Why do we pray?

Answer: Prayer is talking with God. When we have a good friend, we talk to that person about all sorts of things. That’s part of being a friend. In the same way, we should talk to God about what is happening in our life.

God wants us to share our life with him, to tell him about what makes us happy, sad, and afraid. He wants to know what we want and what we would like him to do, for ourself and for others.

Also, when we pray, we open ourself up to God so that he can make good changes in us.

Key verses: Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will find God’s peace. It is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. God’s peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts as you trust in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Related verses: Luke 6:12; Acts 6:1-4; Ephesians 6:12-13; James 4:2

Related question: What is prayer?

Note to parents: Practical Christianity (LaVonne Neff and others, Tyndale House Publishers) and What Is Prayer? (Carolyn Nystrom, Moody Press) are two good resources for more on the topic of prayer.

Will god give children toys if they ask him for them?

A: Some people think God is there to give us toys and other things we want. But God doesn’t just hand out stuff to us. His purpose is to make us into people who are like Christ.

God really cares about us, and he knows what we need. Although toys seem important sometimes, there are other things that we need more. God also doesn’t want us to get our happiness from toys, but from him and from other people.

Key verses: You want what you don’t have. So you kill to get it! You long for what others have. So you start a fight to take it away! Why don’t you have what you want?

Because you don’t ask God for it. When you do ask you don’t get it because your whole aim is wrong. You want only what will make you happy. (James 4:2-3)

Related verses: Philippians 4:4-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Related questions: If I pray for something, will God give it to me? Does God care about me?

What should I say to god when I pray?

Answer: When we pray, it’s easy to say the same words over and over. Prayer can become a habit that we don’t think about. Instead, we should think about what we are saying when we pray, and we should be honest with God.

Also, we shouldn’t pray to show off, but we should say to God what we want to tell him. The Lord’s Prayer can be a guide for what to talk to God about. Prayers can include thanking God for who he is and for what he has done.

In prayer we can confess our sins, telling God that we are sorry for the bad things we have done. We can make requests, too, asking God to help others and to give us strength and guidance. We can talk to God about anything on our mind.

Key verses: [Jesus is speaking] “Pray like this: ‘Our Father in Heaven, we honor your holy name. We ask that your kingdom will come now. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in Heaven. Give us our food again today, as usual.

And forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Don’t bring us into temptation. But keep us safe from the Evil One. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

Related verses: Luke 11:1-13; Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8; James 5:16

Note to parents: Children can get caught into a routine prayer. Look for ways to vary the family prayers in which your children participate.

For example, you could suggest that each member of the family pray about what happened during the day, or you could compile a family prayer list and use it to guide your family prayer times.

Why do you get mad at me if you have Jesus in your heart?

Answer: Not all anger is wrong. We should be angry with the bad things in the world, and we should try to make them right. When children disobey their parents and do other things that are wrong, sometimes their parents get angry.

Good parents want their children to do what is right, and so they try to teach children right from wrong. Sometimes, of course, parents get angry at children for the wrong reasons. Maybe the parents are grouchy because they’ve had a bad day.

Or maybe they misunderstood what their child did. Parents are human too; they can make mistakes. Even Christian parents who have God living in them and guiding them can do what is wrong at times.

That happens when they don’t do what God wants them to do. No matter how your parents act, you should love them and pray for them.

Key verse: If you are angry, don’t sin by staying angry. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry. Get over it quickly. (Ephesians 4:26)

Related Verses: Ecclesiastes 3:7-8; Romans 7:14; Colossians 3:5-8

Why did I have a bad dream wnen I prayed before I went to sleep?

Answer: It’s good to pray before falling asleep at night. Praying helps us think through the day and thank God for how much he loves us. We should also pray for the next day.

Christians aren’t promised that they will be free from all problems and difficulties. God does promise to be with us during hard times.

A lot of things can cause bad dreams-something on our mind, something we ate, a noise. Ask God to help you sleep, but remember that whatever happens, he is there with you.

Key verse: Then I lay down and slept in peace and woke up safely. For the Lord was watching over me. (Psalm 3:5)

Related verses: Psalm 34:17-19; 139:7-11; Proverbs 3:24-26; Matthew 2:12-13; Acts 2:17

Related question: If God is with me, why did he let me have a bad dream?

How can god hear everyone’s prayers at once?

Answer: God can hear everyone’s prayers at once because God is everywhere. We can only be in one place at a time, and usually we can’t understand more than one person at a time.

But God is not like us – he is not limited. Not only can God hear and understand everyone who is praying to him in many different languages, but he also can give each person his full attention. Isn’t that great?

Key verses: [God is speaking] “Am I a God who is only in one place? Do they think I cannot see what they are doing? Can anyone hide from me? Am I not everywhere in Heaven and earth at the same time?” (Jeremiah 23: 23-24)

Related verses: Luke 1:13; Acts 10:31

Related question: How can God hear people praying at the same time from different countries?

Note to parents: Many children harbor the misconception that God is limited as we are. This is partly unavoidable because children think concretely. But it is also an opportunity for you to introduce them to the idea that God is infinitely greater than we are.

He can even hear thousands of prayers at once! An illustration that might help: When five people touch you, you can feel all five.

Why did god let them hurt Jesus?

Answer: When Jesus was being hurt, he could have called on angels to save him. After all, he was God’s Son. But Jesus chose to suffer and die for us. Jesus loved us so much that he did what it took to pay for our sins. Jesus and the Father agreed that it was necessary for him to die on the cross.

Key verses: He has so much kindness! He took away all our sins through the blood of his Son. This saved us. He has showered upon us the richness of his grace.

He understands us and knows what is best for us at all times. God has told us his secret reason for sending Christ. He has a plan he decided on in mercy long ago.

He plans to gather us all together when the time is ripe. He will gather his people in Heaven and on earth. They will be with him in Christ forever. (Ephesians 1:7-10)

Related verses: Matthew 26:53; 27:46; 1 John 2:2

Related question: Why didn’t Jesus save himself from dying on the cross?

Why do they call it good Friday if that’s the day Jesus died?

Answer: The day Jesus died is called “Good Friday” because it was a good day for us – Jesus died for us, in our place. That day was both a happy day and a sad day.

It was sad because Jesus suffered and died. But it was happy because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. At the time, the day was not seen as Good Friday. But by Easter morning, after Jesus had been raised from the dead, everybody knew it was good.

Key verses: He was taken out of the city. He carried his cross to the place known as “The Skull.” In Hebrew it was called “Golgotha.”

There they crucified him and two others with him. One was on either side, with Jesus between them. (John 19:17-18)

Related verses: Matthew 27:32-28:20; Mark 15: 16-47; Luke 23:26-56

Why Did Jesus Dress So Funny?

Answer: The clothes worn by Jesus and his followers may look different to us today, but they were in style back then. Jesus wore what people wore at that time.

His clothes fit the climate and culture of the day. No one who lived in Jesus’ time told him that he dressed funny, and they should know.

Key verses: So the soldiers crucified Jesus. Then they put his clothes into four piles. There was one piece of clothing for each of them. But they said, “Let’s not tear up his robe,” for it was seamless.

“Let’s throw dice to see who gets it.” This fulfilled the Scriptures. It said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my robe.” (John 19:23-24)

Related verses: Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35

Note to parents: Children get their idea of how Jesus dressed from Bible and Sunday school art. This is what we think Jesus might have looked like, but we have no pictures or descriptions of his physical appearance, so we don’t know exactly what he looked like.

Why did they beat up Jesus?

Answer: Some people got very angry at Jesus because he was speaking against the bad things they were doing. They tried to get Jesus to do what they wanted. Instead, Jesus did what God wanted him to do, and he told everybody how bad those people were.

Finally, the people got so angry at Jesus that they wanted to kill him. And eventually, that’s what they did.

Key verses: Then the Roman soldiers took him into the barracks of the palace. They called out the whole palace guard. They dressed him in a purple robe. And they made a crown of sharp thorns and put it on his head.

Then they cheered, yelling, “Yea! King of the Jews!” They beat him on the head with a cane and spat on him. They made fun of him by bowing down to “worship” him. (Mark 15: 16-19)

Related verses: Isaiah 53:4-10; Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 15:15; John 15:14-18

Related questions: Why did they put a thorny crown on Jesus? If Jesus was such a good man, why were people mad at him?

Why do I feel afraid if Jesus is with me?

Answer: Jesus is always with us even though we don’t see him and often we don’t feel any different. Jesus wants us to learn to trust him, to believe and know that he is there. It’s natural to feel afraid.

In fact, being afraid can be good. We should be afraid of danger. For example, fear can keep us a safe distance from a mean dog or something else that might hurt us.

God wants our fears to remind us to trust him. Being afraid should be a signal to trust God and do what he wants us to do. But it doesn’t mean that Jesus isn’t with us.

Key verse: May the Lord of peace himself give you his peace no matter what happens. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Related verses: Matthew 28:20; Philippians 4:6

How did Jesus walk on water?

Answer: Jesus did a lot of miracles. We don’t know how he did them. Jesus is God, so he can do anything. Walking on the water was not Jesus’ ordinary way of getting around.

He did this miracle, like other miracles, to teach his disciples and to show them his power. Jesus is Lord of the laws of the universe – he’s in charge of the water, too, so he can walk on it whenever he wants to.

Key verses: That evening his disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. Darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back. So they got into the boat and headed out across the lake toward Capernaum.

But soon a storm swept down upon them as they rowed. The sea grew very rough. And they were in the middle of the lake. Suddenly they saw Jesus walking toward the boat! They were terrified.

So he called out to them and told them not to be afraid. Then they were willing to let him come to them. And suddenly the boat was already at the place where they were going! (John 6:16-21)

Related verses: Matthew 14:23-32; Mark. 4:35-41; 6:45-51

Note to parents: Lots of well-meaning people have tried to explain miracles (such as Jesus’ walking on the water) to make them believable to children.

But this is a tragic mistake. The fact that miracles are incredible is exactly the point – they show us that God is awesome and powerful.

Did Jesus ever do anything bad when he was little?

Answer: Jesus was born as a baby and grew up as a little boy and into a young man. When he was a child, Jesus had to learn many things, like how to hold a cup, how to talk, and how to count.

He learned things from his parents and went to school to learn, too. But though Jesus was a real human being, he never did anything wrong- he never sinned -like stealing, lying, disobeying his parents, or saying bad words.

Sometimes Jesus did things that others said were bad-like helping certain people and speaking out against wrong. But Jesus always did what was right – he always obeyed God.

Key verses: This suffering is all part of the work God has given you. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps. He never sinned. He never told a lie. He never answered back when insulted. When he suffered he did not threaten to get even. He left his case in the hands of God who always judges fairly. (1 Peter 2:21-23)

Related verses: Luke 2:41-51; Hebrews 5:9; 1 Peter 1:18-19

Related questions: Did Jesus ever fight with his brothers? Did Jesus go to school?

If Jesus died on the cross, how can he be alive today?

Answer: Jesus lived as a real human being. Jesus’ death was a real death, too (he really died on the cross) – the people who killed him made sure of that. When Jesus was killed, all of his followers were very sad.

Jesus’ body was put in a grave. But three days later, God brought Jesus back to life. Jesus showed his wounds to his disciples. Jesus lives in his special “glorified” body in heaven today. Isn’t that great?

Key verses: I passed on to you from the first what had been told to me. Christ died for our sins just as the Bible said he would. He was buried, and three days later he rose from the grave. This happened just as the prophets said it would. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Related verses: John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58

Related questions: Did Jesus really die? Does Jesus still have scrapes and cuts on his body? How did Jesus rise from the dead? Is Jesus invisible now?

Note to parents: We call Jesus’ post resurrection body a “glorified” body. Jesus was recognized by the disciples, and he ate a meal with them.

But he also was able to appear suddenly in their midst – he wasn’t limited by space and time. We really don’t know anything more about what his body was like or what our body will be like. (See Luke 24:36-43 and John 20:19-31.)

Do god and Jesus cry?

Answer: As a man, Jesus cried real tears when he was sad. God does not shed tears today, but he feels sad when people are hurting, when they disobey him, and when they don’t believe in him.

We can bring God joy by living as we should, showing love to others, and telling people about Christ.

Key verse: Tears came to Jesus’ eyes. (John 11:35)

Related verses: Luke 19:41; John 11:33; Ephesians 4:30; Revelation 7:17

Related question: Does God have a heart?

Did Jesus really live just like me, or was he pretend?

Answer: Jesus is real. He came to earth and was born as a baby (we celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas). And he lived like other ordinary people.

Some stories we read and hear are made up and weren’t meant to be taken as true. But the stories in the Bible really happened, and that’s where we can read about Jesus.

Key verse: Christ was alive when the world began. I have seen him with my own eyes and listened to him speak. I have touched him with my own hands. He is God’s message of life. (1 John 1:1)

Related verses: John 20:27; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:15

Is Jesus god?

Answer: Jesus is fully God. When he came to earth and was born of the Virgin Mary, Jesus also became a human being, a person like you. So Jesus is both God and man. As God, Jesus has always existed – he was not created when he was born. Instead, he willingly chose to take on a human body.

Key verses: Before anything else existed, there was God’s Son. He was the Word, and he was with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. (John 1:1-2)

Related verses: John 1:14; 14:9; Colossians 1:15-18

Related question: Did God create Jesus?

How can god be three persons and one person at the same time?

Answer: We don’t know how God can be three persons at the same time, but we know he is because the Bible tells us so. The idea of three in one (the Trinity) is very hard to understand.

Some people use the example of water. Water can be a liquid, a gas, or a solid. We usually see water in liquid form, as when we use it for drinking or for taking a bath. But water can also be a gas, as when it turns to steam.

And it can be a solid, in the form of ice. But whether liquid, gas, or solid, it’s still water. In some ways God is like a family with father, mother, and child-three persons and one family. Just remember that the Trinity does not mean that we have three gods.

There is one God with three persons. The Trinity also does not mean that God wears three hats, or takes on three roles, at different times. All three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-have always existed.

Key verse: [Jesus is speaking] “So now go and make disciples in all the nations. Baptize them into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

Related verse: Matthew 3:16-17; John 14:7, 9-10

Related question: Why are there three people in the Trinity?

Is there a mcdonald’s in heaven?

Answer: No. In heaven, we won’t need people to work to make us food. Our bodies will be different. They will be “glorified,” or perfect, bodies. We don’t know if we will eat there or what kind of food we will need. God will make sure that we have everything we need. Heaven will be fun. It will be great!

Key verses: [When Jesus appeared to the disciples] Still they stood there, unsure. They were filled with joy and doubt. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish. And he ate it as they watched! (Luke 24:41-43)

Related verses: Romans 16:18; Philippians 3:19

Related questions: What do we eat in heaven? Are there going to be things I enjoy in heaven? Is there school in heaven?

Note to parents: Children are concerned about food. Food is important to them, and they don’t want to be hungry. Curiosity about what they will be eating in heaven may underlie questions like these.

Q: Will there be toys in heaven?

Answer: We like toys because we have such fun with them. But we can get tired of toys, too. For example, you don’t play with your baby toys any more. That’s because you outgrew them and got tired of them.

God will have just the right kind of toys for you in heaven. You will enjoy heaven even more than your favorite toys.

Key verses: When I was a child I thought like a child does. When I became a man I put away the childish things. We can see and understand only a little about God now. It is like we were looking at his reflection in a poor mirror.

Someday we are going to see him face to face. Now all that I know is hazy and blurred. But then I will see everything clearly. I will see as clearly as God sees into my heart right now. (1 Corinthians 13:11-12)

Related verses: Ephesians 4: 14; 1 Corinthians 14:20

Related questions: Will I have my teddy bear in heaven? Do toys go to heaven?