Pass the Leftovers, Please!

David C Cook COVID-19 Response

Upper Elementary

Lesson 7
Summer 2019
By: Lea Vaverchak
July 14, 2019

Lesson Focus:

God answers our prayers.

Bible Basis:

Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 11: 24; John 14:13-14

Materials Needed:

Step 1:

Internet access

Step 4:

Index cards
Pens/pencils
Bibles
Whiteboard and marker
Optional: Internet access

Summary & Links:

Students will come to understand because of our faith in Him, God answers our prayers.

Memory Verse:

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
—Mark 11:24

Students will come to understand because of our faith in Him, God answers our prayers.

Materials Needed:

Internet access

How many of you are fans of leftover food? Why or why not? (Answers will vary but may include: Me! I love cold pizza the next morning; Eww! I can’t stand anything warmed up the next day, etc.)

Most people don’t like leftovers. They think they’re not as not good the second time around. You may have even seen commercials or videos of kids rolling their eyes and groaning when their mom says, “leftovers for dinner tonight!” Leftovers just aren’t as good as the original.

In the movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” Flint Lockwood invents a machine that makes it rain food three times a day. Pay attention to all of the leftover food! Where does it go? What do they do with it? Would you eat it after it hit the ground? Let’s watch.

Share the following video clip with your students [2:46]:
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows Scene (2/10) Movieclip

Did anyone in the movie eat the leftover food? (Answers: No, the leftovers were tossed away; no they didn’t need to eat leftovers because they knew more food was coming the next meal, etc.)

What happened to all of the extra food? (Answers: It laid on the ground; Flint Lockwood made a machine that scooped it up and flung it to an out-of-sight place, etc.)

How would you feel if you were only able to eat leftover food from now on? (Answers might include: Food would never taste as good again; I wouldn’t like it; I would feel like I wasn’t good enough, since I wasn’t able to get the original food, etc.)

Leftovers are usually seen as second rate and never as good as they were the first time around. However, for a few, leftovers are special! Some even say the meal tastes better the next day.

The Canaanite woman in our story today was also willing to take any leftovers she could get…from Jesus. She knew His “crumbs” were the richest food on earth. Leftovers from Jesus? Yes, please! Let’s read on to see what Jesus thought of this woman’s take on His leftovers.

Looking for Steps 2 & 3?

You can find Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher’s guide. To purchase a teacher’s guide, please visit: Bible-in-Life or Echoes.

Materials Needed:

Index cards
Pens/pencils
Bibles
Whiteboard and marker
Optional: Internet access

Earlier we saw how the Canaanite woman’s strong faith in Jesus’ power ultimately healed her daughter. She knew that whatever Jesus had to offer, even if it was only the “crumbs from His table” would be more than enough to heal her daughter. She was right. Jesus, amazed by her faith in Him, granted her request.

Have you ever experienced a miraculous answer to prayer? Explain. (Answers: My grandma was healed from cancer; my dad found another job after he was let go, etc.)

How would you rate your own faith in God answering your prayers, on a scale from 1-10? Why? (Answers will vary, be prepared to share your own thoughts.)

Ask a volunteer to read aloud today’s memory verse—Mark 11:24.

Our memory verse today talks about our need for faith. It says, “whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it.” God wants us to have faith like the Canaanite woman. She knew Jesus could do it and never doubted Him for a second.

Our goal should be to increase our faith in Christ. One of the ways to do that is to dig into His Word and let Him teach us through His Holy Spirit. He’ll teach us about Himself and speak directly to our hearts while we read which will increase our faith in Him.

There are a few verses we’re going to look up, which we can begin praying God will use to increase our faith in Him. We can memorize and pray them any time of the day and know God is going to hear us and answer.

Pass out index cards and writing utensils to your students. Write the following verse references on the whiteboard and have your preteens look each of them up in their Bibles. They should copy the verses onto their index cards.

Luke 17:5—The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
Mark 9:24—Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Matthew 19:26—Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

You might want to play the following song as they work [4:38]:
Let Faith Arise

God answered the Canaanite woman’s prayer because of her incredible faith in Jesus.

Why is it important to have a strong faith in God? (Possible answers might include: He gives us peace during the tough times; faith in God gives us a greater purpose for our lives and lets us know He is totally in control, the Bible says without faith it is impossible to please God [Heb. 11:6], etc.)

On your index cards you’ve written verses you can begin memorizing and praying every day. Ask God to “increase your faith and help you to overcome your unbelief in Him.” Tell Him you know “all things are possible through Him.” It’s okay to pray these things! There is no better way to communicate with God and grow your faith in Him than by learning Scripture and praying it back to God.

Let’s increase our faith in Christ, not so our prayers will be answered, but so that His peace will become stronger in us and we’ll know He’s got this, no matter how He answers our prayers. His will is always the best answer.

Challenge your students to memorize at least one of the verses this week. Encourage them to take time to read God’s Word and spend time with Him in prayer each day. Ask them to read over their index cards this week, pack them in their bag when they head out the door, or tape them to their mirror in their room.

Know these verses. Pray them. Believe God will answer your prayers in His time and in His way. Have faith!

Pray to close.

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David C Cook COVID-19 Response

Upper Elementary