; pointer, people who teach me; tall finger, leaders; ring finger, people who are sick or sad; little finger, me.
- Use your hand to pray together, one finger at a time.
Jesus taught us to talk to God as our Father in heaven. We can pray about everything.
For youth group · activity · outdoors · about 20 minutes
Prayer Walk
You need: A safe route around the church or neighborhood, a leader for each group
- Go out in small groups, walking slowly.
- Pray quietly as you pass homes, schools and businesses: for the families, teachers and workers there.
- Use the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer as you go.
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
Pray
Pray the Lord’s Prayer together.