Trying to figure out how to get kids engaged with worship? Check out the resources below for songs and message specifically geared for kids to understand. As we see in Acts 16, there are several different ways that people can be "in chains" or bondage. First, the fortune telling woman with the spirit was in bondage because she had no free will of her own. Paul sets her from her chains by casting out the spirit. Secondly, when Paul and Silas are taken to prison because they had done this, they are physically put in chains and also thrown in a prison cell. They are set from when they worship and pray and the jail is shook by an earthquake. Their physical chains are broken. Finally, the Roman jailor, when he sees that Paul and Silas and the other prisoners did not escape, he wants to know why and he hears the story of Jesus for the first time. He is spiritual saved from his chains. His sin no longer holds him. We see him and his family baptized and saved. Use the activity below to remind yourself of ways in which to help set yourself and those you care about free-by knowing Jesus! SINGLike Paul and Silas, we should continue to sing praises. Sing this song to be reminder that God is our "Chainbreaker".
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As we near the half way point of the Book of Acts and the end of Paul's first missionary journey, it is good to look back and refresh the many acts from the Book. The story is about to spread to every corner of the earth and we do not want to miss what God is doing through Paul and others. To review to story of Paul, you can watch this clip starting at the 14:20 mark: Now that we've heard a little more about Paul's story, let's check out a story about a time when believers began to disagree and how they compromised for the better of God's people. Now that we've seen how to early church leaders fought but learned to compromise, let's see how we can better spread Jesus' love and word. Use the letter writing paper to write a letter or draw a picture for a friend who you want to encourage and share more about Jesus, just like Paul did in his letters to the churches. It is a great way to stay connected when we are far apart! Sing!Here's a great song to give us words to share with those around us about Jesus. How are you sharing Jesus with those around you? Trying to figure out how to get kids engaged with worship? Check out the resources below for songs and message specifically geared for kids to understand. Worship Songs
Kid's Scripture StudyTrying to figure out how to get kids engaged with worship? Check out the resources below for songs and message specifically geared for kids to understand. Worship Songs
Kid's Scripture Study
Trying to figure out how to get kids engaged with worship? Check out the resources below for songs and message specifically geared for kids to understand.
Worship PlaylistKid's Scripture StudyThis week we will be looking at the story of Peter and Cornelius. This is an exciting story for a couple reasons- first, we see the first follower of Jesus who was for sure Gentile (non-Jewish) and secondly, because we get to eat BACON! HA! In this story, we see an angel appear to Cornelius, who was a Roman soldier. The angel tells Cornelius that he has to speak with Peter, the apostle. Before they can meet, Peter has a vision. In his vision, God shows Peter a sheet that comes down from Heaven with all sorts of animals on it. God tells Peter that he is free to kill and eat any of these animals if he is hungry. Peter, who has always followed Jewish law, says no because some of these animals are unclean to eat (see Deuteronomy 14). God instructs him that, now all things that He has created are considered clean. When Peter and Cornelius finally meet, Peter realizes that Cornelius is a follower of Jesus. Peter knows that even though Cornelius is not a Jew, God has accepted him as His own. Peter remembers his vision and how all things (and people) that God created are now clean. As Peter is talking to Cornelius, the Holy Spirit came on to everyone who could hear him. All of them, including Cornelius are then baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Watch:Sing:Conversation Starters:Find a time this week to sit and ask these questions with your children. Really listen to what their responses are. If it seems appropriate, continue to go deeper. If not, encourage them to continue to think and ask questions of you as they come up.
1) What is your favorite food? Looking at Deuteronomy 14, would that food because considered "clean"? Would you choose to never eat that food again if it was? 2) Have you ever felt "unclean" or not worthy of Jesus? Jesus wants to make you clean by accepting HIS salvation. Once you have accepted that, you will never be unclean again! Have you accepted Jesus' promise that he will make you "clean"? It is a promise for EVERYONE! AMEN! This week we will look at an event that may be the biggest for the history of Christians outside of Jesus' birth, death and resurrection. In Acts 9, we see the conversion of Saul. We met Saul at the death of Stephen and he was a Jewish leader who was bent on destroying all Christ followers. At this time, he got permission to go to Damascus to find a group of "Christians" and take them to jail. On the road to Damascus, a bright light shone from the sky and knocked Saul to the ground. Inside the light, the voice of Jesus spoke with Saul. The voice told him to go to Ananias' home. While there, Saul received the Holy Spirit and scales fell from his eyes and he could see again. After spending a few days with the disciples, he began to preach to everyone about Jesus! The Jewish leaders there didn't like this and they planned to kill Saul. So the disciples lowered Saul over the wall of the town in a basket and Saul went to Jerusalem to continue spreading the word of Jesus Christ! He would continue that work the rest of his life. Amen! Watch:Sing:Conversation Starters:1) Change in Jesus How was Saul before he met Jesus? How was he different afterwards? How are people before they meet Jesus? Read Ephesians 4:17-19. How are they different afterwards? Read Ephesians 4:20-24. 2) Have I met Jesus? Can you name to moment that you met Jesus? Like when Saul was blinded by the light. Or if you know that you have met Jesus was it a slower process? How can you know for sure that you have met Jesus? Re-read Ephesians 4. Which life sounds more like yours? Lesson:Open the video to see how Paul's hard heart changed like a kernel of popcorn!
Activities:Use this activity packet for younger or older students (different activities for either).
This week we will look at 2 very different stories about sharing Jesus' story with others. They are both found in the same chapter of the book of Acts. Shortly after the deacon Stephen was killed, the apostles and followers of Jesus were forced to leave Jerusalem because of violence against them. This actually allowed the spread of Jesus' message to new places. First, as Peter and Philip went through Samaria, they encountered Simon the Sorcerer. As they shared their message with him, he responded positively because he simply wanted the power of the Holy Spirit to do the things that the apostles were doing. As Philip continues on his journey, the Holy Spirit guides him to a man riding on a chariot. This man, a very important man from Ethiopia (a place in Africa), also heard the message of Jesus but responded very differently from Simon. Once he heard the message, he immediately asked Philip to baptize him in water. He heard the message and took it to heart. As disciplemakers, we are called to share the message of Jesus Christ. It does not always make an immediate change in people's hearts. We share and then allow the Holy Spirit to work. Continue to share even if you don't immediately see the results you'd like! Watch:Sing:Conversation Starters:Find a time this week to sit and ask these questions with your children. Really listen to what their responses are. If it seems appropriate, continue to go deeper. If not, encourage them to continue to think and ask questions of you as they come up. ] 1) Being ready to share about Jesus like Philip Philip was ready to tell others about Jesus. -If someone asked you what you believe, would you know? -When have you felt that still, small voice prompting you to say something or do something? How did you respond? 2) Being ready to receive like the Ethiopian man With the Holy Spirit's guidance, Philip found a man who was very ready to receive the message of Jesus. He was even reading about him when he met Philip. -Are you ready to talk about Jesus? If someone told you the story of Jesus, how would you respond? Have you already taken that step? The Ethiopian man responded by immediately asking to be baptized. - What do you know about baptism? Have you been baptized? Are you interested? Sharing our faithHere is a great activity that makes sharing your faith easier. Making a bracelet to share with a friend that the Holy Spirit leads you to is a simple way of sharing all the parts of salvation without forgetting or being too nervous to do so. This week we will focus on the life of Stephen, one of the first deacons we talked about last week. Stephen stood up to the leaders who were very opposed to the apostles and other followers of Jesus. Stephen makes an amazing speech to these leaders about the history of the Jewish faith and how Jesus is the fulfillment of all of the Scriptures. However, this speech made the leaders so angry they took Stephen out of the city and stoned him. The most amazing part of Stephen's story is that as he was being stoned, he pray for the people who were hurting him. This is a great lesson for us today. Watch:Conversation Starters:Find a time this week to sit and ask these questions with your children. Really listen to what their responses are. If it seems appropriate, continue to go deeper. If not, encourage them to continue to think and ask questions of you as they come up.
1) When people lie about you. Since the leaders lost their argument with Stephen they came up with a plan to try to get Stephen in trouble. Read Acts 6:11-14. You may remember before Jesus was crucified people made up lies about Him too. As Stephen was being falsely accused I wonder if he remembered what His Savior suffered and the Holy Spirit inside his heart enabled him to have courage. - Has anyone every told a lie about you? How did it make you feel? - How did you respond to these lies? 2) Our response (like Stephen's) -What would you do if someone said to you that following Jesus made you stupid (or some other mean thing)? - Would you quietly walk away or would you tell them about Jesus too? Stephen had the chance to get angry when he was being hurt and made fun of, he instead chose to pray for the people that were hurting him and to ask the Lord to take care of them and do not hold their wrongs against them. This is a very difficult thing to do. This should always be our response as followers of Jesus when people treat us unfairly. Continue to share about Jesus and to pray for them! Have a great week! Watch:Conversation Starters:Find a time this week to sit and ask these questions with your children. Really listen to what their responses are. If it seems appropriate, continue to go deeper. If not, encourage them to continue to think and ask questions of you as they come up. 1) What makes YOU special? What do you think you are good at? How can you use those things to further the kingdom of God? The newly made position of "deacon" was simply created because there was a need. People needed to eat and be cleaned up after. God valued these mens service so much, however, that he made sure the apostles choose only the best for this position. What special position could you help create to use your talents at church, school or home? 2) Do you like to help others? What are some way we can help each other using our gifts? Activities:After looking at the "I'm Special" activity sheet, think about how you use your gifts to serve God. Who are some special people who serve God in our church? Our deacons!
Create a card to give to our deacons at church to thank them for all they do. You can make a card with a simple piece of paper. Or you can create one on the computer with help. You can use website like www.dltk-cards.com/ to create a special card and print it out to decorate. Have fun with this activity and be creative! |
It Takes a VillageFaith formation in children is a massive undertaking. While parents are the primary disciple-makers of their kiddos, we're here to let you know you're not alone. Archives
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