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WELCOME TO WEEK 5
This month we’ve learned that we are messengers for God’s gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. We can share that message to others no matter where we are, how old we are, and no matter what job we are doing. This week we will see that God will send us help and sometimes we might be the help he sends to others. Sharing the gospel with others helps them know God and be saved.
BIBLE STORY
Let’s play a game of Name that Tune. We will divide into 2 teams. One team will hum the song, when the other team guesses the song they will need to start singing several measures of the song. Then switch sides and have the other team hum the tune while the opposing team guesses. If a team cannot guess the tune within 2 minutes, they will lose their turn. You can come up with your own songs or print and cut the following songs into strips. Place them in a bowl to pull out at each teams turn.
We know a lot of praise songs! We often sing songs of praise when we are in church or in a good mood at home. What about praising in the middle of a difficult situation. That might be a harder time to praise but we can praise God at any time, not just when things are going well. Paul and Silas went to prison but while they were there, they sang songs of praise. Let’s read about what happened to Paul and Silas while they were in prison and how God used them to spread the gospel from their jail cell.
Read or listen to the scripture Acts 16:16-34
Who was following Paul and Silas around announcing they were servants of the Most High God? (A woman who was possessed with a spirit)
What did the spirit inside her help her to do? (Predict the future)
What did the owners of the possessed woman make her do? (Predict the future for others and charge them money that the owners were able to keep and make a profit)
What did Paul do when he got annoyed with the possessed woman following them around making the announcement? (Sent the spirit from her)
What did the owners do when they realized her spirit was gone? (They were upset they wouldn’t make any more money and they sent Paul and Silas before the authorities)
What did they accuse Paul and Silas of? (Throwing their city in an uproar and making customs unlawful for Romans to follow)
What did the magistrates order to happen to Paul and Silas? (They be beaten and flogged and thrown into prison)
What did Paul and Silas do in prison? (Sing and pray to God)
What did the earthquake do? (Shake the chains loose and all the prison doors opened)
When the prison guard woke up, what did he think happened? (All the prisoners escaped)
When the guard realized the prisoners were all there, what did he do? (Asked what he must do to be saved?)
That evening who was saved? (The prison guard and all of his family)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
Paul and Silas did not plan an escape but God sent help. God had a plan for them and a way to not only leave the prison but also be a messenger to those around them. Paul and Silas spread God’s message of the gospel through their actions and through their praise even during a difficult time. They did not know how God would get them out of prison or if He would get them out, but they trusted God. Complete this Escape Room and see if you can escape! Print and follow the directions to set up the escape room in advance by printing, cutting and setting up different stations around your escape room. Once the key is found the escape room is complete and a prize can be given if desired.
Materials: Printed activity sheet. See the activity sheet for a list of materials
Alternate
Complete a simple puzzle but place mittens or socks tied around their hands. Set a timer for 5 minutes for them to complete the puzzle. If they get stuck they can call out, “Help! Rescue me!” Then someone can come and help them for 20 seconds. They can call for help 5 times. Was it hard to put the puzzle together without your fingers? You needed to call on help in order to get your puzzle completed. God sends us help too, just like He sent help to Paul and Silas.
Materials: Simple puzzle, mittens or socks, timer
Independent activity:
Make a chain-link using strips of construction paper. Make a circle with one strip of construction paper and staple it together. Then loop another strip through the circle and staple the ends of the strip together. Continue to loop the next strip to create a long link. We’ve created our own link chain out of construction paper. On each link, write the name of a person we’ve talked about this month or that is in the Bible, who has been a messenger of God’s words. On the last link, write your name as well!
Materials: Construction paper cut into strips, double sided tape or glue, pencil or pen
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Make your own handcuffs. Watch this video describing the step by step instructions on how to create this craft.
Materials: handprint, construction paper, scissors
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read or listen to Psalm 97. This is a hymn or poem of praise to God. The psalmist wrote this to praise God and describe how mighty and loving God is. Look at the descriptions used to describe God, he is mightier than all the things on earth we consider strong and mighty. When we remember how powerful our God is, it helps us see that the things around us aren’t bigger than God. He is bigger and stronger than anything we see because He created the fire, the mountains, and the lightning.
What did Paul and Silas do while in prison?
Did they know how they would get out?
Why did the prison guard believe they were God’s messenger?
What would have happened if Paul and Silas had escaped when the prison doors and chains fell off?
How can you praise God in the middle of hard times?
What part of Psalm 97 speaks to you the most?
What is something you might be afraid of?
How can you compare that scary thing to how powerful God is?
Practical Application at Home
When Paul and Silas were in prison they sang praises to God and prayed. Pray is Even though they were in the worst place and didn’t see a way out, they still praised God. We can praise God even in our most difficult times.
Think of your favorite praise song or hymn and write out the words to the verses and chorus. Keep the words of this song handy to use to sing your favorite hymn the next time you have difficult times or start to feel down. Sing this song, even if you don’t feel like its at first or its seems a little silly. See if singing praises helps to change your mood or outlook on the situation.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Enjoy the cool weather and take a nature walk. Observe the things God created and how they work together in His plan. What part do each of us play in God’s plan for us?