Date Used

______________________

pray give go pray give go pray give go pray give go pray give

Items Needed❏ Group of students

ObjectiveThrough the spiritual application below, you will learn the importance of praying. As a missionary for God, your prayers to Him will reach your world (your community) and the world (the whole earth) for Jesus.

InstructionsThis game can be done while standing or sitting. Have the group form a circle. Select one student to be the “start person.” Explain that this person is to think of a simple sentence and to whisper it into the ear of the person to his right. (Note: Say the sentence only once.) The next person repeats what was told to him and whispers it, only once, to the person to his right. This process continues until everyone in the circle has had a turn. The last person in the circle then repeats what was told to him out loud.

Usually, this is the point where the entire group laughs out loud. The reason is that often the sentence the last person repeats out loud is so far removed from what the “start person” said. This game is not only fun, but a great way to practice speaking clearly and listening carefully to others. The game leads to the spiritual application to follow.

Spiritual ApplicationSay or read: This “Speak ‘n’ Listen Carefully” game is lots of fun, and it teaches us how we should speak clearly and listen carefully to others. Did you know that praying to God is simply talking to Him?

The difference between this game and speaking to God, though, is this: God knows exactly what we’re saying because He knows exactly what we’re thinking. It’s sort of scary yet comforting at the same time. It’s scary when we know God knows our thoughts when we’re thinking of things we shouldn’t. It’s comforting knowing that God cares so much about us that He knows our deepest thoughts.

Speak ‘N Listen Carefully

This Pray, Give, Go! activity was created by the national BGMC office, © 2009 Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Permission to duplicate for local church use only.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.TM. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Look at what Psalm 139:1-4 says:

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.

Even though God knows our every thought and every word we speak, we still need to speak carefully and clearly. This means that you should be very intentional in what you’re saying to God.

Simply repeating the Lord’s Prayer isn’t enough. God wants you to speak to Him from your heart. Even though He knows everything about you, He still wants you to tell Him how you feel and what your needs are.

Could you imagine going through life never talking with your mom or dad? Yet without speaking to your parents, do you expect them to know how much you love them? It’s like that with God, even though He knows you inside and out. You see, God wants to have a personal relationship with you. And that requires that you talk to God and listen to Him.

List on a piece of paper some things you’re thankful for. List a few things you wish God would help you with. Then list a few ways you want to improve. Now share the things on that list with God. Simply talk to Him like you would talk with a friend—except be sure to show God the greatest respect when talking to Him.

Read Psalm 139, and then talk to God for awhile. He’s listening, and He really cares!