Unit 6 Early Church--Lesson 9 NT6.9 Peter's Miracles Aeneas and Dorcas

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1 1 Unit 6 Early Church--Lesson 9 NT6.9 Peter's Miracles Aeneas and Dorcas Scripture: Acts 9:32-43 Lesson Goal: This lesson is about Peter the Apostle who preached about Jesus Christ in Samaria. Through the power of Holy Spirit Peter healed crippled man named Aenaes and raised Dorcas back to life. We will learn how we too can help people in need. Introduction: This is the ninth lesson in Unit 6: The Early Church. This unit covers Acts 1-12 and tells the story of the apostles spreading the gospel in Jerusalem and Samaria. In this lesson we are going to learn about Peter who healed the crippled man named Aenaes and raised Dorcas back to life.. We will learn that we too are to show God's love by serving and helping others. This event is described by Luke in the book of Acts. Acts tells about the history of the church. Let's say the first five books of the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts. Attention Getter: Have you ever stitched on a sewing machine? This is Emily sewing on her first sewing machine that I bought for her for Christmas! A sewing machine is used to make clothing. The sewing machine uses thread to make a stitch. The stitch holds two pieces of fabric together. When the fabric is sew you have a seam. The seam holds the fabric pieces together to make dress, shirts, pants, quilts, and lots of other things! Sewing is fun but it is also very important to making our clothing and clothing is something that everyone needs! In our lesson today we are going to learn about a lady who made clothing for other people. Her name was Dorcas. Alternative: Use the "Dorcas' Closet" activity and let the students wear their new clothes during the lesson. Opening Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, As followers of Jesus, we know that you want all people to know how much Jesus loves them. We pray for people in our church family who are sick or are having difficulty. Please help them through their difficulty. We pray that you will bring healing and strength to their lives. Help us to know the ways that we can help them and others trust in you. Thank you for loving us and providing for our needs. In Jesus' name, Amen. Memory Verse: Our verse for today is Galatians 6:10 "Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Lesson Video: Just before Jesus went back to heaven he told the disciples that they should Go into all the world and preach the good news about Jesus.. Jesus promised that after He left He would send the Holy Spirit to help the disciples tell others about Jesus. Ten days after Jesus left for heaven the Holy Spirit came like tongues of fire on the disciples. Miraculously the disciples had the ability to speak many different languages. All the people heard about Jesus in their own language! Many people believed in Jesus as their Savior. They were baptized. One day there was three thousand that believed. Another day there were five thousand people! The church grew and grew! The believers were to tell people in Jerusalem first, then in Samarian and the Judea, and finally to the whole world. At first Peter and John were the main preachers in Jerusalem but soon they were traveling to other cities. As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord s people who lived in Lydda. Lydda was on the route from Jerusalem to the coast. Peter preached to all the people there in that city. Many of the Christians had left Jerusalem and moved there to escape the persecution of the Jewish leaders. Peter told them how Jesus was the Son of God and how He came to bring them eternal life. Many people believed in Jesus. The Christians who were living there were very encouraged when Peter came to visit them.

2 2 While he was in the city of Lydda Peter met a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. Paralyzed means that you cannot get out of bed by yourself. You cannot move your legs or feel your arms. Aeneas, Peter said to him, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat. Immediately Aeneas got up. He didn't have to work on it or go to therapy. He just got up. What a miracle that was! He began to walk around. How excited he was! He had not walked for eight long years and now he was healed! After Aenas the paralyzed man had been healed in the name of Jesus, the news of this event spread all around the area. All the people who saw this miracle believed in God. Near Lydda was another town called Joppa. It is only about 35 miles from Jerusalem. Joppa was a city on the sea coast and it was not far away from where Peter was staying. It was an ancient shipping center with a very good harbor. Lots of people were coming through that city. In Joppa there lived a woman who was a follower of Jesus. Her name was Tabitha. That was her Jewish name. In Greek she was known as Dorcas. She was always doing good and helping the poor especially caring for widows and orphans. At the same time that Peter was preaching and healing in Lydda, Dorcas became very sick and died. Her dead body was washed and laid in an upstairs room. Knowing that Peter was in the nearby town, two men from Joppa rushed to find Peter. They said, "Please, come at once!" they begged. Peter went with them to Joppa. When Peter arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made for the poor while she was alive. Peter sent them all out of the room, Then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning to toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up! Tabitha opened her eyes and sat up. Peter took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. He called for the followers of Jesus to come into the room and he showed Tabitha to them. Everyone was so happy that Tabitha was alive again. This miracle became know all over Joppa and many more people believed in the Lord. Peter decided to stayed on in Joppa and continue preaching to everyone. He lived at the house of Simon who was a tanner. (Knocking on door) Who is it? It's Dorcas. I heard that your son was sick, so I've brought some medicine and some soup. I hope it helps. Oh, Dorcas, please come in. Thank you so much for your help. We are so worried about my son. We don't have enough money to get medicine, but now you've brought it to us. Thank you so much! I'm glad I can help you. I will pray for healing for your son. Come, stay for supper with us so that we may show our thanks to you. I would love to stay, but I have several other errands to do today. Whom else are you helping today? Oh, I just have some clothes and food to deliver to some people who could really use it. We thank God for you every day, Dorcas. Jesus talked about loving our neighbors, and you really show us how to do it. Thanks. I'm just doing my best to serve God. (Sound of door closing) A few days later a little girl went to see Dorcas. (Knocking on door) Yes, may I help you? May I please speak with Dorcas? I want to thank her for bringing food to my family. I want to let her know that my parents are thanking God for her generosity. May I see her please? Oh dear. I'm so sorry. Haven't you heard? Heard what? Dorcas is very sick. We are gathered here at her house to pray for her. We are all very worried about her. May I pray with you, please? Certainly, come in. The doctor is with her now. (Sounds of people praying, talking) (Door opens, doctor enters room) Ssshhh. It's the doctor. Doctor, how is Dorcas? I'm sorry to tell you this. Dorcas has just died. I will need some people to wash her body and prepare her for burial. (Sounds of people crying)

3 How could Dorcas be dead? She helped my family so many times. She was so kind. I will miss Dorcas so much. She was always doing good and helping the poor people in our town. Wait, I have heard that Peter, one of Jesus' disciples is nearby in the town of Lydda. I think we should send someone to ask him to come. Perhaps he could help. (WALLA: group agrees) So, the Christian friends of Dorcas sent two men to Peter and they begged Peter to come with them. Yes, I have heard of Dorcas and her many kind acts. Of course, I will come with you. (Music transition) (Sounds of footsteps, knocking at the door) Who is it? It's Peter. I have come to see Dorcas. (Door opens) Peter, thank you so much for coming. Please take me to see Dorcas. (Sounds of footsteps and crying) See, Peter, so many people are very sad because Dorcas has died. Look at all of these clothes that she made for the poor of our town. She was such a wonderful Christian woman. Peter was overwhelmed with sadness and asked all the people to leave the room so that he could pray. (Sounds of quiet crying, footsteps leaving, and door closing) Dear Father, I am praying to you because I know that you are the giver of everything, including life. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, I ask you, Father, to bring Dorcas back to the people of this town. Amen. Dorcas, get up. (Sounds of rustling bedclothes) Who are you? Where am I? Give me your hand, Dorcas, and let me help you up. I am Peter, and I am very glad to meet you. I've heard so many wonderful things about you. I just try to serve the Lord as you do, Peter. Everyone, come in. Dorcas is alive. (Sounds of door opening and people walking in excitedly) (WALLA: people excited, disbelief) Oh, Dorcas, you are alive! Thank you, Lord, for healing Dorcas. Dorcas is alive! Let us all pray together to thank the Lord for this wonderful miracle. (WALLA: group praying) Dorcas was someone special because she loved and helped others just like Jesus did. Is there someone you can help today? This story about Dorcas became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Truly only with God's power could people be raised from the dead and brought back to life. The same thing happened when Aeneas was healed. When people heard of God's power to heal, many believed in Jesus and were saved. Peter and Dorcas both used the gifts that God had given them to serve Him. Peter used the gift of the Holy Spirit to heal people and raise them from the dead. Dorcas used her gift of serving others to make clothes and help people in need. If you are a believer God has given you gifts to use to serve Him. We use the gifts He has given us to help others. Are you using your gifts to serve Jesus? Our memory verse is Galatians 6:10 "Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." God has given all believers gifts to serve Jesus. When believers use the gifts that God has given they are helping other believers and causing other believers to come to know Jesus. Let's say our verse again together. Galatians 6:10 "Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Do you need to get up and begin serving Him today? Are you allowing fear or other activities to keep you from serving Jesus? Maybe you aren t exactly sure what you could do. Here are some ideas. You could collect cans of food for your community food pantry. People who do not have enough money come there to get food to eat. Food pantries are always needing our help. Some food pantries make fresh food like sandwiches and soup to serve to hungry people. These food pantries are looking for people to help with this service. That is another way you could help. 3

4 Another way to serve others is to be a friend to people who are physically challenged. These children are helping kids in wheel chairs to ice skate. That would be fun for everyone, wouldn't it? Another way to serve others is to work on community cleanup crews. These children are helping by collecting trash in a community park or along highways. Keeping our environment clean helps everyone stay well and healthy. Visiting people who are sick is always a great way to serve others. This man is using musical instruments to help the sick person feel better! If you are wondering what you can do then pray to God and ask Him how you can serve others. He will show you what to do. Remember that when we serve our family and others we are serving God. As you learn what your gifts are He will help you use them in ways that help others see Him and want to know Him better. Let's serve others. Review Questions/ Game: Clothesline Questions Preparation: Cut out clothes shapes of shirts, pants, dresses, etc out of heavy paper. On each shape write one of the of the following questions. Place the shapes in a small basket. Hang a string like a clothes line across the room. Children are to take turns selecting a shape out of the basket. Child reads the question to the class. After the class answers the question then the child hangs the "clothes" on the line with clothespins. 1. Who was Peter visiting in Lydda? (Saints) 2. Why was Aeneas bedridden? (Paralyzed) 3. How long was Aeneas bedridden? (Eight years) 4. Who healed Aeneas? (Jesus Christ) 5. When the people living in Lydda saw Aeneas walking what did they do? (Turned to the Lord and believed in Jesus) 6. Why did Peter go to Joppa? (2 men came and asked him to come quickly) 7. What is another name for Dorcas? Tabitha 8. Where did Dorcas live? Joppa 9. How did Tabitha live her life? (Always doing good and helping the poor) 10. What did Dorcas do to help the poor people in her town? Sewed clothes for them 11. When Dorcas died, what did her friends do? Called Peter to help. They also cried and showed Peter all of the clothes Dorcas had made for them. 12. What did the crying widows show Peter? (The clothes Tabitha had made for them) 13. What did Peter do when he saw that Dorcas was dead? (He made her come alive again by the power of God.) 14. How did the people respond to Tabitha being raised from the dead? (Many believed in Jesus) 15. What can you do this week to use the gifts God has given you? 4 Bible Memory Verse Activity: Serving Handprints Our verse for today is Our memory verse is Galatians 6:10 "Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." God has given all believers gifts to serve Jesus. When believers use the gifts that God has given they are helping other believers and causing other believers to come to know Jesus. Look up the scripture in the Bible. Have a student read the verse. Repeat the verse together. Say: Dorcas did special things to help others. It really made a difference in their lives. Peter helped others know about Jesus. What are some ways that YOU can help others and make a difference. Think about ways that they can help others and tell them about Jesus. Trace your hand and write two words of the verse on each finger. Put the verse reference on the palm. Encourage them to do a kind deed this week. If you do this activity, use the phrase "let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

5 5 Craft Activity: Sewing Burlap Sampler (Gr.3-6) Say: "Dorcas was a lady in Joppa that made clothing and gave them to people for gifts. All her sewing was done by hand. We are going to learn how sewing works by using a needle and some yarn to make a burlap sampler." Give each child a 9"X 12" piece of burlap; a blunt tapestry needle; and yarn in a variety of colors. Peel away a few strands of burlap from each edge to give you a solid rectangle with square corners and fringe! Lay a ruler along each edge and draw an outline about an inch inside your fringe. Go over this line a few times if necessary to make it dark enough to see. Cut a piece of yarn about 4 feet long and thread your needle, making a knot at one end. Do a "running" stitch over the pencil line to form a border. Try to keep your stitches equal in length and resist pulling them too tight. Now draw an outline of a simple shape on a 5 1/2 " X 8 1/2" cardstock paper (Ex. fish, vase, flower, etc.) Cut this shape out and use it as a template to place in the center of the burlap. Trace around it, making the pencil line very dark. Finally use a variety of stitches and colors to complete your design. Craft Activity: Lacing Card for Younger Students (K-2) Make a Sewing Card by punching holes around a simple shape such as a fish. Use craft foam for a softer and easier finished product. Wrap tape around the end of the yarn to serve as a "needle." Let students "sew the yarn" around the edge of the shape by inserting the yarn through the punched holes. A template for a fish is included below. Print on heavy cardstock or use as a outline to cut out craft foam. Craft Activity: Name Art Picture Dorcas had two names: Dorcas and Tabitha. Dorcas was her name in one language and Tabitha was her name in another language. For example, in English a name is John and in Spanish it is Juan. Do you have a name that is different in another language? Share them. Say: Today we are going to make pictures out of our names. Have students fold a 9" X 12" piece of white drawing paper lengthwise. Using a pencil write their name in cursive writing. Go over the writing with a heavy line of black crayon. Fold the paper again lengthwise so the crayon writing is on the inside of the fold. Using a long ruler or pencil rub over the outside of the fold so the black crayon will leave an imprint of the cursive writing on the opposite side of the fold. Unfold the paper and go over the imprint of the name. Color the inside of the design. See the sample. Cut out the name design and mount on black construction paper. This makes a very "modern art design" of each child's name! This is a fun art activity for the older students in your class. Craft--Make Clothes for Stick Puppet For this activity you will need large and regular sixed craft sticks, hot melt glue, scraps of material, scissors, yarn, and markers. Before class hot glue a jumbo craft stick and a regular-sized craft stick together to form a cross. Cut pieces of fabric using the shapes below as a guide to make the coats, tunics, and head coverings. In class let your students choose the pieces they would like to use on their stick puppets. Show them how to place the hole of the coat over the head and then tie it to the puppet with year. The tunic goes over the coat with the slit part in the front and can to tied with the coat. To make the head covering glue it to the forehead of the stick puppet and then flip it over the back of the head scrunching up the material around the face. Tie it in place with a piece of yarn. After puppets are completed students should be encouraged to act out the story of the healing of Aeneas and the Raising of Dorcas back to life. Christian Service Project--No Sew Fleece Clothing Children can serve people like Dorcas of the Bible by reaching out into their communities and helping others. Children may not be able to sew clothes for the poor but they can make things that use fabric to serve others. For example you can make:

6 No-Sew pillows: From fleece cut two large 30" squares. Place the two squares of fleece wrong sides together. Cut fringe approximately 4-5" long around all the sides of square cutting through both squares of fleece at the same time. Tie one strip of fleece from the top square to one strip of fleece from the bottom square in a knot. Continue around pillow tying the fleece fringe from the two squares in knot. Before finishing the last side insert an 18-20" pillow form into the pillow. Finish tying the last side. Give pillow to a homeless shelter or Community food bank. For blankets use the same procedure except use larger sizes of fleece. Easy Fringe Fleece Scarves: Cut 1/4 yard of fleece (any color) into long strips. Strips should be 4-5 inches wide and 5 feet long for adult size. Use 3-4 feet long for child size. Layer 2 or 3 fleece strips on top of each other. It is more fun to use different colors of fleece. Then sew lengthwise down the middle of the strip one long seam with sewing machine. Cut 1 inch wide slits up each side of the sewn fleece strips. Cut pretty close to the middle but do not cut through the sewn line. Fluff up the fringe fleece and it s ready to wear. 6 Group Learning Activity: "Take Up Your Mat and Walk" Relay Game When Peter healed Aeneas in the town of Lydda he told him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take up your mat." And immediately Aeneas got up. We are going to play a relay game today using Aeneas' mat. In Bible times beds were made of woven mats that were rolled up each morning and stored in a corner out of the way. When Peter told Aeneas to take up his mat he meant that the man could return to normal life because he was healed and could now walk! Divide the group up into two teams. Have each team line up along one wall. Give the person at the front of each line a large beach towel rolled up. Tell the students that they are to go to a designated spot at the other side of the room and unroll their mat and lay down on it and count to ten. Then they are to stand up and roll up their beach towel and hurry back to the next person in the line. Each member of the team must complete this activity. The team who finishes first is the winner. Group Learning Activity: Dorcas' Closet Go to Goodwill or a garage sale and buy a lot of children's clothes in various sizes. The more variety the better. Choosing larger sizes will make this activity more fun. Be sure all clothing has been freshly laundered. Put the clothes in a large laundry basket in the center of the classroom. Have the children choose one or two items from the basket to wear during the lesson or activity time. Say: Dorcas would make and give clothing to children and families in her town as a way of showing her love for Jesus. Today I have brought some clothing for you to wear. You may choose an outfit that you like and I will help you slip it on over your clothes. This is like Dorcas did in our lesson."( In my classroom experience this turned out to be one of the most memorable learning activities. The students took the clothes home and the parents said that the children talked about the lesson all week! One child refused to wear anything but the outfit she got that week at church!) Life Application Challenge: Beanbag Toss There are many ways we can help others know the love of Jesus. I will toss the beanbag to you and you will say something you can do to help others know Jesus. Toss the beanbag to one of the children. Childrn who do not wish to contribute may pass and toss the bag to another child.

7 7 Peter Raises Dorcas Acts 9: Galatians 6:10 "Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

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