This series framed around Lent and Holy Week will provide children and their families an opportunity to build upon the spiritual practice of prayer. Throughout the series, the children will create prayer beads as they learn through the words of the Lord’s Prayer. Each week, a bead will be added that connects prayer to the weekly message. This is especially important as we continue to face difficult days ahead with COVID-19. Families can create prayer times in their homes using the prayer beads. Thanks to Rev. Dr. Leanne Hadley for providing the instructions of how to make prayer beads for the children.

DOWNLOAD Prayer Bead PDF with Instructions and Illustrations

Luke 4:1-13 NIRV

⁴Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan River. The Spirit led him into the desert. ²There the devil tempted him for 40 days. Jesus ate nothing during that time. At the end of the 40 days, he was hungry.

³The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

⁴Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Man must not live only on bread.’” (Deuteronomy 8:3)

⁵Then the devil led Jesus up to a high place. In an instant, he showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶He said to Jesus, “I will give you all their authority and glory. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve.’” (Deuteronomy 6:13)

⁹Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem. He had Jesus stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. ¹⁰It is written,

“‘The Lord will command his angels to take good care of you.

¹¹They will lift you up in their hands.

Then you won’t trip over a stone.’” (Psalm 91:11,12)

¹²Jesus answered, “Scripture says, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’” (Deuteronomy 6:16)

¹³When the devil finished all this tempting, he left Jesus until a better time.

Materials needed:

Beads
Thin ribbon
Charm in shape of cross.

Message:

This is the first Sunday in the season of Lent. Why do Christians observe the season of Lent? (Allow children to answer.) That’s right, we are in the season before Easter. Each week, we are going to learn more about the prayer that Jesus taught us to say when we pray. I have my ribbon and cross, and today we will add our first prayer bead to remind us of the first line of the Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus tells his disciples to begin prayer by saying “Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.” This means we recognize and give honor to the person to whom we are talking. God wants us to be part of God’s family. We recognize that God is holy and very special. The word hallowed is used a lot in this prayer instead of honored. Hallowed equals to make holy. We hallow God’s name by how we live. We honor God’s name by how we treat others. When we show respect to one another, we are honoring God. We are reminded this week that we can pray anywhere and at any time. We are also reminded that when we pray, we should always put God first. When we pray, our prayers should begin with God, not us. This part of the prayer reminds us to put God first place in our lives.

I will add the first bead today, as we remember the words, “Honor God.” Today’s scripture passage demonstrates that Jesus honored God and made sure God was first, so that Jesus could overcome temptations.

This week, as we begin the season of Lent, we are reminded that God should be honored and should come first in our lives. Is God first place in your life? Pray about it.

Prayer:

(Each week during the prayer, affix the bead to the ribbon when you begin the prayer.) God of Honor, hallowed be your name! Help us to remember you this season of Lent. Help us to always honor your name through how we honor and treat others. Continue to teach us how to pray as we journey closer to the cross and your powerful love that you have for us and others. Amen.