The method
Four ACTS movements
Leader script: I will show four letters. You can sit, stand, draw, listen, use AAC, or pass. No one has to pray aloud. ACTS is a memory aid, not a rule from the Bible. We will read the references in our own Bible and use original examples. I will model one brief sentence for each letter. The confession example is fictional and does not ask for a private story. Choose one card or watch. What do you notice in the card or passage? Sharing is optional. If something feels unsafe or very upsetting, leave with the named safe adult. We will follow the safeguarding policy privately.
- 01
Adoration
Reference: Psalm 96:1–4
Notice and praise what is true about God: goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, and care.
“Adoration tells the truth about God's goodness. It does not flatter God to make an outcome happen. Ask which word fits the passage: faithful, kind, wise, or near.”
ExampleGod, you are faithful. You welcome children, and we praise you.
Choose one: Say one sentence, point to a word or picture, or let the adult model. · Draw a symbol, move in a safe way, or use a prepared card. · Listen while the adult prays, leave a box blank, or pass.
Adapt: Point to a word or picture, listen, or pass. Younger children can use a praise star.
- 02
Confession
Reference: 1 John 1:9
Tell God the truth about a choice and turn toward repair and grace.
“Confession is not a public report or a forced apology. Offer the words I want to turn toward love, a turning arrow, or listening; never ask a child to describe harm done to them.”
ExampleGod, I spoke sharply when I was frustrated. Help me make a kind repair.
Choose one: Say one sentence, point to a word or picture, or let the adult model. · Draw a symbol, move in a safe way, or use a prepared card. · Listen while the adult prays, leave a box blank, or pass.
Adapt: Never ask a child to describe harm. Use a fictional repair example; forgiveness never requires unsafe contact.
- 03
Thanksgiving
Reference: 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Name a good gift or help without pretending that every circumstance is good.
“Thanksgiving can name a general gift such as food, friendship, shelter, a story, or help. It never asks anyone to thank God for cruelty or loss.”
ExampleThank you for the people who help us and for today's food and shelter.
Choose one: Say one sentence, point to a word or picture, or let the adult model. · Draw a symbol, move in a safe way, or use a prepared card. · Listen while the adult prays, leave a box blank, or pass.
Adapt: Point, draw, let the adult give thanks, or pass. A child may leave this movement blank.
- 04
Supplication
Reference: Philippians 4:6
Ask God for help and ask trusted people for practical support.
“Supplication asks for wisdom, care, courage, or help for someone else. It does not control God or predict an outcome.”
ExamplePlease give us wisdom to care for one another and ask for help.
Choose one: Say one sentence, point to a word or picture, or let the adult model. · Draw a symbol, move in a safe way, or use a prepared card. · Listen while the adult prays, leave a box blank, or pass.
Adapt: Choose a prepared symbol, name a trusted helper, or pass. Adults make the practical safety plan.
Worked example · Psalm 96; 1 John 1; 1 Thessalonians 5; Philippians 4
Read this example aloud
- 01We can use four letters as four doors. You may listen, draw, move, say one line, use AAC, or pass.
- 02A: God, you are faithful and you welcome children.
- 03C: We are sorry for hurtful words; we can turn toward repair.
- 04T: Thank you for people who help and for today's food and shelter.
- 05S: Please give our family wisdom to care for one another and ask a trusted adult when we need help.
ExampleWe can use four letters as four doors. You may listen, draw, move, say one line, use AAC, or pass.
Use the age routes
- CL · Caregiver-led, approximately ages 4–7
- Show four icons. Read one sentence per letter. Let the child point, imitate one word, draw, or pass. Keep the rhythm to five to eight minutes.
- ER · Co-reader, approximately ages 5–7
- Invite tracing, matching, or a dictated sentence. Offer two prepared words and no name or personal-story field.
- IR · Reader with an adult nearby, approximately ages 8–12
- Use the four boxes with a fictional scenario. Write, draw, leave a box blank, or ask the adult to read the references in context.
- CG · Adult-led group, approximately ages 4–12
- Use a first/then schedule, a quiet parallel route, AAC, large print, standing, or headphones. Follow the host organisation's visibility and adult-ratio policy.
Our paraphrase, not Scripture text. Exact wording: World English Bible (public domain).
Name what ACTS is
Section 01
ACTS is an acrostic and a teaching aid, not a biblical command or a scorecard. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6 includes God's name, kingdom, daily needs, forgiveness, and help.
Use the four letters when they help a child begin. Leave a letter out, return to lament, or listen when that fits better.
Explain confession without shame
Section 02
Use an ordinary fictional example such as interrupting and trying again. Confession means honest turning toward repair and grace; it is not a public report or forced apology.
Never ask about abuse, family conflict, diagnosis, trauma, a secret, or a worst mistake. Forgiveness never requires returning to an unsafe person or staying silent about harm.
Use a five-minute rhythm
Section 03
Put the four letter cards where an adult can read them. Preview the references, say the choice line, model one sentence per letter, and invite voice, drawing, pointing, movement, AAC, or passing.
Close with Amen, another prayer, or a practical next step. The adult carries the structure; a child does not need to produce a polished prayer.
Connect the right page
Section 04
The broad activity library at KID-004 is for browsing many low-prep options. KID-007 teaches the Lord's Prayer line by line. The general prayer journal and the protected Lectio page own different writing jobs.
Link to a named owner rather than adding ACTS format, age, or journal doorway routes. Distinct pages keep the finished utility clear.
Use it without the PDF
Section 05
The four explanations, worked prayer, leader script, age routes, and worksheet prompts are on this page. A caregiver can copy four letters onto scrap paper or read the prompt cards from the browser.
The eight-page packet makes cutting and reuse easier. It does not hide the prayer, collect a confession, or require an email.
The worksheet levels
Two worksheet routes
The packet adds four cut-apart prompt cards. The four method steps above carry the same letter order and adult cues.
Four doors · CL / ER
Use four large boxes with icons. Point, trace, draw, dictate, listen, or pass.
Adapt: Each field has a drawing area or adult-dictation route. Leaving a box blank is allowed.
Blank fields
01 · Adoration · Psalm 96:1–4
What is one true, good thing we can say about God?
Response: point
02 · Confession · 1 John 1:9
Choose a turning arrow or complete: I want to turn toward ___. No private story required.
Response: draw
03 · Thanksgiving · 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Point to or draw one general gift.
Response: point
04 · Supplication · Philippians 4:6
Choose wisdom, help, care for someone, or a practical plan.
Response: point
Example side
A completed route
Adoration · Psalm 96:1–4
We can use four letters as four doors. You may listen, draw, move, say one line, use AAC, or pass.
Confession · 1 John 1:9
A: God, you are faithful and you welcome children.
Thanksgiving · 1 Thessalonians 5:18
C: We are sorry for hurtful words; we can turn toward repair.
Supplication · Philippians 4:6
T: Thank you for people who help and for today's food and shelter.
ExampleWe can use four letters as four doors. You may listen, draw, move, say one line, use AAC, or pass.
ACTS with context · IR / CG
Read each reference in context, use a fictional scenario, and choose a safe next step.
Adapt: A leader never invites public disclosure. Use AAC, large print, standing, headphones, or a quiet parallel route.
Blank fields
01 · What does the passage show?
Write, draw, dictate, or pass after reading the four references in context.
Response: write
02 · A sentence I could pray or draw
Use the fictional scenario: a classmate is left out of a game. Keep the response general.
Response: say
03 · A safe next step or person who can help
Name a role, not a child: trusted adult, teacher, ministry leader, or emergency helper.
Response: point
Example side
A completed route
What does the passage show?
We can use four letters as four doors. You may listen, draw, move, say one line, use AAC, or pass.
A sentence I could pray or draw
A: God, you are faithful and you welcome children.
A safe next step or person who can help
C: We are sorry for hurtful words; we can turn toward repair.
ExampleWe can use four letters as four doors. You may listen, draw, move, say one line, use AAC, or pass.
These are paper fields, not a form. Do not add a child name, diagnosis, location, or private worry.
Care boundary
The first two lines are words you can say. The third is your own next step.
Stop · words to say
You do not have to keep going. Stop, move, get water, or sit with a trusted adult.
Adapt · words to say
You can listen while I read, draw, move, keep your eyes open, use AAC, or pass.
Get help · your next step
For a persistent or unsafe concern, contact a trusted adult, the host safeguarding lead, a qualified professional, or local emergency services.
Do not
Do not ask for a public confession, a private prayer request, a family story, or a disclosure of harm.
Sources
| Publisher | What it supports | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| World English Bibleebible.org | Reference-first Scripture and public-domain wording for any exact quotation. | 2026-08-03 |
| World English Bible copyright pageebible.org | Public-domain attribution and quotation boundary for Scripture references. | 2026-08-03 |
| World English Bible · Psalm 96ebible.org | Adoration context for truthful praise rather than an outcome formula. | 2026-08-03 |
| World English Bible · 1 John 1ebible.org | Confession and forgiveness context without forced disclosure. | 2026-08-03 |
| World English Bible · 1 Thessalonians 5ebible.org | Thanksgiving held together with discernment and care. | 2026-08-03 |
| World English Bible · Philippians 4ebible.org | Supplication and practical help without predicting an outcome. | 2026-08-03 |
| World English Bible · Matthew 6ebible.org | Prayer context that keeps ACTS as a teaching aid rather than a rule. | 2026-08-03 |
| United States Conference of Catholic Bishopsusccb.org | A distinct Lectio Divina practice for a related-page boundary. | 2026-08-03 |
| CAST UDL Guidelines 3.0udlguidelines.cast.org | Multiple response routes including AAC, movement, drawing, and passing. | 2026-08-03 |
| UNICEF Safeguarding Policyunicef.org | Listening, prevention, and referral when a concern is disclosed. | 2026-08-03 |
Frequently asked questions
- What does ACTS stand for in this printable?
- ACTS stands for adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. These are four possible prayer movements, not a limit on Christian prayer and not a sequence that guarantees a response.
- Is ACTS the same as an Act of Contrition or Act of Sorrow?
- No. Act of Contrition and Act of Sorrow are different named prayers used in particular traditions. This page teaches the ACTS acrostic. Families who need approved denominational wording should use their church's own text.
- How can I teach confession without shaming a child?
- Use a small fictional example about repairing a choice, offer a turning-arrow or listening route, and never ask for a public admission. Confession is honest turning toward grace. It is not an investigation and never excuses harm done to a child.
- Does a child need to fill every box?
- No. A child may choose one letter, leave a box blank, draw, dictate, use AAC, listen, or pass. The adult can pray all four sentences while the child participates in a lower-demand way or stays with a parallel activity.
- Can this worksheet be used in Sunday school?
- Yes, with a trained visible leader, a no-speaking route, and the host organisation's safeguarding policy. Do not ask a group to share private requests or confessions. The leader script includes a stop signal and a named safe-adult prompt.
Sabbath Meditation
Sabbath makes Scripture-rooted meditations for adults. Nothing here requires an account or a child's participation.
Read about Sabbath →