Saul's Conversion

Saul's Conversion 

Wednesday, April 24th & Sunday, April 28th 

Key Passage: Acts 9

Basic Truth: God has work for His people to do. 

Memory Verse: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Think About it: 

When we buy a car, we plan to use it… not just to admire its beauty.  Jesus paid the greatest possible price, not just to deliver us from our sins, but to put each redeemed person to work in His Kingdom. 

But the commitment is not easy.  For some, it has meant the sudden death or extended torture of martyrdom. The call to true believers for service in every century has been, “Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?” Our Lord’s promise of a blessed harvest has been for those who willingly lay aside their personal ambitions, and who step out in faith to do the specific task He has planned for each of us. 

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no one can work.”  (John 9:4)

       

Pray for softened hearts and yielded wills to hear His call for service.  

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: Does God love us because we do good works?

A: No! We do good works because we love God!

Grade 1-2

Q: How did God use Saul to help the church?

A: Saul became a leader of the church, preaching the truth and writing letters that are in our Bibles. He did the work God had for him to do. 

Q: Why is God the One who makes a plan for people's lives? 

A: He's the One who created each person; He is Sovereign and in control of all things

Q: Does God have work and a plan for you?

A: God has work for all of His believers- work that will help more people to hear about Jesus. 

Grade 3-4

Q: How does God use people as His instruments?

A: God reveals His truth to people then sends them to tell someone else. 

Q: Why did God save Saul? Can He still use sinners to accomplish His plans?

A: God saved Saul because He had a plan and purpose for him in helping to spread the Good News of Jesus. Yes! God uses sinners to accomplish His great plans. 

Q: Does God have a plan for your life? What are some things He has for you to do now? 

A: Yes He does! God plans for you to do things now like obeying your parents, doing your schoolwork, getting along with siblings and friends etc. 

Grade 5-6

Q: What is a lifework?

A: Because God is our creator He can expect us to carry out the specific things He planned for each person to do. The sum of all the ways we glorify God is called our lifework.

Q: How would you explain what the Memory verse says and means? 

A: God had a reason for creating you! God has specific work for each one of us to do. 

Q: How old do you have to be to start doing the work God has prepared for you? And when does it finish? 

A: It starts as soon as you're born into God's family and doesn't end until you die!

Family Activities: 

1) Assign each family member a partner and give paint or markers and one piece of paper to each pair. With no discussion, each person should think of something they'd to do on Saturday. At the same time-on the same page- both people should try and draw a full page picture of their idea. Discuss what happens when God and I have two different plans for my life. What would be a better idea? 

2) Plan to do some of the activities that were drawn as a family!

Persecution of the Church

Persecution of the Church

Wednesday, April 17th & Sunday, April 20th

Key Passages: Acts 5:17-42, 6:7-8:3

Basic Truth: God's plans are always good

Memory Verse: Many are the plans in a man's hear, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Think about it:

Simon from Cyrene (Mark 15:21), a stranger in town, was randomly selected by the Roman soldiers and compelled to carry the heavy cross of a man he had perhaps never laid eyes on before.  You may find yourself in circumstances that are shocking or bewildering.  In the midst of pain and confusion, can you find peace in the thought that this, too, must be in God’s plan for you?

If our faith in Christ’s redemptive blood is real, our surrender to Him means that all details in our lives are under His control, and they are allowed in order to bring Him greater glory.  Simon didn’t understand the unfair treatment, but he is remembered in God’s eternal Word for his part in God’s eternal plan.

 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  (Romans 8:28).

This life is not about me and my comfort – it’s ALL about GOD!  Am I willing to suffer so that someone else might know about my God?  

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: Why is it good that God's plans always prevail?

A: God's plans are always right and good!

Grade 1-2

Q: How did God use persecution to make more disciples?

A: As believers left Jerusalem and moved to other places to avoid persecution, many more people in far away places heard about Jesus and became disciples.

Q: What is God's plan (what did He tell us to do in Matthew 28:18-20)? Can anyone stop it??

A: He tells us to make more disciples by telling others about Him. Nobody can stop God's plan!

Q: Why did the apostles keep telling people about Jesus, even when they were put in prison?

A: They were obeying God and following His plan for them. 

Grade 3-4

Q: Why do we not need to be afraid or discouraged when things seem bad?

A: We can trust that God is always doing something good. He is able to use even evil things to accomplish His good purpose.

Q: What does God command us to do in Matthew 28:18-20? What is the promise that He makes at the end of verse 20?

A: He tells us to make more disciples by telling others about Him. He promises us that He will always be with us. God always keeps His promises!!

Q: What does it mean to be faithful? Is God faithful? Can anyone stop His plans? 

A: God is faithful! Faithful means to keep every promise; totally reliable. No one can stop Him and nobody else is like Him!

Grade 5-6

Q: Why do people suffer?

A: All suffering is the result of sin, but it's not without God's control. God has authority to allow suffering that will accomplish His good purposes. 

Q: An example of suffering can be found in John 9:3. Why did this man suffer with blindness? 

A: so God could display His power and greatness by healing Him. Everything is here on earth to bring glory to God and show His greatness!

Q: How can we accept suffering as good?

A: By knowing that God uses it for His own good purposes. We can also remember that He sees things we can't see, He knows everything! He sees the end of the suffering that He allows, and He sees that good that will come from it. Read 2 Corinthians 4:17.

Family Activities:

1) Learn about a martyr in Christian history. Discuss their life and how they are an encouragement and example for you. 

2) Talk about what it means to be a disciple (a loyal follower of Christ).

3) Remember a difficult time in your life and share how God was faithful and used it for something good, that maybe was difficult to see in the moment. 

Healing the Crippled Beggar

Healing the Crippled Beggar

Wednesday, April 10th & Sunday, April 14th

Key Passages: Acts 3 and 4

Basic Truth: The Holy Spirit gives power to obey God.

Memory Verse: For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:13

Think about it: 

From computers to microwaves, motors standing alone may seem to have an aura of energy.  But they are paralyzed unless plugged into the power source, and working in harmony with the rest of the parts.

The greatest hindrance to the flow of God’s miracle power today is our pride and worldly self-assurance.  Our Lord can still open the Red Sea, stop the flow of the Jordan River, or break the bonds of our personal prison whenever He sees fit to do so.  But His miracles are linked to the fulfillment of His promises and His plans. 

 When we in faith and humility have taken the intermediate steps prompted by the Holy Spirit, desiring His will above our own solutions, the mighty hand of God is free anew to move mountains.  “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.  God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.” (Hebrews 2:3-4).

What miracles might God want to do in your life?  His power has not diminished!

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: Why do we need God's power to act according to His purposes?

A: We can't do it by ourselves.

Grade 1-2

Q: How did the Holy Spirit help Peter and John to obey Jesus' commands?

A: The Holy Spirit gave them power to speak boldly about Jesus so many people would hear the Gospel. He helped them to obey Jesus even when it was hard. 

Grade 3-4

Q: Why do we need the power of the Holy Spirit?

A: We can't believe in Jesus or obey His commands without the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Grade 5-6

Q: What does the life of a believer look like?

A: Believers are born into a new family. They have a new purpose and new power to obey their new Master. 

Family Activities:

1) Help someone in your church or neighborhood. How can helping someone be selfish? (wrong motives...) When is helping someone a way of obeying Jesus? (done unselfishly because we love Him-response)

2) Talk about times when it's hard to obey Jesus. 

Ascension; Pentecost

Ascension; Pentecost

Wednesday, April 3rd & Sunday, April 7th

Key Passages: Acts 1:1-11, 2:1-41

Basic Truth: Mankind is sinful and needs a Savior

Memory Verse: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28: 18-20

Think about it:

Second Kings 7 tells of some starving men, stricken with leprosy and cast out by their fellow citizens who suddenly found food and riches beyond their wildest dreams.  They eagerly ate their fill and gathered abundant treasures for their future well-being; but soon conviction came on them as they remembered the need of their neighbors.  “Then they said to each other, ‘We are not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves...’”       (2 Kings 7:9)

Do we as born-again believers, blessed with all the fullness of God’s love and grace, just indulge ourselves?  Or do we sense the desperate need for salvation of the lost all around us?  Today God is still sending His followers into the world to share the good news with others.

“All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.  They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, ¹² so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.”  (Psalm 145:10-12)

NOTE:  Do not make witnessing a legalistic requirement.  Present the truth and let the Holy Spirit prompt the response.

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: Why would Jesus want His followers to be baptized?

A: Being baptized is a public declaration that a person is a follower of Jesus.

Grade 1-2

Q: What is the Gospel?

A: The Gospel is Good News of salvation. Jesus has made a way for our sins to be forgiven so we can live with Him forever.

Q: Why did Jesus send His followers to tell others this Good News?

A: so people can have their sins forgiven and live with Him forever!

Q: In our memory verse, what did Jesus tell His disciples to do?

A: make more disciples, baptize them, teach them to obey Jesus' commands

Grade 3-4

Q: Why is Jesus' command to share the Gospel given to all believers?

A: The job is too big for just a few! God planned for believers to work together so all nations would hear about Jesus.

Q: What help did God give to the apostles so they could tell thousands of people?

A: the Holy Spirit

Q: God created His church by gathering the group of new believers together. What is the purpose of the church?

A: The local church is a group of baptized believers who join together to carry out the commands of Jesus. They gather for community and to help each other obey Jesus' commands and to tell others about him. 

Grade 5-6

Q: Why would we want to tell others the Good News of Jesus?

A: Jesus commands us to tell others so they also can be saved. If we recognize His infinite love for us, we will want to obey Him. 

Q: What did the followers of Jesus receive following pentecost? Do we receive this as well? 

A: They received the Holy Spirit. Yes, you have the Holy Spirit as well if you believe in Jesus as your Savior!

Q: Why is sharing the news about Jesus so important?

A: without this news people will be eternally separated from God. 

Family Activities

1) Discuss ways each member of your family can obey Jesus' commands. What does it mean to be a disciple: How does our church help us to obey Jesus' commands?

2) Watch the "Jesus" movie.