Pray For Everyone

 Children’s Chapel

September 18, 2016

Proper 20C

Theme: Praying for All

Introduction: Good morning girls and boys! Do we have any new friends today? (Welcome new friends.) I am so happy to see everyone here! Today we are going to be talking about prayer. Raise your hand and tell me what is prayer (allow answers.) Those are great answers! Prayer is talking with God. Did you know that there are all kinds of prayer that we say to God? Sometimes when we talk to God we are thanking him for something like his Son Jesus or for his love for each of us or for our families and much, much more. Sometimes when we talk with God we may have something we are asking him for help with or we may be asking him to help a friend or family member get better if they are sick. At other times when we talk to God we may be admiring his creation and saying how beautiful a sunset is or the trees or the flowers. There are lots of ways and reasons why we pray to God and the good news is that God always wants to hear from us! Today in our Bible story we are going to listen to a letter written by the Paul who was a follower of Jesus. Paul wrote many letters to the people who lived all around him telling them about Jesus’ love for each one of them. Our letter today was written to Timothy another follower of Jesus. We we find this letter in the New Testament of the Bible. Let’s listen.

Bible Reference (Read Aloud)

1 Timothy 2:1-8

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, ²for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. ³This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, ⁶who gave himself a ransom for all—this was attested at the right time. ⁷For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. ⁸I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument;

Response: In the letter that was written to Timothy, Paul encouraged the people whom Timothy was teaching to pray for all people even those they did not know very well including kings and those who were governors so that they may be leaders who encouraged peace and love among the people. Paul also said that God wants a relationship with all of his children and not just a few. When we pray for all people, we are thanking God for all of his children and we recognize that everyone is God’s child made in his own image just as we are all made in God’s image. Sometimes it may seem difficult to pray for someone who is different than you or for someone you do not know. The good news is that God sees everyone as equal, God knows every person, God loves all of his children, and God wants a relationship with each of his children. When we pray for others, God hears our prayers and love is spread through us to others.

Pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your love and for the gift of prayer that you have given us to be able to talk directly to you. Help us to pray for each other and for others that we do not know that we may all grow in love through you’re the love of your Son, Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Together pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Response Activity (Crafts, Singing, or Another activity will be provided.)