Curriculum

Knock, Knock, Who’s There?

Knock, Knock, Who’s There? Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

God loves it when we talk to Him. There are lots of ways to pray, and Jesus gave His disciples an example to follow. However we pray, God answers prayer.

Scripture Summary

Jesus and His disciples spent three years together. They traveled together from town to town—preaching, healing the sick, and casting out demons. During this season, the disciples were learning all they could about Jesus and His way. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.

The words of our prayers matter. The flow of this prayer is to begin with praise, followed by specific needs. When we focus on God the Father and His goodness, all other details can fall into place. God provides for all of our needs (and so many of our wants) on a daily basis. Similar to how He gave manna to the Israelites (Exodus 16) each day, He doesn’t always give us what we need in advance, or we wouldn’t have a need to trust Him.

God notices persistence. Praying the same prayer or for the same need over a long period of time often changes our hearts to be more in line with God’s heart. Persistence doesn’t necessarily change God’s mind or decision, but it does incredible work on our outlook.

God is always faithful to answer all prayers. There are times He says “yes,” “no,” or “not yet,” to our prayers. Just like good parents, God wants to bless His children with good things. There’s nothing stingy about God.

Why Is This Important

We can always pray honestly and boldly. We don’t even have to have perfect words. God loves our honesty, and we can trust Him to faithfully answer our prayers.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)

I can think of just one time Jesus critiqued someone’s prayer. He rebuked the Pharisees (the religious leaders) for their lofty, public prayers, which were complete with long, multisyllable words and a college-level vocabulary. They were praying for show—lacking genuine spirits and humble hearts.

As long as we’re being honest with God, there’s no wrong way to pray. He already knows our hearts, our struggles, our bad attitudes, and our desires. We can feel free to be completely honest with Him. Here are a couple of ways to pray, especially when you feel like you don’t have the perfect words.

  • Pray Scripture. David was brutally honest with God in his prayers (cap- tured in Psalms). There are also countless other passages that speak truth and hope into and over our lives, including the Lord’s Prayer.
  • Pray silently. Spend time in quiet with the Father. He knows your heart. Enter into this time with an honest and open posture. Just be with God.
  • Pray the prayers of others. Pick up a book of prayer ( may I recom- mend “The Book of Common Prayer” or even a book of simple prayers specifically for children). Especially when we don’t have the words, God can use prayers written by others to give us a voice.
  • Moan and groan. As the weight of the world and life’s circumstances can be overwhelming, simply cry out to our loving God without words but with great sound.
  • Simply talk with God. You can even start by saying “Hey, God…” and continue on as you would talk with a trusted friend. You don’t need perfect words or even a positive attitude. Just be honest with God—with the good and the ugly that you’re facing.

Pray this prayer from “A Denver Book of Prayer” ( now out of print):

O Lord, my Lord, how beautiful is Your name. Who am I that You are mindful of me—that You would care for me? You have accepted me and waited for me, not like a lion, ready to pounce should I let my guard down, but like a friend who’s seen it all before and who loves me completely anyway. You are the One with whom I can spend time without having to pretend or explain. Ignite in me the fire of Your Holy Spirit that I may accept and love others, as you have accepted and loved me. O Lord, my Lord, how beautiful is Your name!

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for listening to me when I pray. I often feel like I jumble my words or have the wrong attitude. I want to be honest with You in prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: Bibles “Jesus Says to Ask, Seek, Knock” handouts, “Ask, Seek, Knock Responses” handouts, Scissors, Tape

Get Ready: Before class, make copies of the “Jesus Says to Ask, Seek, Knock” handout, one per child. Make enough copies of the “Ask, Seek, Knock Responses” handout so there will be one response to each of the three sentence starters (ask, seek, and knock) per child. Cut out the responses and hide them around the room.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10)

Have kids learn the verse in this way:

SAY: Today we’re learning to pray to God about our needs.

  • Have kids open their Bibles and read aloud Luke 11:9-10.
  • Give each child a “Jesus Says to Ask, Seek, Knock” handout.
  • Challenge kids to find the corresponding responses to complete their handouts with the full verse.
  • Once everyone has found all three responses, have kids say the verse several times.
  • Have them remove parts of the verse to practice without some of the words.
  • Once kids seem to have the verse down, have them tape the responses to their handouts.

SAY: God loves us very much, and He wants to be our friend. He wants us to tell Him our needs. And He encourages us to keep asking until we receive an answer. Let’s practice prayer in this way this week.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bibles, Paper, Pencils

SAY: Today we’re learning what Jesus says about prayer. Let’s read more about this in the Bible.

Follow these steps to explore the Bible passage:

  • Have kids open their Bibles to Luke 11, and read aloud Luke 11:1-4.
  • Break down the Lord’s Prayer in this way, having kids practice repeating each part and then describing what they think it means. If needed after each brief discussion, use the following to explain what the phrase means:
    • Sometimes we call God “Father” because He’s like a dad to all of us. (Our Father in heaven,)
    • Holy is “very special” and the most important of all. We say this because we want to point out that God is to be honored. (holy is Your name.)
    • We tell God that we want Him to be in charge because that’s what’s best for us and everyone around us. (Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.)
    • We ask God to give us what we need, like food, a safe place to sleep, and healthy relationships. (Give us this day our daily bread,)
    • We say sorry to God for the wrong choices we make, and we ask God to help us to remember how He forgives us when someone has done something that hurts us. (and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.)
    • We ask God to help us make good choices. (And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.)
    • We remember that God is the greatest King and ruler of the whole world forever. (For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever.)
  • Invite children to say the whole prayer as a group.

SAY: Jesus said this is a good prayer to say to God, but we can pray in other ways, too. Remember the story Jesus told about the neighbor who knocked and knocked until he got what he needed.

ASK:

  • What do you need right now?

SAY: Let’s look at some other examples of times people asked for what they needed and God responded.

  • Give each child some paper and a pencil.
  • Have kids open their Bibles to 2 Kings 20:1-6, and read it aloud.
  • Allow time for kids to write or draw what Hezekiah asked for and how God responded.
  • Invite kids to share what they wrote or drew.
  • Have kids open their Bibles to 1 Samuel, and read aloud chapter 1, verses 1-2, 6, 9-11, and 19-20.
  • Allow time for kids to write or draw what Hannah asked for and how God responded.
  • Invite kids to share what they wrote or drew.

ASK:

  • What do these examples from the Bible tell you about God?
  • How can they encourage you to ask, seek, and knock?

SAY: God loves us and He wants good for us, so we can always ask, seek, and knock, and know God will respond in goodness.

Snack

Our Daily Bread

You’ll Need: Plates, Napkins, Plastic knives, Slices of bread, Bread toppings, such as jam or cheese

Follow these steps for the snack:

  • Have kids clean their hands.
  • Invite kids to say the Lord’s Prayer.
  • Explain to kids that today they’ll be having some “daily bread” for their snack.
  • Give each child a slice of bread on a plate, a napkin, and a plastic knife.
  • Set out toppings.
  • Invite kids to choose and spread a topping on their bread.
  • Enjoy.

ASK:

  • What are you thankful to God for providing for you?

SAY: Everything we have is because God allowed us to have it, including food, a family, and a safe place to live. If we don’t have these things, Jesus says He wants us to keep asking God for them. And when we do, we thank Him.

Game

The Hot and Cold Ask

You’ll Need: Bibles, Toy or classroom item

Follow these steps to play “The Hot and Cold Ask” game:

  • Have kids open their Bibles to Luke 11:9-10.
  • Review the verse with kids by having them say it a few times.
  • Choose one child to be the “Asker,” and have him or her step outside the room.
  • Have kids hide the toy or classroom item.
  • When the Asker returns, the kids say the phrase of the Bible memory verse “Ask and it will be given to you” when the Asker is far from the hidden object. When he or she is getting closer, the kids will repeat the phrase “Seek and you will find.” When the child is very close to finding the object, the kids will repeat the phrase “Knock and the door will be opened to you.” Once the Asker has found the object, the kids will say verse 10.
  • Repeat as time allows.

SAY: Jesus said to ask, seek, and knock because God loves you and will answer your prayers.

Craft

The Ask, Seek, and Knock Door

You’ll Need: “Knock, Knock, Who’s There?” How-to video, Bible, Craft sticks, Glue, Construction paper, Markers, Other craft supplies

To make the craft, have kids follow these steps:

  • Remind kids that Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock, or go to God with our needs.
  • Read aloud Luke 11:9-10.
  • Set out craft sticks, glue, construction paper, and markers.
  • Invite kids to each choose a sheet of construction paper.
  • Show kids how to glue several craft sticks side by side on the con- struction paper to create a door.
  • Have kids use their Bibles to reference and write their Bible memory verse above or below their doors.
  • Invite kids to decorate their doors.

ASK:

  • What’s a way you can ask, seek, and knock this week?

SAY: We can always go to God with our needs. Jesus said to keep trying until we get an answer from God. I hope you’ll talk to God this week about your needs.

Prayer

Knocking Prayers

You’ll Need: Ask, Seek, Knock Door crafts

Lead kids to pray in this way:

  • Ask kids to share what they learned today.
  • Highlight the ask, seek, knock part of Jesus’ teaching.
  • Have kids place their doors in front of them, and lead them to say these prayers, knocking on the door before each one:
    • God, thank You for how good You are to us.
    • Please give us the food we need to have strong bodies.
    • Please help us to have a safe place to sleep and clothes to wear.
    • Please help us to have healthy families who love and care for us.
    • Please help us to love others well, too.
    • Please help us to follow You.
  • Close in prayer.

PRAY: God, we lift all these prayers up to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.