WELCOME TO WEEK 5

We have learned this week that God has sent us to make disciples but He did not leave us alone to do it. God sent a helper, the Holy Spirit to help us and give us courage. God also calls us to be helpers and we can help others through our prayers. God wants to answer and he wants to show us an answer. We just need to keep our eyes open and watch and see what God will do.

BIBLE STORY

I need you to do a few things for me today. Give a list of chores that would be hard for them to do alone. Once they try and need help say “That looks too big for you, I can help you”. And then help them complete the task. (here are a few examples)

—-Move a large basket to a new place

—-Fold a large blanket

—-Move a large chair

—-Reach something high in the refrigerator

Did you need help doing some of those activities? Sometimes there are things that are too big for us and we need to ask someone for help. We need to call for help. Show a cell phone of telephone and say Who can we call and ask for help using this phone? (Let them give an extensive list). You are right! We can use this phone to ask lots of people for help or just talk to them. How do we talk to God? Yes! Prayer. When we pray we talk to God.
Today our story tells us about a time Peter really needed help and it was too big a job for him to do alone. He had lots of help.

Materials: pictures of animals

Let’s read or listen to the Bible story for this week Acts 12:1-17

Who was King and wanted to kill Peter? (King Herod)

What was Peter in prison for? (Preaching about Jesus)

Who came to see Peter in prison? (An angel)

What did the angel do? (told Peter to get up and get dressed and walked out of the prison with Peter)

At first, what did Peter think was happening. (He was having a vision)

Where did Peter go? (To Mary’s house)

What were the people at Mary’s house doing? (praying for Peter)

BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

We can pray to God when we need help and just as Peter and his friends prayed for help from God. When we pray it is important to watch and see how God will answer our prayers. God will always answer our prayers, even if it’s not in the way we expect. We should never give up praying and looking to see what God will do!

Activity

(Cover an area with or do this activity outside to avoid a mess.) On a paper plate squeeze glue and create a design with thick lines that intersect. While glue is wet, pour salt over the glue to cover it completely. Shake the plate so the salt is redistributed onto the rest of the glue. Dab a paintbrush into water, making sure there is plenty of water on the brush. Then dip the brush into the watercolor paint and place it on one of the lines so the salt absorbs the paint water into the salt. Watch how the water moves along the salt trail. After that color stops spreading, rinse the brush and repeat using another color. Ask What did you expect would happen. What did happen? Just like we watched to see what would happen to the colors, we must keep watch to see how God will answer prayers. Materials: Phone or device to take pictures, small objects to photograph around your house.

Materials: glue, paintbrush, water colors, paper plate, salt, container of water

Alternative:

There are lots of people in our community who can help us. Complete the community helpers activity sheet.

Materials: printed activity sheet

Create:

We can pray wherever we go. At home, school, church, the car or while we are playing. Using Lego blocks or any building blocks build places your family visits and can pray there.

Materials: Lego or other building bricks

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

 Fold a piece of construction paper in half. Draw your child’s hand on the front of the construction paper along the fold. Cut out the hand leaving the fold uncut. You should have 2 hands folded together. Have your child decorate and color the hands. On the inside of the hands write names of people they can pray for.

Materials: Construction paper, crayons, markers, scissors, pencil

CRAFT 2

Visit this website and scroll towards the bottom to find a coloring page and download the coloring pages to print. 

Materials: Printed coloring sheet

Craft 3

Coloring page

FOLLOW-UP

What are some things kids your age often talk to God about?

Why does God sometimes answer no or later?

Has God answered any prayers for your family?

What is something you like to talk to God about?

Practical Application at Home

Our prayers are powerful and God wants to hear from us. We may not always get the answer we want but we should look for how God has answered our prayers. On strips of paper, write a list of things you can pray for. Here are a few categories to think about.

Think about…

-people at church, your family or friends who may have requested prayer. 

-The country you live in and if you can pray for leaders and people in your community. 

-Your church leaders and teachers to be lead by God

-People who are less fortunate than you in your community or around the world

-Someone who is sick and needs healing

If you can, mention people by name as you write it on your strip of paper. Place the strips of paper in a small bowl or container and keep it near a place your family has worship. Each evening before prayer pull out a strip of paper and pray specifically for that person or group of people. Remember to keep watching to find out how God will answer your prayers.

Additional Resources

Outings to Reinforce Lesson

Go to a park and spend time in worship and prayer. Ask God to show you ways to trust him and listen to his voice.