Prayer Interviews

Materials
Provide Bibles, paper, and pencils.
Optional: Provide Bible costumes.

Preparation
On a sheet of paper write one of the scripture references below these questions:
* Who are you?
* Why did you pray?
* How did God answer you?
* How did you feel?

Scripture references
Possible answers are in parenthesis. Do not include these on the student sheets
1. Genesis 24:42-46, 52
(Abraham's servant; to find a wife for Isaac; provided Rebecca; bowed down before God).
2. 1 Samuel 1:2,10,11,27; 2:1
(Hannah; no children; son; praised God).
3. 2 Kings 20:1-5
(Hezekiah; sick; health).
4. Jonah 1:17; 2:1,10; 3:3
(Jonah; swallowed by fish; fish spit me out; obeyed God).
5. Luke 18:13,14
(tax collector; I was a sinner; forgiveness; God forgave me).
6. Acts 9:39-41
(Peter; Dorcas' life; raised Dorcas).
7. Daniel 9:1-20
(Daniel's prayer follows the pattern of II Chron 7:14)

Details of Daniel's prayer
1. KNEES - Humble yourself
....v7,8 - Acknowledge shame is your fault, a result of your sin
....v16 - Our sin affects others
....v18b - Admit we have no righteousness
2. HANDS- (hands with palms together in a praying hands position) Pray
....v2-3 Daniel was reading the scriptures... and discovered that something there pertained to him, so he asked God to do what he had already promised.
....v16-18 Asked for God's mercy
3. EYES - Seek God's face.
....a. v2-3 Daniel was seeking God through reading the scriptures...
....b. Meditated on God's attributes
.......NOTICE all the characteristics and attributes of God mentioned in verses 4-18.
....c. Sought God's favor (v13)
4. BODY - Turn from your wicked ways
....a. points out the wickedness they have committed... and includes himself - "we" (v5, 6, 10, 11)
....b. was a time of personal confession v20

Application
God answered prayers in Bible times, and He answers prayers today. These stories are about people who prayed and about the answers God gave. Guide them as they answer the questions regarding each Scripture. Assign one youth the part of the reporter. He or she will ask the questions. Assign the parts of the Bible people to the other pupils. They will answer the questions. Practice the interviews. Have the groups share one or more interviews.