Ask, Seek, Knock
Matthew 7:7–11
Our true story comes from a part of the Bible called the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew was a disciple of Jesus. That means Jesus was his teacher. And the word gospel means “good news!”
One day, Jesus was teaching His friends about God and about prayer.
Jesus wanted them to know that they could ask God for help.
Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.”
Jesus was teaching His friends to keep trusting God.
If you need something, you can ask.
If you are looking for help, you can seek.
If you need someone to answer, you can knock.
Then Jesus talked about parents and their children.
Jesus said, “If a child asks for bread, would a loving parent give the child a stone instead?”
No!
Jesus said, “If a child asks for a fish, would a loving parent give the child a snake?”
Of course not!
Parents want to give their children good things.
Then Jesus explained that God loves and cares for us even more. God knows what is good for us.
That means we can talk with God when we need help.
If you are afraid, you can say, “God, please help me.”
If something is hard, you can say, “God, please help me know what to do.”
If you are having trouble being kind, you can say, “God, please help me be kind.”
If you are worried, you can tell God what is worrying you.
Sometimes God may not give us exactly what we ask for. But God always hears us. God loves us, and we can trust God to care for us.
Jesus wants us to know that we never have to wonder whether we are allowed to talk with God about the things we need.
We can ask.
We can seek.
We can knock.
And we can trust our loving God.
Key Takeaway for Preschoolers
We can ask God for help because God loves us and cares for us.
Dear God,
Thank You for loving us and caring for us. Jesus taught us that we can ask You for help. When we are afraid, please help us. When something is hard, please help us. When we need to make a good choice, please help us know what to do. Help us trust You because You know what is good for us. Thank You for hearing us whenever we pray. We love You, God.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Bible Verse: “With God all things are possible.” — Matthew 19:26b, BSB
Paraphrase: “God can do anything.”
Activities
These activities help preschoolers engage with the story through movement, crafts, music, and storytelling, making the lesson fun and memorable.
1. Ask God for Help
Objective: To help children understand that they can talk with God when they need help.
Materials: Simple picture cards showing familiar situations in which a child might need help, such as: being afraid of the dark; feeling sad; having trouble sharing; trying something difficult; feeling worried; needing help being kind; having a friend who is hurt or upset. Small basket or bag
Activity: Place the picture cards in the basket. Invite each child to choose one.
Look at the picture together and ask, “What does this child need help with?”
After the children respond, ask, “Can we talk with God about that?”
Help them make a very simple prayer.
For example:
“God, please help me when I am afraid.”
“God, please help me share.”
“God, please help me be kind.”
“God, please help my friend.”
After each example, invite everyone to say together: “I can ask God for help!”
For toddlers, keep the activity especially simple. Name the situation and let them repeat, “Help me, God.”
Talk About It: “Jesus taught His friends that they could ask God for help. We can ask God for help, too. We don't need big or special words. We can simply tell God what we need. God loves us and hears us when we pray.”
2. Ask, Seek, and Knock
Objective: To help children remember Jesus' words through simple physical actions.
Materials: A small familiar object, such as a toy sheep, beanbag, or soft toy, A box or basket, A classroom door, playhouse door, or sturdy pretend door
Activity: Introduce three simple motions:
For ASK, hold both hands open in front of the body. For SEEK, place one hand above the eyes and look around. For KNOCK, pretend to knock gently on a door.
Say together:
“Ask!” — children hold out their hands.
“Seek!” — children look around.
“Knock!” — children pretend to knock.
Next, hide the toy somewhere easy to find. Let the children seek for it together. Place the toy inside a box or behind a playhouse door and let a child knock before opening it. Throughout the activity, remind them that Jesus used these words to teach His friends to keep turning to God and trusting Him. Finish by repeating the motions together:
“Ask! Seek! Knock! We can talk with God!”
Talk About It: “Jesus said, ‘Ask, seek, and knock.’ Jesus wanted His friends to know that they could keep trusting God. When we need help, we can talk with God.”
3. Ask, Seek, Knock (Musical Activity)
Tune: Frère Jacques / Are You Sleeping? (Public Domain)
Objective: To reinforce Jesus' words and the lesson's central message through music and movement.
Materials: None
Activity: Teach the children simple motions for the song:
• Ask — open hands in front of the body.
• Seek — shade the eyes and look from side to side.
• Knock — make a gentle knocking motion.
• God will hear us — place a hand beside the ear.
• God will help us — place both hands over the heart.
Sing slowly enough for toddlers and preschoolers to perform the motions.
Song Lyrics:
Ask and seek Him,
Ask and seek Him,
Knock, knock, knock.
Knock, knock, knock.
We can ask God for help,
We can ask God for help.
God will hear.
God will hear.
God is with us,
God is with us,
Every day.
Every day.
We can talk with God now,
We can talk with God now.
When we pray.
When we pray.
Talk About It: “Jesus told His friends to ask, seek, and knock. We can always talk with God. When we need help, we can pray and trust God to care for us.”
4. Bread or Stone?
Objective: To help children understand Jesus' illustration that God loves us and wants what is good for us.
Materials: A piece of bread or realistic toy bread, A smooth stone, A toy or picture of a fish, A toy or picture of a snake, Optional small plate or basket
Activity: Show the children the bread and the stone. Ask: “If you were hungry and asked for some bread, which one would you want?”
Let the children point to the bread. Then ask: “Would a loving mommy, daddy, grandparent, or another person who takes care of you give you a stone to eat?”
Explain that Jesus used a funny example like this to help people understand something important. Next, show the fish and snake. Ask: “Jesus said that if a child asked for a fish, would a loving parent give the child a snake instead?”
Let the children respond. Then explain: “Jesus said that people who love children want to care for them and give them good things. Jesus wanted us to understand that God loves us and knows what is good for us.”
Be careful not to imply that children receive everything they request in prayer. Instead, emphasize God's loving care. Finish by saying together: “God loves me. God cares for me. I can ask God for help.”
Talk About It: “When we pray, God does not always give us exactly what we ask for. But God always hears us. God loves us and knows what is good for us. We can trust God when we pray.”
These activities build naturally on the first two lessons of the collection. The children have learned “I can talk with God” and “I can thank God.” Now they add another simple way of praying: “When I need help, I can ask God.”
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Story illustrations are the copyright of James M. Thomas. All rights reserved.
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