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Thankful Prayer
Lesson 1

Five Finger Prayer Large Group Time

Warm up: Have all the kids stand up and see how many different kids they can link a different finger with all at the same time. Give them all a hand for such a great job. Read the Memory Verse: Phil. 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you. Say: Let us see how well we can remember five things to be thankful for - one for each finger of your hand. Object Lesson: Show a glove with five fingers. You can use a winter glove, or any other kind of glove that has the fingers in it. You can also draw a hand print on a dry erase board. Consider providing a glove for all the kids to wear during this lesson. Try getting the inexpensive gloves used for preparing food. Another suggestion would be to make the glove during craft time.

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Put the glove on your hand. Ask the children what Prayer means to them? Some answers you may share: Prayer is presenting a request to God with the hope that HE will answer your desire. Prayer is to give thanks to God for all that he Has done for you this include watching over your safety, providing for your wellbeing, bringing healing into your life, helping you at school. Prayer is a petition for help for those in your family, your church, and your grandparents who may be ill or in a nursing home. Sometimes, we pray for a few seconds and cannot think of anything to pray about. God will help us to develop our prayer life if we exercised it on a regular basis. I am going to share with you one way that will help you to pray for those around you and help you to remember who, and what to pray for. We will do this together today, and this glove that I have on my hand will help us. Lets look at my thumb here (wiggle your thumb). This small thumb will stand for Family. Can you hold up your hand and wiggle your thumb and say family? Great! We have so much to thank God for regarding our family. Notice this thumb is the closest member to your body when you hold your hand up like this (Demonstrate). What are some things that we can pray about regarding our family? (List their answers the board). Some suggestions are: good health, good jobs, food, and safe protection while driving, in storms and during the night. It is good to pray that God will help our parents make good decisions, and do well in their jobs. We need to always thank God for giving us a good family to love and protect us. Let us stop and pray now for our families. (Pray using the words that the kids gave to you about their families).
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Lets look at this next finger called the index finger. This finger is our pointer finger. Point your index finger at me while I point mine at you. The index finger represents all our friends. Do you have lots of friend or even a couple good friends? The best friend that we will ever have is Jesus. He died on the cross for our sins and will one day return to take all those who have received him as their Savior, to heaven. When we confess our sins and ask Jesus to forgive us, we will be prepared to go to heaven when that time comes. That will be wonderful! We want to take our friends to heaven with us, so we must pray for them. Actually, friends are those who live all around us our neighborhood, at church, and at school. We can pray that GOD will bless them, and help them in all they do. We can pray that GOD will protect them. What are some things that you would like to pray about for your friends? (List these on the board). Let us stop here for a moment and pray for our friends that GOD will help them. (Use the words the kids gave you as you pray). When we pray, who does our thumb represent? (Family) Who does our index finger stand for? (Friends) Hold up your tallest finger. This is your tallest finger, the middle finger. It stands for leaders. A leader has an important job to do, and needs our prayers. We can thank God for good leaders. We can pray that God will give them wisdom to do what is right in making good decisions. What kind of leaders do you know? Can you name some other leaders? (Write these on the board) Here are some suggestions: pastors, USA President, Government Leaders, and Major of your city. These leaders have so many decisions to make and need our prayers for making the ones that will be best for us. They make decision such as
Dr. Jeanne McIntosh September 2011 All rights reserved.

policies or rules that affect us. Let us pray for our leaders. (Lead in prayer and pray for all leaders that were mentioned. Lets review. (Ask what each finger represents so far). Your fourth finger is normally the weaker finger. (Wiggle this one) It must be exercised to make it strong. (Demonstrate). It stands for missions. As we pray for our missionaries, God will give them the power to win many for Jesus. He will help keep them safe and healthy. God will give them His protection. We can thank God for our missionaries. God will help us to be missionaries here in the United States. There are many people all around us who do not know Jesus as their personal Savior. He will help us to live a live that will influence them in a good way. We can pray that God will help those in our church community, and help us to show them the love of Jesus. We have one last finger the pinky finger. Can you wiggle that one? (Demonstrate). If you place your hand like this, the pinky finger is the farthest one from your body. We can put Jesus and Others first in our prayers; however, we need to pray for ourselves. We can thank God for our family, church, friends, and His help each day. We can praise Him for forgiving for our sins. Ask His help every morning before you begin your day. The is the best way to pray. Once we start our day, we get busy and may forget. The day may not go as well if we do not pray. Let us name each finger for praying:

Thumb Family

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Index finger Friends Middle finger Leaders Weak Finger Missionaries Pinky Myself

Each finger will remind us to pray every day for these people and their needs. Phil. 1:3 says, I thank my God every time I remember you. Let us be faithful to do just that! Comprehension Activity 1. Draw two hands on the board (dry erase or chalkboard). Make them large enough so that it will be easy for the kids to write in the fingers and thumb. 2. Divide the kids into teams. 3. Have one person from each team race to the board and write in the one of the five things that each finger represents. They may get help from their own team. Continue until all the fingers have been named. 4. Start over again in order that all the kids get a turn.

Dr. Jeanne McIntosh September 2011 All rights reserved.

Thankful Prayer

Lesson 1 Small Group Time TREASURE FROM THE WORD LESSON

Warm up: I THNK GOD.each child stands up after everyone says, I thank God forand says what they are thankful for. You can also have them come and write on a large poster board what they share. Teaching the Memory Verse: 1. Model read the verse to the children. a. Phil. 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you. Say: Let us see how well we can remember five things to be thankful for - one for each finger of your hand. 2. Show your hand or a glove and ask them to tell you five things they are thankful for one for each finger. 3. Provide them all a bible and tell them what page the verse is located. Read the verse in unison. 4. See if two kids will volunteer to read together.
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5. Ask, Why is it important that we thank God? Thanking God helps give us a thankful heart. A thankful heart pleases God. God wants us to give thanks in EVERYTHING! That even means when we do not like the way things are going. 6. Pass out everyone a cut out hand and have them write one thing they are thankful for on it. Take these and put them on a board on the wall in your room. 7. Pass out the activity sheets and give them time to do these. If they do not complete them, allow them to take them home. You may want to put all papers in a paper lunch sack. 8. Give all the kids one small piece of candy in their bag to take home. Ideas and Review if needed for writing something in their handprint for the bulletin board.

Thumb Family Index finger Friends Middle finger Leaders Weak Finger Missionaries Pinky Myself

See Preview of Series for music and craft ideas. Also, see A Thankful Prayer Lesson 1 that goes along with this lesson.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/64022418/A-Thankful-Heart-Kidz-Worship-PREVIEW-of-Series http://www.scribd.com/doc/64227460/A-Thankful-Prayer-Lesson-1

Dr. Jeanne McIntosh September 2011 All rights reserved.

my God every time Say: Let us see how well we can remember five things to be thankful for - one for each finger of your hand.
Dr. Jeanne McIntosh September 2011 All rights reserved.

Draw five things that you are thankful for

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CIRCLE THE BEST ANSWER

The thumb stands for: Fish Family Frogs Fruit

The pointer (index) finger stands for: Fish Fries Friends Frosty

The Middle (tallest) finger stands for: Tower Trees Leaders Trust

The weak finger (4th) stands for: Moose Milk Morton Salt Missionaries

The Pinky (tiniest) finger stands for: YOU Yo Yo Yummy Yield

Dr. Jeanne McIntosh September 2011 All rights reserved.

I am thankful for _______________________

I am thankful for _______________________

I am thankful for _______________________

I am thankful for _______________________

I am thankful for _______________________

Write a thankful prayer to God using your words above.

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Crafts
Week 1: Turkey Prayer Hand Print. Draw hand print on a sheet of white paper. Cut out. Write who to pray for on each finger. (Family, Church, Friends, USA Leaders, Myself) Glue to colored construction paper. Put hand up-side-down and make a turkey out of the hand. See link here:
http://www.sharperteaching.com/system/files/Turkey%20Craft,%20Songs,%20Chant,%20Game.p df

Snack Veggie sticks/dip, apple juice, cookie

Dr. Jeanne McIntosh September 2011 All rights reserved.

Simple Skit for Two Kids Joe: What is the meaning of Thanksgiving? Molly: Dont know...maybe, when you are thankful for something. Joe: I think it means to be thankful. Molly: Not so. It is when the pilgrims came to America. Joe: You mean on the Mayflower? Molly: Dont know. Joe: I though you didnt know anything. Molly: Know what? Joe: I dont know. Molly: Thanksgiving is when you eat turkey. Joe: And pumpkin pie. Molly: I dont like pumpkin pie. Joe: Why not? Molly: I got sick one Thanksgiving after I had eaten it. Joe: Thanksgiving is a time to thank God. Molly: For what? Joe: Uh..uhuh Molly: For food, mom and dad, and turkey. Joe: I think it means more than that. Molly: Like what? Joe: When God came to earth to die for our sins.

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Molly: I think that was the best thing you said today, Joe. Joe: Really? Molly: Of course! Joe: If it wasnt for Jesus, we would not have Thanksgiving. Molly: You are probably right. What would we have to be thankful for? Joe: I am thankful for you, Molly for being my friend. Molly: Youre all right, I guess. Joe: I am thankful for so many things.my family, my friends, my church, and God. Molly: That sounds pretty good, Joe. Maybe your family can join us for Thanksgiving this year. We have lots of food. Joe: Ill ask my mom. My sister and her husband live too far away and will not be coming home this year with their new baby. My grandma lives with us now. Molly: Awesome! Ill tell my mom to call your mom. Joe: Great! I REALLY have a lot to be thankful for this year. Molly: Hey kids! Can you think of anyone who may need someone to show them kindness this Thanksgiving. Joe: Come on, Molly, lets go talk to our parents. Exit

Dr. Jeanne McIntosh September 2011 All rights reserved.