New City Catechism, Week 40 (Question 40)

Q: What should we pray?

Children’s answer

A: The whole Word of God directs us in what we should pray.

Adult/older children’s answer

A: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.

Video explanation:

Song to assist with memorization:

Relevant Scripture to read:

Ephesians 3:14–21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Children’s Activity (printable pdfs)

Younger Kids (pages 10 and 11)

There are no resources for older kids currently available for this lesson.

Special thanks to Del Rey Church for sharing their New City Catechism kid resources with us!

Devotional questions for individual/family/group reflection and discussion:

What lessons do the Psalms give us on how to pray? Paul’s letters?
Should Christians pray for “small” things like finding a parking spot?
Dr. Allen (below) points out that the Gospel recalibrates our desires so that our prayers are shaped in a certain way- have you seen this in your own life?
What are the things Jesus prays for? How can this help to shape our prayer life?

For an additional “deeper” dive into this question and answer, check out this video from Dr. Michael Allen (which a few of the above questions are based on):