Who God is: The Spirit Who Connects Us

Transcription

1 Lesson 19 Acts through Revelation Ages 8-11 Unit 4: The Promise of Connection Paul and King Agrippa Lesson Aim: To know we can pray for others to know Jesus, just as Paul prayed for King Agrippa. PROPHETS AND PROMISES PART 1 THE WORSHIP, THE WORD, & THE WAY THE WORSHIP Who God is: The Spirit Who Connects Us THE WORD Bible Story: Acts 26:19-31 What He has done: God made Paul bold to speak about Jesus to King Agrippa. Key Verse: Acts 26:29 PREPARE Highlight in your Bible: [] Acts 26:19-31 [] Daniel 6:25-27 Read: [] Teacher s Guide [] At-A-Glance Print: [] Children s Guide for New Believers available at TEACHER TIP Complete THE WORSHIP, THE WORD, and THE WAY. If time allows, choose a Got Time? activity or create your own activity to illustrate the Bible Story, the Aim, or the Bible Memory Verse. THE WAY Christ Connection: Daniel 6:25-27 (Grades 3-5) BIBLE MEMORY VERSE For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 For your own encouragement this week, read John 17: Please join us in praying this week s Teacher s Prayer: Thank you Lord, for the opportunities You give us to spread the gospel and to pray for those who hear it to believe. Help us inspire the children to pray for others to grow close to You. Amen PRESET THE WELCOME [] Getting Started A jewel THE WORSHIP [] Scripture Reading Romans 10:9-10 [] Bible Memory Verse Song Neither Death Nor Life [] Other related music [] Worship Illustration or Storybook Lesson 19 THE WORD [] Golden Bowl pencils & note cards [] Bibles, highlighters [] Timeline Paul and King Agrippa (60 A.D.) [] Map Caesarea Philippi, Israel [] Conceal the Bible Story and Christ Connection Scripture references to be unveiled during THE WORD and THE WAY. THE WAY [] Daily Way Lesson 19 [] Treasure Treat Craft jewels or plastic jewels GOT TIME? Colorful individual candies, drinks, napkins, plates, cups, sturdy paper, scissors, colored paper, pens or pencils, tape, hole punch, markers or crayons, glue, notebook paper, envelopes, star stickers, masking tape, heart with question mark, 100 sturdy cards, Unit 4 Bible Memory Verse song, player and poster Resources: The additional resources referred to in this lesson and supplemental materials are available at To be a resource yourself, click on the Teacher s Blog tab to share your ideas with teachers worldwide. Page 1 of 12

2 1. THE WELCOME (10 minutes) Getting Started To spark anticipation, encourage arriving children to meet and greet one another with today s Meet & Greet Question: Who is someone that prays for you? GAME: PRAY FOR THE KING PURPOSE: Through this game, children will discover that Paul prayed for others to accept Jesus. SUPPLIES: A jewel (For example: craft jewel, photograph or picture, toy, colorful wrapped candy, costume jewel, etc.) SAY> Today we will learn about Paul and King Agrippa. Paul prayed for the king and everyone who was listening to him speak about Jesus. In a few minutes, we will discover why Paul prayed for them. First, let s play a game about Paul praying for the king. DIRECTIONS: 1. Children sit in a circle. 2. Choose one child to be Paul. Paul leaves the room or hides his or her eyes. 3. All children place their hands in front of them. Place the jewel in one child s hand. That child is the king and closes his or her hands to hide the jewel. All other children close and hold their hands like the king to pretend they are also hiding the jewel. 4. Paul returns to the room. 5. Paul guesses which child is the king holding the jewel. To guess, Paul points to the child and says, Oh King, I pray for you. 6. If the child is the king, Paul takes the king s place and the king becomes the new Paul. 7. If the child is not the king, he or she says, Thank you, but I am not the king. Paul must go outside and a new king is chosen for Paul to guess. 8. If Paul does not guess correctly on the second try, choose another child to play Paul. The first Paul takes that child s place in the circle. 9. Play until all children have had a chance to be either Paul or the king. *Teacher Tip: Older children playing Paul will soon discover they can watch the other children s body language to more accurately guess the king. For younger children, give hints to help them find the king. Use clues such as the king is wearing a red shirt or the king is sitting near the door. Page 2 of 12

3 2. THE WORSHIP (15 minutes) Worship Theme: The Spirit Who Connects Us (Prior to starting worship, find a child or a teenager who is willing to give his/her personal testimony to the group.) Today we worship the Spirit who connects us to Jesus as our Savior. In today s story, Paul told a king about the day that Paul first believed in Jesus. Listen as (child s name) shares his/her story about how he/she came to believe in Jesus. (Child or teenager gives his/her personal testimony.) Jesus invites each of us to make that same decision. We each can pray; admitting that we sin, believing in Jesus died to save us from those sins, and asking Him to come into our hearts for life forever close to God. If any of you want to pray to Jesus about that now, raise your hand and I ll lead you in a special prayer. (The A.B.C. Prayer on this page may be offered as a salvation prayer for any child expressing the desire to receive Christ as their Savior.) When you believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit then lives in your heart and connects you forever to Him Nothing can ever separate you from His love. Worship Elements: Designate a special corner or area for worship. Select songs that focus on believing in Jesus as Savior Scripture Reading: Romans 10:9-10 Lead a prayer to bless the offering: collect offering Perform Worship Illustration or read Storybook: Prophets & Promises Unit 4, Lesson 19 Unit 4 Song Suggestions: Unit 4 Bible Memory Verse Song: Neither Death Nor Life I Am The Way Shout To The Lord Everybody Ought To Know-oh-oh Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing) In The Secret Friend Of God How Great Thou Art Unit 4 Song Collection Suggestions: Songs 4 Worship Kids, Volume 1 Awesome God Hillsong Kids Supernatural (2006) Worship Jamz (volumes 1,2,3) Shout to The Lord Kids Friend Of God Cool Hymns For Kids Page 3 of 12 BIBLE MEMORY VERSE SONG Neither Death Nor Life Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will separate us from the love, the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Neither death (neither death) nor life (nor life) neither angels nor demons, (neither angels nor demons) neither the present (neither the present) nor the future (nor the future) nor any powers, (nor any powers) neither height (neither height) nor depth (nor depth) nor anything else in all creation, (nor anything else in all creation) will separate us from the love, the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Sheet music and recordings available at A.B.C. Prayer of Salvation Lord Jesus, I Admit that I m a sinner. I Believe you are the Lord who died to take my sins away. Please Come into my heart and I ll follow You forever. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen! (To provide greater understanding for his or her family, give each child who prayed a prayer of salvation a Children s Guide for New Believers located at under the Other Resources tab.)

4 3. THE WORD (5 minutes) Paul tells King Agrippa about Jesus. Transition: As you move from worship to instruction, change rooms or locations within a room to help redirect the children s focus to the Bible story. During this transition time, have each child write their name on a card and place it in the Golden Bowl. Before we read God s Word, let s go over our Class Covenant. A covenant is an agreement. Just as God made a covenant with His people, I ask each of you to make this covenant promise with me today. Listen as I read our Class Covenant. (Read Class Covenant.) CLASS COVENANT I will keep my on my teacher, my my in control, s on God s Word; knowing God is my goal. BIBLE TIMELINE If a Bible Timeline is available, point to Paul s Third Journey (Circa A.D.), Paul s Arrest in Jerusalem (Circa 58 A.D.), and Paul and King Agrippa (Circa 60 A.D.) For Bible Timeline Review information, see GOT TIME. Last time we learned that Paul was arrested in Jerusalem. He was held in prison there for two years until Governor Festus asked King Agrippa to help him find out what charges to write about Paul before sending him to Caesar, the Emperor of Rome. (If a map is available, point to Caesarea Philippi in Israel.) In Caesarea Philippi, Paul entered in chains to see Governor Festus and King Agrippa. Paul told them how God had changed him from an enemy of Jesus to a believer. He explained that after the bright light flashed around him, Jesus spoke to him from heaven sending Paul to tell everyone about Jesus. We ll start reading where Paul explains that he never disobeyed that vision or the teachings. Follow along as we read about it. Let s play Find It First! Bring out your Bible; keep it right in front of you. (Hand out spare Bibles.) Today s Scripture verse is behind the curtain. (Or secret door, secret window, etc. Child unveils Bible Story Scripture reference: Acts 26:19-31.) Let s see who can Find It First! Ready? Set? Go! (Children race through the pages to find it first. The winner helps others find it.) Let s highlight our Key Verse: Acts 26:29. Before we read, let s stand and ask God to open our eyes, ears, hearts and minds to His Word today. Who d like to pray that for us? (Child prays aloud.) Be seated. (Read Acts 26:19-31.) Page 4 of 12

5 4. THE WAY (13 minutes) We can pray for others to believe in Jesus as their Lord. What did Paul tell King Agrippa? (Respond.) Paul told him how he had been blinded by the light and then heard Jesus voice. He explained that Jesus was the Savior the Jewish people had been hoping for. What did the king ask Paul about becoming a Christian? ( Do you think you can convince me in such a short time? ) What was Paul s answer? (He said he prayed that everyone who heard his words would believe.) What do you think that the king decided? (Response) The Bible doesn t say whether or not King Agrippa decided to believe in Jesus. Did Paul seem to worry about how long it might take for the king or anyone listening to choose to follow Jesus? (No.) Who is the only one who causes people to believe? (God, the Holy Spirit.) Do you need to worry about how long it takes others to believe in Jesus? (No.) Just like Paul, you can tell them about Jesus and you can pray for them. You do not need to worry because God loves them very much, and He has a plan for their lives. As I describe the three people in this story, decide if one of these descriptions reminds you of yourself or someone you know. Paul: He loved and obeyed Jesus, telling others about Him. He wanted everyone to hear about Jesus and believe in Him. Festus: He thought that believing in Jesus sounded crazy. King Agrippa: He listened to Paul s words, but was not ready to believe in Jesus. You may feel like Paul and want everyone to believe in Jesus. Some of you may feel more Festus or King Agrippa, or you may know someone who feels that way. No matter who you are or how you feel, God loves you. He wants you to believe in His Son Jesus and follow Him with all your heart. He wants to you to have life forever with Him. Paul told his own story of how he came to believe in Jesus because he wanted the king and everyone there to hear about Jesus and believe in Jesus. Today during our worship time, (name of child who spoke during THE WORSHIP) shared his/her story about how he/she came to believe in Jesus. Would any of you like to share your story about how you came to believe in Jesus? (Children share their testimonies.) CHRIST CONNECTION Connecting the Old Testament, the New Testament and Us To build His Kingdom, God has always used believers like Paul and even people who don t believe in Him like Festus and King Agrippa. 600 years before King Agrippa heard Paul s message about Jesus, King Darius saw how God protected Daniel in the lions den. Let s read the new law that King Darius made after seeing God protect Daniel. FIND IT FIRST> Everyone place your Bibles closed on your laps. (Choose a child to unveil Christ Connection Scripture reference: Daniel 6:25-27.) Let s see who can Find It First! Ready? Set? Go! Find it and highlight it. (Read Daniel 6:25-27.) Page 5 of 12

6 THE WAY continued GOLDEN BOWL Revelation 5:8 The Golden Bowl contains names of classmates, a local church leader and a child in another nation. The Bible says that our prayers are like sweet smelling incense in the golden bowls at God s throne. So I m going to lift each one of you up to God s throne out loud as you pray for each person silently. Then we ll pray out loud the Lord s Prayer. (Matthew 6:9-13.) Let s pray. Lord God, we lift up to Your throne the name of each child here. We trust You to watch over us and our needs, the ones we say out loud and the ones hidden in our hearts. First, we lift up to You,, (read names in Golden Bowl). Now, we pray the prayer Your Son taught us. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. FINAL FIVE MINUTES When only 5 minutes remain, begin this segment. TREASURE TREAT Today, your Treasure Treat is a crown jewel. All who believe in Jesus are like priceless jewels that He treasures and saves forever. Let this crown jewel remind you to pray for those you know who do not yet believe in Jesus, just as Paul prayed for King Agrippa. DAILY WAY CHALLENGE Did anyone bring in their completed Daily Way from last time? (Praise or reward those who returned Daily Way; collect in basket.) Take home this week s Daily Way. (Distribute Lesson 19 Daily Way 5-day Bible study.) Complete this at home and let God speak to you through His own words in the Bible. Return it and place it in our class basket. When we fill the basket, we ll celebrate with a class surprise! OFFERING OF ART Until it is time to be dismissed, make an Offering of Art. For your offering, draw a picture of Paul standing with his hands bound in chains as he tells King Agrippa, Festus and others there about Jesus. The Offering of Art can be finished at home or given as an offering to the teacher for display. PRAYER REQUESTS As children work on their Offering of Art, ask how you can pray for them this week. Write individual requests in your teacher s prayer notebook. BIBLE MEMORY VERSE SONG Play the Unit 4 Bible Memory Verse Song in the background as children wait to be dismissed. Page 6 of 12

7 5. GOT TIME? If time remains, choose from the connected activities below. SNACK, GAME, DISCUSSIONS AND CRAFT SNACK: CROWN JEWELS PURPOSE: Children will eat a snack while personally connecting to the story. SUPPLIES: Colorful individual candies (For example: jellybeans, candy-coated chocolates, etc.), drink, napkins, plates, cups ASK> Who did Paul boldly tell about Jesus? (King Agrippa and everyone listening to him speak.) Paul wanted the king and everyone listening to know about Jesus and to believe in Him as their Lord and Savior. You can boldly tell others about Jesus, just like Paul did. DIRECTIONS: 1. Serve snack and drink. 2. Child prays to thank God for the snack. 3. Ask the Snack Discussion Question: Who is one person you can tell about Jesus? GAME: PASS THE CROWN PRAYERS PURPOSE: To follow Paul s example and pray for others to believe in Jesus as Lord. SUPPLIES: Sturdy paper, scissors, colored paper, pens or pencils, tape PREPARE: Cut one piece of the sturdy paper into a 3-inch wide strip that is long enough to fit around a child s head. Tape the ends together to create a crown. Cut one jewel shape for each child. ASK> Paul prayed that the king and everyone listening to him would hear about Jesus and believe in Him. Only God knows what the hearts of others truly believe, but we can always pray for others to become closer to God. Think of someone who does not yet believe in Jesus, or someone who would like to be closer to God. Let s write their name or initials or draw a picture of them on the jewels for this crown. Then we will pray for them together, just like Paul prayed for the king! DIRECTIONS: 1. Children sit in a circle. 2. Give a paper jewel and pen or pencil to each child. 3. Each child writes a name or initials and or draws a picture of someone on his or her jewel. 4. Pass the crown around the circle. 5. As each child holds the crown, he or she tapes their jewel to the crown. 6. After all jewels are on the crown, hold the crown and pray the following prayer: Dear God, we want everyone to know You. We pray for (read the names or say the initials on the jewels). We pray they will become closer to You. Amen. *Option: Children may each make a crown and affix multiple jewels. Page 7 of 12

8 GOT TIME? continued DISCUSSION: CROSS YOUR HEART PURPOSE: To demonstrate the forgiving love of God when we ask Him into our heart forever. SUPPLIES: Masking tape, paper heart with a question mark on one side *Teacher Tip: This object lesson is designed to be very simple. Put it into your own words, but keep it very brief so children can easily remember it. This perfect heart shows God loves us. (Show the side of the paper heart without the question mark.) We are separated from God s love by our wrongdoing or sin. (Tear the heart into two pieces.) God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us. His death paid for our sins, so we could be forgiven and close to God again. (Use two pieces of tape intersecting to make a cross to put the two pieces of the heart back together.) When we believe and follow Jesus, His Spirit stays with us in our hearts forever. (Hold heart close to your chest.) Would you like to ask Jesus into your heart, and be close to God forever? (Turn the heart over to show the question mark on back of heart.) If children say, No, reply: That s ok. One day when you are ready, you can ask Him right then and there to come into your heart, and He will! If children say, Yes, reply: I will help you pray a special prayer to ask Jesus into your heart. Repeat these words after me: ABC Prayer Lord Jesus, I Admit that I m a sinner. I Believe You are the Lord who died to take my sins away. Please Come into my heart and I ll follow You forever. Amen. Children may celebrate salvation by singing (or reciting) Paul s words in Romans 8: If a child receives Christ, give him/her a Children s Guide for New Believers available at under the other resources tab. This includes the A.B.C. prayer and a letter of explanation to the parent. Write the date and child s name on the inside cover. DISCUSSION: KICKING AGAINST THE GOADS PURPOSE: To understand the story of Paul (Saul) attempting to stop others from believing in Jesus. SUPPLIES: Bible, optional picture of oxen plowing a field with farmer holding goad (stick) SAY> Paul did everything possible to stop people from believing in Jesus. He persecuted them by punishing them or putting them in prison for their faith. But Saul could not stop them from believing. Nothing can separate believers from the love of Jesus. Listen carefully as I read what Jesus said to Saul about this on the road to Damascus. (Read Acts 26:14) ASK> What is a goad? A goad is a long pointed wooden stick used by farmers to keep their ox moving or to turn it in the right direction. An ox not wanting to turn the right way would kick the goads. It would hurt and it never change the way the ox had to turn. How does Paul s choice to persecute Christians compare to an ox kicking against the goads? (Trying to stop believers from following Jesus will always fail, just as kicking against the goads will always fail to stop the direction of the ox plow. Just as it is impossible to stop God, it is hard to kick against the goads.) Page 8 of 12

9 GOT TIME? continued CRAFT: PAUL S LETTER KEEPER PURPOSE: To create a collection of verses from Paul s letters as the children learn of his travels and writings. SUPPLIES: Hole punch, markers or crayons, glue, notebook paper, envelopes, star stickers *Teacher Tip: For any children who have not begun the craft in a previous lesson, provide sturdy paper (or file folder), fasteners (yarn, metal brads, or three ring notebook), assorted craft supplies to decorate the cover and maps of Paul s second and third missionary journeys. See for a link to printable maps. Have the new children create a front cover with sturdy paper or use the outside of a file folder. Write Paul s Letters in large letters and decorate the cover. PREPARE: Display the following text for all to copy: Dear friends in Thessalonica, Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. (2 Thessalonians 3:1) Your friend, Paul SAY> Paul started many churches while on his journeys. He also returned to visit the same churches many times. He wrote letters to help them know how to love God and follow Jesus. We now find many of Paul s letters in the New Testament of the Bible. Let s imagine we are helping Paul collect copies of his letters. With each story we learn, we will mark on a map where Paul was on his journey and add an envelope containing one of his messages. SAY> Today we discovered that Paul prayed for King Agrippa and everyone else listening to believe in Jesus as Lord. When Paul was in Corinth a few years earlier, he wrote a letter to his friends in Thessalonica. He asked the Thessalonians to pray for him and his friends as they told people about Jesus. That means the Thessalonians may have been praying for Paul as he told King Agrippa about Jesus! Let s add part of Paul s letter to our Letter Keepers. DIRECTIONS: 1. Copy the words of 2 Thessalonians 3:1 onto a sheet of notebook paper. (Teacher preprints for younger children.) Decorate the paper with a picture of one person you will pray for to know about Jesus. 2. Address the envelope to The Churches at Thessalonica. Write From Paul in Corinth as the return address. 3. Punch holes in the new envelop to match the holes in your Letter Keeper. 4. Unclasp the binding of your Letter Keeper. Add the new envelop and re-clasp. 5. Place the verse from 2 Thessalonians inside the envelope. 6. Place a star sticker on the city of Thessalonica to show where Paul sent this letter. *Teacher Tip: This craft is designed as one of ten letters in a craft that continues throughout Unit 3-4 (Lesson 12-21). For each lesson, children add a new letter to their Letter Keeper. They can take their Letter Keeper home and bring it back for each lesson, or the teacher can collect them after each lesson and give them their completed Letter Keeper at the end of Unit 4. Option: Each of Paul s letters in the Letter Keeper craft can be created as an individual craft, instead of part of a collection. Page 9 of 12

10 GOT TIME? continued BIBLE MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITIES: LOVE SHUFFLE PURPOSE: Children learn the Unit 4 Bible Memory Verse. SUPPLIES: Two sets of sturdy cards (50 cards per set), Bible Memory Verse song, player and poster PREPARE: Create two identical sets of cards with each of the 50 words from the Bible Memory Verse printed on a separate card. SAY> As we sing (or chant) the Bible Memory Verse together, think about the correct order of the words. That will help you when we shuffle the order. DIRECTIONS: 1. Children recite or sing the Bible Memory Verse (Romans 8:38-39) together. 2. Divide children into two teams. 3. Shuffle each set of 50 cards. 4. Deal the first set or 50 cards to the children on one team and the second set of 50 cards to the children on the other team. Give each child approximately the same number of cards. 5. The two teams race to put their cards into the correct order of the Bible Memory Verse. They may use the Bible or the Bible Memory Verse poster as a reference. 6. The first team to place all 50 cards in the correct order is the winning team. DO THE WAVE PURPOSE: Children learn the Unit 4 Bible Memory Verse (Romans 8:38-39) SUPPLIES: Unit 4 Bible Memory Verse poster or Bible. DIRECTIONS: 1. Seat children in a circle. 2. Assign one short phrase from the Bible Memory Verse to each child or group of children. 3. As teacher points to each child or group, they quickly stand, say the assigned phrase while raising both hands up to the sky, lower hands to thighs and then return to a seated position. 4. Repeat 3 times, going around the circle faster each time. Page 10 of 12

11 GOT TIME? continued BIBLE TIMELINE REVIEW Review the recent Bible Stories studied to see the continuing story of God and His people. Hang the Bible Timeline on a wall or other visible location. Point to the Bible Timeline and ask the corresponding questions. Paul s Third Journey (Circa A.D.) On Paul s third missionary journey, he visited and encouraged many churches that he started on his first and second missionary journeys. He also wrote letters to the Romans, the Corinthians, and the Galatians on this journey. Where can we see those letters today? (In the Bible.) Paul s Arrest in Jerusalem (Circa 58 A.D.) The church in Jerusalem welcomed Paul, but the Jews from Asia stirred up the crowd against him. The soldiers arrested him. As they carried him up the steps, what did Paul do? (He told the crowd about the day he heard Jesus voice.) Who can tell us what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus? (A bright light blinded Paul, who was then called Saul. Jesus spoke to him and told him to stop persecuting believers and start spreading the news about Jesus.) Paul and King Agrippa (Circa 60 A.D.) Paul stood before Governor Festus and King Agrippa to tell them what happened to him in Jerusalem. What did Paul talk to the king about? (He explained how God changed him from an enemy of Jesus to a believer on the road to Damascus.) Paul admitted that no matter how long it took, he prayed that the king and all listening would become Christians, too. How to create a Bible Timeline: 1. Print Lesson title or person s name with historical date (whenever available) on a card. Before each lesson, add that new card to the Bible Timeline. Specific dates and a confirmed chronological order of events covered in Units 1-6 are not available. On the Bible Timeline or Units 1-6, the events will be ordered as they appear in the Bible. 2. Attach card to wall or clothesline in the following order: The Birth of Jesus Circa 0 A.D.) > The Life of Jesus (Circa 0 A.D. 33 A.D.) > Jesus Death and Resurrection (Circa 33 A.D.) > Jesus Ascended (Circa 33 A.D.) > God Sent His Spirit > Peter and the Man Who Could Not Walk > Stephen, the First Martyr > Philip and the Ethiopian > God Changes Saul s Heart > Saul Escapes from Damascus > Peter and Tabitha > Peter Visits Cornelius > Peter Escapes from Prison > Barnabas and Paul (Circa A.D.) > The Man from Macedonia (Circa 50 A.D.) > Paul and Lydia (Circa A.D.) > Paul and Silas in Prison (Circa A.D.) > Paul Visits Corinth (Circa A.D.) > Priscilla and Aquila (Circa A.D.) > Paul s Third Journey (Circa A.D.) > Paul s Arrest in Jerusalem (Circa 58 A.D.) > Paul and King Agrippa (Circa 60 A.D.) Page 11 of 12

12 ABOUT THIS STUDY: This 10 statement study assists in the understanding and memorization of the Apostles Creed. It is divided into 2 parts: Part 1 The Father and The Son and Part 2 The Spirit and The Saints. While designed for children ages 11 and above, discussions can be adapted to other age levels. THE APOSTLES CREED Statement 8, Part 2: The Spirit and The Saints (I believe in) the holy catholic church, the communion of saints The word catholic has two meanings. When catholic is capitalized, it refers to a certain church group called the Roman Catholic Church. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church is the Pope. The Apostles Creed uses the other meaning of catholic. When not capitalized, this word means universal or worldwide. The holy catholic church refers to the whole group of believers from every tribe and nation and denomination. (Volunteer reads 1 Corinthians 1:2.) While we may worship and serve in different places and times all over the world, we are still one church made up of people who follow Jesus. Why do you think the worldwide church is such an important part of our faith? (We are one family building God s Kingdom together.) Does anyone have questions about this statement of our faith? Saints means believers. The communion of saints does not refer to the taking of the bread and the cup at the Lord s Supper. In the Apostles Creed, it means coming together. (Volunteer reads Matthew 18:20.) God wants His believers to gather and worship Him together. He promises wherever two or more are gathered in His name, He is there, too! (Volunteer reads Hebrews 10:25) The Bible reminds us never to give up meeting together with the saints. Why do you think it is important for believers (saints) to get together often? (By gathering to worship, we can worship in unity. We are encouraged in remembering together who God is and what He has done in our lives.) Does anyone have questions about this statement of our faith? Why do you think God wants us to assemble? (Brainstorm ways to connect the church worldwide. Recite The Apostles Creed together.) THE APOSTLES CREED (Modern English Version) I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Page 12 of 12