Ask, Seek, Knock

Lesson: God loves to give

1. Story:

• Tell the story based on Luke 11:5-10.
• Once there was a man. He was about to sleep at night when there was a knock on his door. It was a friend visiting him. The visitor had come from a long journey and was hungry.
• The man went to check his cupboards. Uh oh! There’s no food in there.
• So he goes to his neighbor. It’s midnight, but still he knocks on the door. Knock, knock, knock.
• The neighbor cannot believe his ears. “Why do you wake me at this time?”
• “Please lend me three loaves of bread. A friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.”
• “What?! Don’t bother me. My door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.”
• But the man persists in knocking and asking.
• Finally, fed up, the neighbor grudgingly gets out of bed, opens the door and gives the man all the bread he wants — as much as he needed.

2. Lesson:

• This neighbor was reluctant to help the man. He was already in bed. He didn’t want to get up. Even though he knew the man and was his friend, he didn’t want to help him.
• But in the end he still did. Because the man dared to ask.
• The key difference is that God is NOT a reluctant neighbor. He doesn’t give us a dozen excuses about why He cannot help us. He doesn’t need you to bang down His door before He decides to help us.
• In fact, Jesus tells us to simply: A.S.K. — Ask, Seek, Knock. (Luke 11:9-10)
• When we have a need, ask our Heavenly Father, and we receive. If we are looking for an answer, seek, and we shall find. If we need an open door, knock, and the door will be opened for us.
• Because of Jesus, and what He has done for us, we can be bold (like the man) and approach God whenever we have a need.
• Memory Verse: Luke 11:9 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

3. Activity ideas:

• Memory Verse:
• Prepare 3 posters (A4 or A3) with pictures of:
• An open mouth
• A ear
• A door
• Round #1: Hold up each poster and get kids to shout out:
• Ask
• Seek
• Knock
• Round #2: Hold up each poster and get kids to shout out:
• Ask: And it will be given to you
• Seek: And you will find
• Knock: And the door will be opened to you

• Small group sharing and prayer:
• What is one thing you are asking, seeking, knocking for?
• Do you know that God wants to help you and answer your prayer?
• Pray for one another