Prayer

What is prayer?—Answer: Communication with God.  It is not just asking for what we need or want.  It is also loving communication and worship.  It is the venue in which we praise, repent, ask for help for ourselves and others.

How do we pray?

First— we must come before the Lord humbly and with respect

The Pharisee and the Publican— Luke 18:9-14

Second—We are not to use vain repetitious prayer—Matt. 6:7-8 (discuss what that means)

Third—Let’s see how Jesus taught his disciples to pray—Matt. 6:9-13

Discuss how Jesus taught the disciples to pray.   

• He first addressed the father–letting God know he was being spoken to and showing how to do it in a respectful, humble manner.  (Not like the Pharisee)

• He then stated that God (the father) is the one in control here no matter what I ask or say you are the one who’s will, will be done.

• Asked for what he had need of.

• Asked to be forgiven and at the same time forgave those who had wronged him.

(mind you Jesus needed not to ask forgiveness, he had never sinned, but this was to teach us how to pray)

• Then he asked for guidance and protection from evil.  He asked for help for future knowing, stating and believing that the Father is in control of all things and that he has the power to do all that we have asked him.

He didn’t tell them to pray that particular prayer everyday, 3 times a day.  That would be vain and repetitious.  He gave a demonstration of how we are to approach God, how we ask for what we need, how to ask forgiveness and to give forgiveness, and to seek his guidance and safety in our daily lives.  He showed us that we must be aware that God is the one in control, that we are the ones that need him, that we need to be humble like the Publican was before the Lord. 

With all that said prayer is something that we must do everyday.  Most Christians start out their day with prayer and end their day with prayer.  This takes discipline.  It’s not easy to get out of bed in the morning and immediately begin praying.  Sometimes we get busy before bedtime planning for the next day and forget to pray and thank the Lord for the day we have had.

I too am human and I am not a very disciplined person, and I have to admit that just kneeling down and praying (especially in the morning) is boring and puts me right back to sleep.  After all praying to an invisible God is not like talking to someone that you see face to face and can hear them talking back.  

However, there are some ways that we can pray that makes prayer time more interesting.  Praying isn’t just getting on your knees in your room or at church.

You can go to places outdoors.  Maybe the park our just out in your yard.  A quite place that is special and serene.

Believe it or not you can pray by writing your prayers to the Lord.  That is the kind of prayer you can do maybe at school when you need to Lord’s help.  No one can hear you and you don’t have to close your eyes.  Maybe you are just not in the talkative mood.

You can pray when walking.  That’s a good way to get exercise too.  Take a walk and talk to God.  You can pray for those in your neighborhood with each house to pass, say a prayer for those that live inside those walls.  You never know what they might be going through.

You can make a prayer scrapbook.  Make a scrapbook page for each person of your family or some friends.  A page for people that need healing.  A page for people on the mission field.  A page for those who are lost.  A page for those who need deliverance from addictions.  You name it everyone needs prayer.   You can get that scrapbook out and say a prayer at every page for the person or issue on that page.

You can invent a prayer game.  Place a poster on your wall with six pockets.  Each pocket has a different thing to pray for, i.e. Missions, healing, addictions, family members, church growth, spiritual health and church members, lost friends, teachers and family, etc. You can make up sheets to go in the pockets to describe what that pocket is for, with pictures of the people or things you are praying for from that pocket.  Once you have made your poster board and filled the pockets with things to prayer for, roll a die and whatever number it lands on is the number of the pocket you select to pray for the things in it that day. 

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The most important thing to know about prayer is that it works.  God answers every single prayer.  Sometimes it’s no but he does answer.  Not only that prayer is communication between us and God and God does speak back to us.  He speaks to our hearts and our minds.  

There is an exercise you can do when praying and that is be a “scribe”.  A scribe would write down everything that God said.  While you are praying you may receive thoughts of assurance that God is going to do what you asked him for, you may hear him tell you how much he loves you and that he’s proud of you.  He may guide you to pray for someone, or something in particular.  After you are done praying write down the things he told you and reflect on them knowing that God has spoken to you and that he does hear you.  You also helps to refer back to your prayers because it helps you to see which ones God has answered positively.  Keep a “scribe journal”. 

Memory Verse:   1 Thess. 5:17— Pray without ceasing.

(You guys are sooooo lucky, I was going to have you memorize the Lord’s prayer!)

Staying Afloat in a World That's Drowning

Start with Prayer---


Scripture text: Genesis 6:1-8; 11-14; 17-18;7:1
Scripture Text: Luke 17:26-27

Today we are going to talk about staying afloat in a world that is drowning.  Just like it was in the days of Noe so shall it be in the day that the son of man comes.  Lets see what it was like in Noah’s days.  In Noah days despite the warning of a soon coming flood that would destroy the earth only one family was saved from destruction because they listened to and obeyed God’s instruction.  God had sent Noah (a preacher of righteousness) the bible calls him to deliver a message of repentance to an untoward generation.  No one listened.  They just kept on eating, drinking, getting married.  Living the same old life.  They weren’t concerned about salvation after all what did they have to fear.  They had never even heard of rain.  It had never rained before why should they possibly believe it would ever rain.  Perhaps no one responded to Noah’s message and we know that no one except Noah’s own family was saved.  How sad!  However, I bet when Noah first started preaching about the flood, although I know there were many scoffers, I believe there could have been a few who actually did believe him, after all Noah was a reputable man.  I believe there were even some who repented and tried to live an good life.  However, it was 120 years from the time Noah started preaching his message of repentance until the flood actually came.  That’s a long time to preach the same message without anything happening.  Maybe there would have been many more passengers on the ark along with Noah’s family had the flood came right after Noah started preaching about it.  However, 120 is a long time to wait.  Many probably asked, “Noah, when is the rain gonna come.  We’re waiting”.  There may have been some believers who died during that 120 years, but I bet the others simply got tired of hearing the same old message and gave up.  Nevertheless, Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives, eight people were saved.  They held out until the end.  They continued in the faith until the flood actually came.

Let’s talk about today.  How many times do you suppose in your short lives have you heard that Jesus is coming back for us.  That we would be raptured away?  100, 1000?

Have you ever questioned when, how long is it going to be? When is he coming back?  I have been hearing this forever.

The disciples asked this question to Jesus one day.  Let’s see how he responded.

Matt. 24:3-8;12-14;36-44

Although we’ve heard it our whole lives that Jesus is coming back soon, here the bible tells us that no man knows the day nor the hour of his return.  Our only instructions is to watch and be ready.  What are we to watch for?  Well the bible tells us what it’s going to be like in the last days.  According to all the bible tells us we are truly living in the last days, however, the last days seem like they have been the last “years”.  When is he ever gonna come?  When he’s coming is not the focus of the message, I’m sure many in Noah’s days asked.  When is it going to rain, Noah?  When?  When Jesus is coming is not the focus of the message it’s that he is coming as promised and we must be looking for his return and we must be ready and waiting.  If we all knew when he was coming we would do whatever we wanted until the very last minute and then try to get ready.  We would have a deathbed repentance policy.  That just don’t work.  However, just like it was in Noah’s days, the people went on about their business never giving salvation a thought.  It was a foreign concept to them.  It’s easy for us to begin to feel like that after hearing so often that Jesus is coming back.  Many have given up the faith or say in their hearts “I’ll get right later, I’ve got time”.  Many (most) give no thought at all about when he could return or how soon that day is.  Jude said that we must earnestly contend for the faith.  We can’t allow ourselves to become lax because God is not slack concerning his promise.  Just like Peter said one day with the Lord is as a 1000 years and a 1000 years as one day.  We can never know when he’s coming but we must be on guard,  and must stay (or get) ready for that day.  How can we be ready for that day?

Noah told the folks in his day...repent of your evil deeds or there will be a judgment of flood.  If you repent you can come aboard the ark (the only means of protection) and when the flood comes you will be saved.

The bible talks about baptism being what saves us just like the water saved Noah and his family...

1 Pet. 3:20-21—which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.

In order for us to be ready for Jesus’ return we must repent, be baptized and then we will receive the promise of the Holy Ghost.  Then we must stay ready.

Memory verse:  

Matt. 24:42—Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.



• That godly men took ungodly woman to themselves to be wives or just lovers.  They had babies with more than one woman.  They allowed their flesh to take control.
• only one family was saved—only one family will be saved when the Lord returns and that is HIS family who are called by HIS (Jesus') name.

 Have you noticed what sad shape our world is in today.   I’m not talking about the earth itself, although it is suffering also with pollution, trash, oil spills; but, I am talking about the corruption of the people.  We are living in very evil, vile, times.  As I sit at work and look out the window at the passers by, I have increasingly noticed the ungodliness, unholiness, it’s a dog eat dog world.  Everyone is only worried about themselves.  Life is general is all about what can I have or do that will make me feel good.  People are becoming increasingly rude. Shoving and pushing in line.  No tolerance for others.  No regard or respect for others. 

This kind of sounds like we are living in the last days according to what the bible says, huh?  The bible says that in the last days evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse.  The signs of the times are all around us yet we’ve heard so often that Jesus is coming soon that we have become somewhat immune to these words.  We no longer pay attention to them.

Heb. 11:7—By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Peer Pressure

Start with prayer—

Take the “My Peeps” survey— Give each student a copy of the "My Peeps" Survey and give them a few minutes to answer the questions.  (Survey is located at the end of this post)

One of the primary influences on your life will be your peers (friends and other people of your own age, race, or social equal).  The temptation to be like those around you is strong.  As a result, peer pressure is something that must be addressed.  However, not all peer pressure is bad or negative.  Depending on whom you choose to have as peers, the pressure may be a positive influence.

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being best), how do you think you do in handling peer pressure?

What would have to change about your life for this score to be higher?

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I Don't Belong Here (Optional)


Have you ever felt like you don't belong, like an alien? Perhaps after moving from a small town to the big city. Or maybe after going from the big city to a small town. For many students, going from grade school to junior high or high school can be an uneasy feeling. Nothing is familiar, everything is new, for a while. But things rub off on you. You adjust and before long, you become like everyone else, acting like they do, blending in. People even pick up accents, or lose them in order to blend in.


Does anyone have a story like this they would be willing to share? 
(If not, you may want to share a time when you felt that you didn't belong at first, but after a while ended up blending in.) 

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When I first thought to do this lesson, I couldn’t think of any scripture references or any incidents in the bible of peer pressure, but the more I pursued after this topic the more I found.  There is actually quite a bit on this subject in the bible so let’s see what the bible says about peer pressure.

Remember Samson?  Delilah pressured him to tell the secret of his strength and because he liked her and also because she was persistent, he caved in and told her.  Because of this negative peer pressure, Samson was imprisoned and his eyes poked out.

Daniel and the 3 Hebrew children were pressured to eat the meat at the kings table and also to bow to the king’s idol, however, these men stood up to the negative peer pressure and although one was thrown to the lions and the others into the fiery furnace, all of them came out alive.

Jesus himself was subject to peer pressure.  Not only did the religious leaders of his time taunt and tease him about eating and drinking with the sinners and publicans, but he also faced peer pressure In the desert when he was tempted by Satan (possibly in the form of a man) to turn rocks into bread to satisfy his hunger, he was offered wealth and fame if only he would worship someone other than God.  However, Jesus did not give in.  Thank God he didn’t.

Proverbs 1:10&15—My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not...walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path.

Proverbs 22:24-25–Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Romans 16:17-18–Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

1 Corin. 15:33–Be not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners. (The word communications here means companionship, communion with, fellowship)

Ephesians 5:6-7--Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

These scriptures all deal with negative peer pressure.

How about some positive peer pressure—


Proverbs 13:20–He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.


Although maybe you can’t tell from these scriptures, today we are going to talk about peers and peer pressure.  Who are your peers and what exactly is peer pressure?  You tell me.

A peer is someone that is either your same age, race or social equal.  Peer pressure is when you allow your peer to pressure you into something that you alone would not normally do in order to be accepted by your peer or peer group.  There are two different kinds of peer pressure.  There is negative peer pressure which is what most people think about when the hear the words “peer pressure” and is the type pinpointed in the scriptures I just read, but there is also positive peer pressure.   No matter what kind it is, you will at some point in your life be affected by peer pressure.

Let’s take another test.  Do the FRIENDS rub off test.  Discuss the results.

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“My Peeps” Survey

Instructions:   List the three most influential/favorite people in your life then give a brief answer to the remaining questions beneath each of their names.

Person #1                                                             

  (Their name here)

1.  Why is this person on your list?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

2.  What is it about them that you like, dislike?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

3.  Does this person have a negative or positive influence/impact on you, why?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

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Person #2                                                             

  (Their name here)

1.  Why is this person on your list?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

2.  What is it about them that you like, dislike?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

3.  Does this person have a negative or positive influence/impact on you, why?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

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Person #3                                                             

  (Their name here)

1.  Why is this person on your list?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

2.  What is it about them that you like, dislike?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

3.  Does this person have a negative or positive influence/impact on you, why? 

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