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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
Test your structure. As a family, build a structure out of lego bricks, blocks or wooden blocks. Build your structure on a flat moveable surface. After you build the structure, pretend an earthquake is happening and start with a small earthquake, by moving the flat ground surface, and then shaking it harder if the structure stays standing. See how much of the earthquake your structure can handle without crashing. Determine the best type of structure to build that can withstand the ground movement. Paul and Silas were in prison and they knew the earthquake was from God. God had sent them help, and the guard and his family were saved because of the miracle he witnessed that night.
Materials: building blocks or lego bricks, platform
Alternate
Watch this video of chain reactions (video of domino chain reactions).
Materials: device for watching video
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
Why were Paul and Silas sent to prison?
How did they witness to others while in prison?
Why did the prison guard believe Paul and Silas were messengers from God?
How can we be witnesses?
Who does God send to help others?
How can we be helpers to others who are in need?
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?