Prayer Overview of the Material and Lesson Ideas Christianity Unpacked is a complete toolkit for teaching the basic beliefs of the Christian faith. The purpose of this section is to look at the beliefs, symbolism and practices of Prayer and its importance to Christians today. Below is an index of key material for use within this topic, please note that there is further material available on the RE:quest and RE:start sites that you may also find helpful. FILMS Title Aim Content overview Introduction to Prayer An interactive introduction to a Christian view of prayer This introduction looks at why, where and how Christians prayer as well as looking at Jesus teaching on the subject. The Archbishop of York explains his belief that prayer is What is prayer? To consider what a Christian s view of pray is. a way of opening your life to God and His guidance. When do you pray? To explore the concept that Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin discusses the fact that for her prayer is not just for Sundays or prayer is at the heart of her day and that everything she times of collective worship. does revolves around her prayer time. Does God really speak To explore from one Christian s Beth uses examples from her own life of why she firmly today? view that God still speaks today believes that God still speaks today. How is prayer a To introduce the belief that Barry explains why, for him, it is important to realise conversation? prayer is more about listening that prayer is more about being open to listen to God than talking than it is to simply be talking to Him. Why and how do we talk to To explore further the ideas of Brother Loarne explains that prayer is in fact a difficult
Why and how do we talk to God? What is a House of Prayer To explore further the ideas of how and why it is important for Christians to pray To learn more about the Beacon House of Prayer and why it was set up. How do you pray? To look at various Christian views of prayer How does God speak to you? To look at various Christian views of how God still speaks today. What did Jesus teach about A look at one biblical account of prayer? Jesus teaching on prayer. Brother Loarne explains that prayer is in fact a difficult concept to both explain and understand. That being said he goes on to explain why prayer is so important to Christians. The Beacon, in the middle of Stoke on Trent, was established to be a House of Prayer a place that its leaders believed would have an impact not only on this nation but on the world as well. Discover more about this fascinating house in this short film. This talking heads film hears from various Christians about their view on how they pray. This talking heads film hears from various Christians about their belief about how God speaks today. The Christian view of prayer is based first and foremost on the teaching of Jesus and so it is important for all Christians to understand what Jesus did say on the subject. WORKSHEETS AND PRINTABLE RESOURCES Title Aim Content overview Think through prayer activity sheet. Talk about prayer activity sheet Talk about prayer activity sheet 2 To explore the different ways that Christians prayer To explore the belief that prayer is both listening and talking To explore why, how and where Christians pray. By considering 4 photographs the pupils explore the different ways that Christians choose. Pupils are asked to consider why they would go to pray and listen to God as well as thinking about a Christian view. Pupils are encouraged to look at a series of photographs to help them discuss Christian prayer.
Prayer Medium Term Plan Aim Key Questions Activities Resources 1. To introduce the concept of Christian prayer 1. What is Christian prayer? 1. Brainstorm what the pupils believe prayer is. If possible keep these ideas to refer to throughout this unit of study. Watch the introduction to prayer, the What is prayer? film and read the various Christian prayers can the pupils pick out some common features of the prayers or elements that they think are particularly helpful. Use the, Think through prayer activity sheet to encourage discussion around the subject. Create a prayer wall that the pupils can add their own and others prayers to. 1 Bible, copy of the Lord s prayer and other Christian prayers. Interactive Introduction to Prayer What is prayer? film. Think through prayer activity sheet. 2. To explore the idea that Christians can pray all the time and not just during acts of worship. 2. When do Christians pray? 2. Read the Bible passages about prayer: Friend at midnight Luke 11, 5-8. Woman who wouldn t give up Luke 18, 1-8 Explain that this shows that Christians should not give up praying but be persistent in their prayer lives. Watch the When do you pray? film and the House of Prayer film. 2. Bible When do you pray? film Beacon House of Prayer film Encourage the pupils to research the 24/7 Prayer Movement, http://www.24-7prayer.com/ and the Houses of Prayer. Why do Christians believe that prayer should be at the heart of everything they do? What would your life be like if you believed you could talk to and listen to God at any time? 3. Discuss places that are special to the pupils places where they go
3. To explore that Christians can pray any where as well as at any time. 3. Where do Christians pray? that are safe and away from other people. Read examples of places where Jesus went to pray e.g. often Jesus would go off on his own to pray, he prayed with the disciples during the Last Supper, he prayed during the storm, he prayed before he fed the 5,000. Christians believe that you can pray anywhere. 3. Talk about prayer activity sheet 2 A Bible Model making material Also look however at the fact that Christians often go away to retreat places where they can get away from the world and just think about and listen to God. You might find these extra resources helpful - http://request.org.uk/teachers/teaching-ideas/christian-lifeideas/2013/10/21/pilgrimage-images/ or http://request.org.uk/?s=pilgrimage Cushions, fabric etc to create a sacred space in the classroom. The pupils could design and create a model of a sacred space and if you had this space you could actually create one in your classroom. 4.1 & 4.2 To explore the Christian belief that faith is a relationship and as such conversation between God and us is key. 4.1 How do you talk to God? 4.2 How does God talk to us? 4. Asked the pupils what they think makes a friendship strong hopefully somewhere they will say conversation or communication. Explain that this is the same within Christianity the relationship with God cannot grow strong if there is no communication. Watch the films to emphasise the importance of both speaking and listening to God. 4. Films Prayer as a Conversation, How do we talk to God? How do we Pray? and How does God speak to us? Explore the Christian belief that God can speak through nature, the arts, the Bible and other people. Have various copies of inspirational Christian art, photographs of nature, Bible verses, poems and prayers. How do you think God is speaking through them? What do you think the message is that God has for the world today? Present this message in a creative way either a poem, painting or even a God Blog.
5. To explore what Jesus taught about prayer. 5. What did Jesus teach about prayer? 5. From what they have already looked at let the pupils discuss the key question what did Jesus teach about prayer? Probably the most famous of Jesus teaching is the Lord s Prayer http://request.org.uk/jesus/jesus-teaching/2013/06/15/jesus-teachingprayer/ Look at the prayer in some detail you could split the prayer into sections and ask the pupils to discuss what each part means and how it would relate to their own lives. Discuss the different aspects of the prayer and how you see it answered (or not) in today s world. 5. Film- Jesus teaching on Prayer A copy of the Lord s prayer The Brainstorming ideas from the first session The pupils could rewrite the prayer in a more modern format. Plenary look at the brainstorm from the first session is there anything that they would now scrub off or add to it?