God’s “phone number”

Our Lifeway curriculum gave us an idea to introduce our lesson on prayer by pretending to be interrupted by a phone call with our pastor in front of the kids. As the kids listened to the one-sided conversation, we were to drop clues as to who we were conversing with without actually saying the person’s name. *

(ie “Hello! Thanks for getting back with me about the baptism next week! Yes, I’m sure you’ve been busy preparing for the sermon today! I hope it all goes well! Ok! We’ll talk to you after church! Thanks again! Good bye!”)

We were then to ask the kids if they could guess who we had been talking to on the phone.

We did the introductory activity, but then expounded on this idea and made it into fun game!

We told the kids we were going to make some more ” phone calls” & they had to listen & try to figure out who we were talking to.

Here are a few of the people (some real, some fiction) we “called”:

Mary (Example: “Hi! Just wanted to congratulate you on the new baby! Wow! A boy?? That’s so great! Someone told me you had to give birth in a BARN! What in the world!? I can’t wait to hear all about that! ..and Angels?? That’s so crazy!! Yes! I’m sure you were overwhelmed by it all! That’s so awesome! I’m so glad it all turned out okay! Oh! I hear the baby crying! I’ll let you go! Bye!”)

Iron Man

Shaggy

Noah

President of the United States

One of our SS teachers

Joseph

Buzz Lightyear

The last phone call we made was to God

(Example: Hi. It’s me. Listen, I have some things I’m really worried about, and I just don’t know who else to talk to! I wanted to talk to You, because I know you are so wise & I knew You could help me figure out what to do!

First, my husband has some hard things going on at work and I’m so worried…

What’s that? Oh yes. You’re right! I know You’re in control & I shouldn’t worry! Yes. I trust You!

Oh, and my son has some really big decisions he has to make & I just…

What? Oh yes. I know You love him even more than I do, which I can’t even comprehend! Yes…ok…Thank you for reminding me of that. You’ll talk to Him about what he should do? Oh! Thank you so much!!

Oh,and one more thing…I have this health issue that keeps popping up! I’m kind of scared about it, because the doctors…

Oh, that’s right! How silly of me! I know You made me & You know EVERYTHING about what’s going on! Yes! I remember how You healed people…and comforted people You didn’t heal right away….

Yes. Thank you for reminding me Who You are and that I can trust You with all my problems!

I always feel so much better after I talk to You!

What’s that? Oh, I love You too! I’m so thankful for You and all You do for me!

…and yes, that’s a great idea! I’ll do that! I knew You’d know what I should do! Thank You! I promise I’ll talk to you again soon!”)

We concluded by telling the kids that even though we wouldn’t really call God on the phone….it’s really just that easy to talk to Him!

Some people refer to Jeremiah 33:3 as “God’s phone number:”

“Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.”

Aren’t you glad we don’t need a phone to talk to God!? There is never a busy signal or voice mail recording! He is always available! All we have to do is call out to Him, and He is ready and willing to listen and communicate with us!

*p. 53, Kids Bible Studies for Life, Summer 2019 (3rd & 4th grade Leader’s Guide)