Curriculum
Parable of the Persistent Widow
Memory Verse:
“Pray and never lose hope.” Luke 18:1
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
Jesus listens to us. He knows what we’re thinking anyway, so it’s best to be honest with Him. We should always pray and never give up.
Scripture Summary
Jesus was creative. He didn’t fit His message inside the current teachings from the religious leaders. No. He was challenging the old way with a new way of thinking and living. Jesus used creative parables to communicate His way in an understandable format.
In this parable, the widow persisted with her requests to the judge. Someone did something wrong against her, and she pleaded with the judge multiple times to make it right. She wasn’t about to give up.
Likewise, we are to be persistent in our prayers to God. That doesn’t mean we should pray the exact same and rote prayers over and again. No, we are to make our requests known to God–consistently–and while we believe He will answer.
Widows and orphans were (and still are) among the most vulnerable among society. Many times in Scriptures, we are called to care specifically for orphans and widows.
The unjust judge in this parable was worn down by the widow’s persistence. How much more so will our loving God be willing to listen to us and to answer us with justice?
God sees us, and God answers prayer. His answer might be “Yes,” “No,” or “Not yet.” But He always answers. When His answer is “Not yet,” it’s for a very good reason. Remember, He loves each of us so deeply and knows what’s best in every circumstance.
Why Is This Important
We have a God who loves us and is listening to us. We are called to always pray and to never give up.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
GOOD GIFTS
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:9-11
A grandfather enjoyed his regular trips to the store with his granddaughter. They made an outing of it, and he truly relished the time spent in conversation. Occasionally, he would purchase a small toy for her during their outing. What a fun smile it produced across her face.
As most children in a store, his granddaughter would often ask for this toy or that game–whatever was right in front of her gleaming eyes. There were other seasons, however, his granddaughter asked for the same toy each and every trip to the store over the course of several months.
The grandfather often dismissed the random desire of toys here and there. But he paid closer attention to the repeated asks for the same toy. It was his granddaughter’s persistence that grabbed hold of his attention–and his heart.
I find my fleeting thoughts and chaotic circumstances often find me asking God for this or that. While I know I can call out to Him with any request, there can be no rhyme or reason to my random desires. I can tell a difference, though, when my desires follow more in line with what God has planned, and He, too, pays attention to the persistent, unwavering, transparent longings of my heart.
Our good, good Father enjoys giving us gifts–things we need and even some extra blessings as well. He sees us and hears us each time we pray. He knows what we’re holding close to our hearts, so keep praying and don’t give up.
Prayer
Dear God, I want a heart like Yours. Please help my requests be in line with Your will, genuine, and persistent. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
“Pray and never lose hope.” Luke 18:1
Lead kids in the following actions to help them learn the Bible memory verse. Repeat numerous times.
- Pray (form praying hands)
- And (no motions)
- Never (Shake head “no, no, no”)
- Lose (look around like something is lost)
- Hope (look up hopefully)
- Luke 18:1 (no motions)
ASK:
- What do you think prayer is?
- What do you like to talk to God about?
Encourage kids to share the Bible memory verse and motions with their families at home.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Costumes for the characters (These are not necessary but they make it more fun for kids.), A gavel or something like a gavel
Get Ready:
You can write the complaints on slips of paper to hand to the Plaintiffs during the skit or whisper in the ears of the Plaintiffs.
Choose children to play these roles. Kids will act out their parts.
- Judge
- Plaintiff #1
- Plaintiff #2
- Plaintiff #3
- Plaintiff #4
- Woman
SAY: Once upon a time, there was a court in a faraway land. In this court, there was a judge. (Judge walks to front of room.)
Now this judge did NOT care about anyone. (Judge frowns big.) And he didn’t respect God. (Judge stubbornly puts hands on his hips.) But every day, the judge listened to people’s complaints. (Judge cups ears as though listening.)
Have the plaintiffs come up one at a time and read their complaints.
- Plaintiff #1: My friend took my bike and I want it back.
- Judge: The friend must give back the bike. (hammers the gavel) Woman: Judge, there is someone who is being unfair to me.
- Judge: Shhhh! (hammers the gavel)
- Plaintiff #2: My friend borrowed my books but will not give them back.
- Judge: Your friend must return your books. (hammers the gavel)
- Woman (more loudly): Judge, there is someone who is being very unfair to me!
- Judge: Be quiet, woman! (hammers the gavel)
- Plaintiff #3: My friend owes me money and will not pay me.
- Judge: The friend must pay back the money. (hammers the gavel)
- Woman (very loudly): Judge! Judge! Hey, Judge! You need to listen to me!
- Judge: Woman, why do you keep bothering me? (hammers the gavel repeatedly)
- Plaintiff #4: There is a bully who keeps threatening to hurt me.
- Judge: The bully must stop today. (hammers the gavel)
- Woman (walks up to the judge): I am NOT going to stop asking for help until you listen to me, Judge!
- Judge: Alright, then! Whoever is being unfair to you must stop now! (hammers the gavel)
- Woman: Thank you, Judge. Thank you for listening to me!
Lead everyone in applause for your actors. Then lead kids in this discussion.
ASK: What did you think of what happened in our play? Why do you think the judge would not listen to the woman?
SAY: Jesus used this story to teach us about prayer. Jesus wants us to pray and not give up.
Read Luke 18:7: “And will not God bring about justice for his cho- sen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?”
SAY: God is very different from the judge in the story. How is the judge different from God? God wants us to pray and not give up. And God will listen to our prayer.
Read Luke 18:8: “I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
ASK: Why do you think faith is important when we pray?
SAY: We need to be like the woman who did not give up. She kept asking for help. When we pray, we need to pray again and again. We need to pray and not give up.
Snack
Hide and Seek Snack
You’ll Need: Tootsie Roll Pop for each child
Get Ready:
Before class, hide a Tootsie Roll Pop for each child somewhere in the room.
Tell children that you’ve hidden a sweet treat for each of them in the room. They need to hunt for the treat and no one can start eating their treat until everyone has found one.
After everyone has found a Tootsie Roll Pop, have them hold it and not open it.
ASK:
- What was easy or difficult about this game?
- What is hard about waiting to eat your treat?
- What is hard about waiting on God to answer prayer?
SAY: I have another challenge for you. We’re going to color. You can open your Tootsie Roll Pop, BUT let’s see who can go the longest without biting the candy to get to the chocolate.
Do this during the coloring page activity below. After the coloring page activity, though, lead them in this discussion.
- What was hard about waiting to get to the chocolate and not giving up?
- What’s hard about praying and not giving up when we pray?
- What helped you keep from biting your sucker?
- What helps you pray and not give up?
Game
See the Hide and Seek Snack
Craft
“Keep on Praying” Coloring Page
Give each child a “Keep on Praying” coloring page. Encourage kids to color their paper. As they work on their coloring pages, remind kids that Jesus wants us to pray and not give up.
Prayer
Prayer Circle
You’ll Need: Kids’ finished “Keep on Praying” coloring pages, Crayons or, markers
Form a circle and lead children in completing sentence prayers. Encourage children to use their coloring page for ideas to pray about if needed.
Read the following sentences and allow children to go around the circle and each complete the prayer.
- Thank you Jesus for _____.
- We praise Jesus for ______.
- Jesus, please help me with______.
When the prayer time is over, encourage children to take their coloring pages home to remember to pray and not give up.
