The children will:-
Bible Story Reference: Acts 3; 4:1-33
Memory Verse:
Acts 4:31 (NIV)
“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly”.
Opening
Courage Test
Bible Story
Have the children act out the story as you tell it. Today’s story is meant to emphasize the boldness brought about by the Holy Spirit when believers pray for power.
Characters: Peter, John, lame man, priests, guards, captain of guards,Sadducees, the crowd (All other children become the crowd of listeners, then later the Sanhedrin, and finally, the praying believers.)
Tell the children to listen for church, community, or believers. When they hear those words, they should join hands.
Setting: Designate one corner of the room as a “jail.” The lame man sits begging to one side at the front of the room.
Peter and John are on their way to the Temple. A lame man calls to them and holds out his arms. [Peter and John approach the lame man. The man raises his arms.]
Peter and John stop. They tell him that they have no money [Peter and John shake heads], but that they will give what they have. They call on the name of Jesus, and the man is healed. [The man jumps up.]
People come running. [Beckon for everyone to gather around.] They crowd around Peter and John.
The people ask many questions about the healing and Jesus and the Resurrection. Peter and John [point to Peter and John] speak to them boldly.
[Enter priests and captain, followed by Sadducees.] Then suddenly some priests and the captain of the Temple guard push their way through the crowd.
(You children who were the “crowd” now become the Sanhedrin, which is like a Jewish government. Return to your seats and try to look stiff and proud.)
You children who are the Sanhedrin now become the believers [join
hands]. You are the first church [join hands]. The people in a church [join hands] are also called a community of believers [join hands].
Questions
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me stay connected to the Holy Spirit and to give me the Holy Spirit’s power in my life.
Crafts
Celebration Shaker
What You Need
Steps
Color the back of the paper plate with designs and colours that express joy and celebration.
Fold the paper plate in half.
Cut 4-6 strands of different colors of ribbon.
Knot the ribbon strands together at one end.
Staple the knot to the inside of the paper plate at one of the corner folds.
Staple the plate two-thirds shut, making sure the staples are side by side along the edge of the plate (this will keep the filling from falling out). Put two small handfuls of grains into the paper plate. Finish stapling shut.