Borrowing God’s words

01 · GATHER ROUND

Start with a question.

“Have you ever wanted to cheer up a friend but didn’t know what to say? What did you do?”

Kids might mention a card, a hug, or asking a grown-up for help. Borrowing words is today’s theme.

03 · OPEN THE BIBLE

Words from a card.

Your friend’s grandma is sick. You want to say something kind, but your words feel clumsy. So you find a card with a painted sunflower and the words, “Thinking of you and hoping for brighter days.” It says exactly what you feel but couldn’t quite say. You sign your name and give it to your friend.

Prayer can feel like that sometimes. We want to talk to God, but we don’t know what to say. Here’s good news: God has given us a whole book full of words to borrow. The Bible teaches us what to pray, and it even gives us prayers we can pray ourselves.

Our Bible reading is one of those prayers. Paul kneels before the Father and prays for his friends. He asks God to strengthen them with power through his Spirit, so that Christ would live in their hearts. He prays that they would be rooted and grounded in love, and that they would understand how wide, long, high, and deep the love of Jesus is.

Notice what Paul asks for. Not a new bike or a sunny day—though it’s fine to pray about those things, too. He prays that his friends would know God’s love. The Bible helps us learn what matters most, so our prayers grow bigger than our own wants.

You can pray the Bible in lots of ways. Read a psalm and turn it into your own prayer. Take a promise, like “God is our refuge,” and thank him for it. Pray Paul’s prayer for someone you love, putting their name in it.

And Paul ends with a reminder that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. No prayer is too big for God. The God who gave us the Bible loves to hear us pray its words back to him.

04 · WONDER TOGETHER

Let’s talk about it.

1. Why is it helpful to pray using words from the Bible?
2. What did Paul pray for his friends? Why do you think he chose those things?
3. Who could you pray Paul’s prayer for this week?

Try answering one yourself first. “I don’t know yet” is a fine place to start a conversation.

06 · TALK TO GOD

Let’s pray.

Father, thank you for giving us your Word to teach us how to pray. When we don’t know what to say, help us borrow your words. Strengthen us with power through your Spirit. Help us understand how wide and long and high and deep the love of Jesus is. You can do far more than we ask or imagine. Amen.

Then invite everyone to add one thing they want to tell God.

07 · MAKE IT STICK

A little truth to learn by heart.

Make a bookmark. Write this week’s answer on a strip of paper, decorate it, and tuck it into your Bible at Ephesians 3. Every time you open to that page, read the bookmark out loud. By the end of the week, try saying it without looking.