All Christians know how to pray. Or do they? Jesus' disciples didn't, so they asked Him to teach them. Prayer is so important, yet we often fail to pray as we ought. We see everywhere in the Bible that for the great believers of the Faith like Abraham, David, Daniel, Peter, Paul and especially Jesus, prayer was one of the key behaviors that separated these men from the secular world around them and guided their actions.

In the Spring of 1997 at a Regional Mission to the World (MTW) conference in France CMI teachers successfully and enthusiastically used our "Series M" of the Bible Building Blocks of the Faith. It is entitled THE LORD'S PRAYER and is taken from the Children's Catechism (of the Westminster Confession of Faith, a landmark Protestant document). The 7 lessons use basic questions and answers on prayer. Each lesson takes three, 45 minute sessions to teach. In September, we will be teaching 'Series M" to MTW missionary children from Latin America. This is becoming a very popular series for several reasons:

1. It reminds the children that Jesus taught His disciples to pray.
2. It encourages the children to pray.
3. It teaches the children how to pray.
4.Thereforethechildren learn to become more comfortable praying.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." "Series M's" aim is that the child may know the deep significance of each petition of the prayer Jesus taught His disciples.

Let's review the questions and answers about prayer from the Children's Catechism which we have colorfully visualized for this important series:

Question 1: What is prayer?
Answer: Prayer is asking God for things which He has promised to give.
Question 2: In whose name should we pray?
Answer: Only in the name of Christ.
Question 3: What has Christ given us to teach us how to pray?
Answer: The Lord's Prayer

As we look at the Lord's prayer we understand that Christ divided His exemplary prayer into six petitions (or requests). Each petition has a specific reason for being a part of the Lord's prayer. The first three petitions tell us about the holiness of God. We see from these first three petitions that His name needs to be "hallowed" (or honored above all other names), that His Kingdom be established and that people on earth are to serve God as the angels do in heaven.

The next three petitions concern our needs as His children. We need daily food and other basics to live and we rely on God to provide them. We must also pray that our sins will be forgiven and God will enable us to forgive others (or God will not forgive our sins); and lastly we ask that God will protect us from the evil temptations of this world.

Each one of these six petitions has a visualized Bible verse, a visualized Bible lesson and craft to strengthen the basic principle taught in that lesson. When we prepared for our overseas work we did an "overhaul" on the crafts for this series. Some of the recently updated crafts are: a personal prayer journal, a prayer rock, the praying hand (using paper plates rotating on each other), and other new ideas. Some of you might be reluctant to "skip" all the series. Remember each of our series can "stand-alone", if you believe your elementary students need these truths NOW, please give it a try.

Praying is one of the most essential activities of a "born-again" Christian, this wonderful series will teach you and your children the BASICS and set you on a firm foundation. They will help you understand the petitions Christ gave in His "perfect prayer" and how you can use the Lord’s Prayer as a model for your own prayer life.