Pass the Prayer Shoes – A Super Bible School Activity for Your Elementary Kids

When Moses met God on Mt. Sanai, he was required to take off his shoes because the ground he was standing on was holy ground.  I think wherever we pray, it's as if we are entering holy territory.  The Lord's Prayer is a beautiful example of how we should communicate with our Father and it is one our children should know as well.  Here is a fun, but potentially stinky, Bible school activity that your kids will enjoy to help them learn this wonderful prayer.  It's called "Pass the Prayer Shoes."

Here's what you do:

When your children arrive to class, give them each a number from 1 to however many children came.  If you have 5 kids in your class, they will be numbered off from 1 to 5.  Now, take a piece of masking tape and permanent marker and label the soles of each of their shoes according to their number, but each shoe will either be an A or a B.  For example, if Joshua's number is 4, one of his shoes will say 4A and the other will say 4B.  Grab a hat or bucket and place some index cards inside that have the numbers you gave out to the kids.  You will also need a way to keep score and a musical version of the Lord's Prayer that you like that you can play on a CD player and pause intermittently.  Finally, you will need the following list, found below, of prayers found in the Bible along with the 2 options of people who prayed the prayer.  You are now ready to play the activity.

Before playing the game, say the following to your class:

Raise your hand if you ever pray to God.  (Wait for responses.)  Good.  I am glad to see that some of you take the time to talk to God.  He loves when you pray to Him!  Now, raise your hand if you've ever prayed or heard the Lord's Prayer.  (Wait for response.)  The Lord's Prayer is a beautiful prayer that Jesus prayed and is a great example we can follow in our own prayers.  Let's listen to a song of the Lord's Prayer.  (Play the song.  After playing the song, you may want to expound on the meaning of this passage of Scripture or you may just want to dive in and play the game.)  Today, we are going to play a game called "Pass the Prayer Shoes."  It is based on the fact that when Moses was before God on Mt. Sanai, he took off his shoes to show reverence or respect to God while talking to Him.  As you came in, I labeled all of your shoes.  Let's put them all in a pile and then make a circle all around the shoes.  Now, grab a shoe out of the pile, but make sure you do not pick your own.  I am going to play our Lord's Prayer song.  While it is playing, I want you all to pass your shoes around to the right.  At some point, without you knowing, I will stop the music.  I will then reach into my bag of numbers, here, and pull out a number.  Let's say I pull out a 3.  Whoever is holding the 3A and 3B shoes will get the chance to earn points.  I will then give you a prayer someone prayed in the Bible along with 2 options of people who might have prayed the prayer.  The person who is holding the "A" shoe, will get to try and pick the correct answer.  If they are successful, they will earn 50 points.  If they get it wrong, it will go to the person holding the "B" shoe.  If for some reason, someone ends up holding a matching pair of shoes and their number is picked, then I will pick out a different number.  So, don't get caught holding a pair of the same shoes!  The person with the most points at the end of our playing time is the winner.  OK.  Let's play!

Tip:

Always place the card back into the bag after each play.  It's OK if it is called more than once.

Prayers in the Bible:

I have boldfaced the correct one who prayed the prayer.

1. Genesis 15:2-3 – Zechariah or Abram (or say Abraham)

… "Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?"

2. 1 Samuel 1:10-11 – Hannah or Elizabeth

…(she) prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, "LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."

3. Genesis 18:32 – Abraham or Lot

Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found (in Sodom)?"

(God) answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy (Sodom)."

4. Matthew 8:24-25 – The Pharisees or the disciples

Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. (They) went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

5. Exodus 14:21 – Moses or Joshua

Then (he) stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided…

6. Joshua 10:12  - Caleb or Joshua

On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, (he) said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:

"Sun, stand still over Gibeon,

and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."

7. 2 Samuel 24:10 – Samson or David

…(he) was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."

8. 1 Kings 3:5-9 – Samuel or Solomon

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to (him) during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."…

"Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties… So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

9. 1 Chronicles 4:10 – Jabez or Nehemiah

(He) cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.

10. Acts 7:59-60  - Stephen or Paul

While they were stoning him, (he) prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.