Activity Our Father

Students, in their learning teams, locate and read Matthew (6:5-15) to discover
the original purpose of the Lord’s Prayer within its biblical context. Using the
Scriptural text provided, students use a highlighter pen to identify similar
phrases to the traditional prayer of The Our Father.

When you pray, don't be like those show-offs who love to stand up and
pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just
to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward.
6
When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your
Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward
you.
7
When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God.
They think God likes to hear long prayers. 8Don't be like them. Your
Father knows what you need before you ask.
9
You should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
help us to honour your name.
10
Come and set up your kingdom,
so that everyone on earth will obey you,
as you are obeyed in heaven.
11
Give us our food for today.
12
Forgive us for doing wrong,
as we forgive others.
13
Keep us from being tempted
and protect us from evil.
14
If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in
heaven will forgive you. 15But if you don't forgive others, your Father
will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:5-15)

The original purpose of this text was to ...

Students complete the following retrieval chart to identify the purposes of
phrases within the traditional Our Father e.g. Forgive us our sins – To seek
forgiveness.

The Our Father Purposes within the text

Our Father

who art in heaven

hallowed be your name

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, Give us today the food we need.

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass

against us;

and lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

Amen

Option A: Students can present their contemporary interpretation in a

storybook or slide show for young children using images that reflect each line
of the prayer. You may choose to create the images yourself by miming or
acting the meaning in a small group.

Option B: Students can write a ‘teen’ version – using language and imagery
which reflects the God they imagine to be at the centre of this prayer and
other father figures in their life who they admire. It can be a prayer format or
presented as a song, rap, tweet or series of memes – whatever format the
student thinks will appeal to a teen audience.