Time

15-20 minutes
Description

Peter says that God is attentive to (really pays attention to) our prayers, but sometimes we don’t get the answer we expect or want and sometimes we don’t get any answer at all.  It’s helpful to know that God always answers prayer with one of three answers, Yes, No or Wait.  When He says yes, we can move ahead.  When He says no, we should take a step back and reconsider what we are asking.  If God doesn’t want us to have it, it either isn’t good for us or doesn’t fit with His bigger plan.   When God doesn’t seem to answer, He is most likely saying that we should wait.  He wants to grant us our request, but it’s not time yet.  This board game will illustrate principles of prayer.

Scriptures

• 1 Peter 3:12

Materials

• Gameboard (1 per group of 4-6 – You can download this from the Lesson and Material Downloads page at www.teachingthem.com.  The file is called, “Yes, No, Wait – Gameboard.”)
• Something small to use as game pieces (like coins, beads or beans – one per person)

• “Yes, No, Wait” dice (1per group of 4-6 – You can download this from the Lesson and Material Downloads page at www.teachingthem.com.  The file is called, “Yes, No, Wait – Dice Pattern.”)

• Scotch tape (1 roll)
• Scissors (1 pair)
• Bible

Preparation

• Print out the gameboard and the “Yes, No, Wait” dice.
• Cut out the dice pattern, and crease it along each of the edges.
• Tape the edges of the dice pattern together.
• Practice the script.

Procedure

Use the following script (or modify to suit your needs):

• “We’re going to play a game called, ‘Yes, No, Wait.’”
• “It’s about how God answers prayer.”  (Have a volunteer read 1 Peter 3:12.)
• “Peter says that God is attentive to (really pays attention to) our prayers, but sometimes we don’t get the answer we expect or want and sometimes we don’t get any answer at all.”
• “It’s helpful to know that God always answers prayer with one of three answers, Yes, No or Wait.”
• “When He says yes, we can move ahead.”
• “When He says no, we should take a step back and reconsider what we are asking.”
• “If God doesn’t want us to have it, it either isn’t good for us or doesn’t fit with His bigger plan.”
• “When God doesn’t seem to answer, He is most likely saying that we should wait.”
• “He wants to grant us our request, but it’s not time yet.”
• “Here’s how the game is played.”
• “Everyone starts with their game piece on the START space.”
• “The person who gets to go first is the one in your group who is the youngest (or the one with the closest birthday).”
• “On the first turn, each player will say something out loud that he/she would like for God to do for him/her.”  (To keep it light, you might want to give an example like, “Please give us three weeks off from school!”)
• “Then, the player will roll the ‘Yes, No, Wait’ dice.”
• “If the player rolls a ‘Yes,’ he/she should move ahead 3 spaces.”
• “If the player rolls a ‘No,’ he/she should move back 2 spaces (or stay on the START space if it’s the first turn).”
• “If the player rolls a ‘Wait,’ he/she should stay in the same space until the next turn.”
• “After the first player rolls and makes a move, play passes to the person on his/her right.”
• “This continues until someone advances enough spaces to reach the ‘God’s Will For Your Life’ space and becomes the winner.”
• “It’s okay if you get to move more spaces than you need to win on the last roll. You just need at least enough to reach the end space.”
• “Want to play?”  (Determine who goes first, and let them make their first roll.  Continue playing until someone reaches the end space.  You may want to ask the debrief questions below while the game is being played to save time.)

Debrief Questions

1. Why does God sometimes say, “No” to our prayers?
2. What should we do when He says, “No?”
3. Why does God sometimes say, “Wait” to our prayers?
4. What should we do when He says, “Wait?”