I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. Jesus Changes Lives. May 13, Acts 16:16 40 Paul and Silas in Prison

Transcription

1 May 13, 2018 Jesus Changes Lives DATE PONDER POINT I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. Acts 16:16 40 Paul and Silas in Prison THE BIG GOD STORY Psalm 119:30 REMEMBER VERSE Welcome & Rules (4 minutes): Begins class creating an inviting atmosphere for kids to feel welcome and to worship in song. Worship & Connect (12 minutes): Establishes community and engages kids, drawing them in and preparing them to hear God s word. The Big God Story Pt 1 (6 minutes): Creates space for children to hear God s word. Mail Time & Worship (7 minutes): Breaks up the Big God Story to keep kids engaged and teaches the importance of memorizing scripture. The Big God Story Pt 2 (6 minutes): Children continue to hear God s word. Small Groups (20 minutes): Kids respond in small groups to what they heard in the Big God Story. Remember Verse & Bless (3 minutes): Allows children to practice their memory verse and be sent out with a sense of peace so they can be a blessing to others. 1

2 GOAL: Worship & welcome is all about engaging kids and helping them enter into worship, letting them know that class has begun preparing their minds for what they are going to hear. Establishes community and engages kids, drawing them in and preparing them to hear God s word. WELCOME & RULES - 4 minutes (Host) IMAGE: Welcome We are so glad you are here at Critter Land today. Personalize your welcome. Relate to what s happening such as holidays, school year, church camp, etc. Pique the curiosity about today s Ponder Point/Story, tell a joke, do something to draw in the attending of the kids and mention any announcements! RULES VIDEO: Chloe s Rules Backyard Video WORSHIP - 3 minutes (Worship Leader/Host) If you brought offering, go put it in the squirrel feeder while we worship! VIDEO: (9:00 & 11:30) Hosanna Rock (10:15) What do you know? (Direct kids to get with their groups and circle up with their small group leader before sitting down) SMALL GROUP CONNECT QUESTIONS - 4 minutes (Host) VIDEO: 4 minute countdown Would you rather jump in rain puddles or play in snow? What is a favorite thing you like to do? Have you ever had a time when you were really scared? Why? WARDROBE OF WONDER - 5 minutes (Host) What sit: 9:00 - Lock 10:15 - chains VIDEO: Wardrobe of Wonder Intro Choose 1 volunteer. Volunteer picks two hats from wardrobe one for himself, one for host. Tell other kids to put on their imaginary thinking caps. Volunteer peeks in the What s It box. Host gives 3 clues, kids get to vote on what they think it is. ASK: 9:00 Lock What did you find in the Wardrobe of Wonder today? Children will answer. How do we use locks? Where do you see them? Interact with children and their answers. I wonder, how do you think the What sit fits into the part of The Big God Story we ll hear today? Pause for children to answer. Let s find out, because it s time for ASK: 10:15 Chains What did you find in the Wardrobe of Wonder today? Children will answer. How do we use chains? Where do you see them? Interact with children and their answers. I wonder, how do you think the What sit fits into the part of The Big God Story we ll hear today? Pause for children to answer. Let s find out, because it s time for 2

3 Point out that what kids are about to hear is true and is recorded in the Bible. Open your Bible to the passage and leave it open and visible throughout The Big God Story. Invite kids to open their Bibles and follow along as you storytell. Children respond to what the Holy Spirit is teaching them as they reflect on the day s portion of The Big God Story. The Prayer of Release allows children and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet their hearts and minds. Before you pray, you might ask the kids to hold out their hands, palms up, in a spirit of releasing their worries and distractions in order to better receive what the Holy Spirit might have for them today. Then encourage the kids to quiet their voices, take a seat, and pray with you. The Big God Story: STORYTELLING - PART 1-6 minutes (Storyteller) Video: The Big Story Intro Wow! You wouldn t believe what I just experienced! I have a most exciting story to share with you! Last week we learned about how Jesus changed Paul s life, well today we are going to learn more about Paul. I m here to tell you, Jesus changes lives. So, God sent Paul and a man named Silas to go and tell everyone the good news. Paul and Silas loved Jesus. God changed their lives, and they trusted in Him. They listened to what God s Holy Spirit was telling them to do. They obeyed God and went to the city of Philippi. Paul and Silas taught the people about Jesus, and God performed miracles and healing through them. One day, some men came and grabbed Paul and Silas. They didn t like all the things Paul and Silas were saying and doing, and decided to throw Paul and Silas in jail to make them stop. Tech: Cue Jail Door sound effect. Now The Jailer was warned to guard Paul and Silas very, very carefully. No one wanted them to escape. Hold up chains and lock. So they put chains around their feet (Tech: Cue Chains sound effect), locked them up, and put them deep in the jail where there were no windows and no light. Yes, he put the chains on the men so they couldn t run away. Then he closed the door and locked it. Paul and Silas found themselves in chains, in a dark, damp jail. I wonder what is going to happen to them? Well you will find out in a few minutes, but right now lets check our mail. 3

4 MAIL TIME & WORSHIP - 7 minutes (Host/Worship Leader) VIDEO: Mail Time Intro IMAGE: Remember Verse I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. Psalm 119:30 Motions: I have chosen the way of faithfulness: I have set my heart: on your laws. Hold left palm up, place right fist on top. Both hands on heart, lift hands away, put them back on heart. Make L with right hand, left palm facing up, touch the L to open palm. Host: Way to say your verse! Now let s all keep standing and sing a song! WORSHIP VIDEO: (9:00 & 11:30) God of Love (10:15) Jesus I will follow Host: Great job singing! Let s all sit down and listen really carefully to find out what is going to happen to Paul and Silas now they are chained up In jail. STORYTELLING - PART 2-6 minutes (Storyteller) Let s close our eyes for a second and picture ourselves in a dark, cold jail cell with Paul and Silas. Children react. Now open your eyes. How do you think Paul and Silas felt? Do you think they were sad? Maybe a little scared? I would be all those things.and You would think that Paul and Silas would be sad or even angry, right? But here is the crazy thing, they didn t get angry or sad, instead they started singing! They started to sing songs to God, praising Him and worshipping Him! Even though they were in jail, they knew that God loved them as His children and wouldn t forget about them. So, deep in the dark jail, Paul and Silas were singing when Wham! A huge earthquake began to shake the jail! Tech: Cue Earthquake sound effect. Kabam! All the prison doors flew open! And pop pop pop! All the chains on their feet sprang open! Do you think it was an accident that the lock opened? No way! God opened the doors and released the chains. The Jailer was afraid, and thought all the prisoners would be gone. He knew he would be punished if they were. But here s the best part! Paul called out in the dark and said, to the jailer, Don t worry! We re all here! So the jailer called out for the guards to bring some light, and sure enough, all the prisoners were all still there. The jailer was so surprised that everyone was still there he immediately asked Paul and Silas what must I do to know God and follow Him? 4

5 Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved you and your family. Paul told the jailer, and right then, he chose to follow Jesus, and his life was changed. Friends, Jesus changes lives! Not only did the jailer follow Jesus, he had Paul and Silas go with him to his family. Paul told them about Jesus and they all believed too! Wow! Jesus changes lives! First, He changed Paul and Silas s lives, then He changed the jailer s life, and then (take a deep breath) He changed the jailer s family s lives! The church in Philippi was growing. More and more people heard that Jesus is the Good News and decided to trust in Him. After Paul left the city, he wrote a special letter to the church. He encouraged the people and continued to teach them about God. Just as Paul, Silas, and the jailer trusted in Jesus, we can believe in Jesus and trust in Him. Nothing can ever take us away from Him. When we trust in Jesus, our lives will be changed too! DISMISS TO SMALL GROUPS (Host) 5

6 GOAL: Kids respond in small groups to what they heard in the Big God Story. Paul and Silas in Jail SUPPLIES (per table/small group) Coloring Sheet Crayons Streamers Fun Music ENGAGE Welcome children and invite them to join you at the table. As you work on your coloring sheet, color only the solid bars on the jail it will reveal a secret message. After you have discovered the secret message together..tell the kids this: Do you remember when Paul and Silas were in jail? Even though they were sitting in a dark, cold jail cell, they sang praises to God. They knew that they forever belonged to God. Their lives had been changed forever when they decided to follow Jesus. Friends, God made you, and He loves you. When we know Jesus, we re forgiven for all the bad choices we make. God helps us and gives us what we need to follow Him every day! How does it feel to know that Jesus can change our lives by changing us? How would you like to worship God? Let s worship God through our singing and dancing. Lead this time by modeling a posture of worship with a celebratory song of praise. Each person will have a streamer and can respond in dance as the music plays. If you have time, stop the song, and ask a wonder question. Then let them celebrate some more. I wonder Why did Paul and Silas sing in jail? I wonder What did the other prisoners think when the chains came loose? I wonder How can God change my life? 6

7 GOAL: Kids respond in small groups to what they heard in the Big God Story. The Chain Game SUPPLIES Jesus Loves Me strips Tape Glue Dots ENGAGE Today we learned how God changed not one, not two, not three, but a lot of lives! You see if you tell one person about Jesus, then they tell someone about Jesus now one has turned into two...just like links in a chain before you know it you have a great big chain of people who know Jesus and they keep telling others about Jesus! We are going to make a chain today, you will start with one link. That will represent you. Then you are gong to think of other people you can tell that Jesus loves them, add a link for each person you think of or want to tell about Jesus! Watch your chain grow! Take it home and hang your chain somewhere to remind you to share the Love of Jesus with others. I wonder..what did the other prisoners think when Paul and Silas started singing? I wonder How do I know I belong to God? I wonder Why can God change anyone s life? 7

8 Review the Remember Verse: Motions: I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. Psalm 119:30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness: I have set my heart: on your laws. Hold left palm up, place right fist on top. Both hands on heart, lift hands away, put them back on heart. Make L with right hand, left palm facing up, touch the L to open palm. BLESSING Invite the children to lift their hands as if they re receiving, and pray this blessing over them: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him with your life. May you walk closely with Him all the days of your life. VIDEO: In This Life 8

9 For many years, my dad led worship for a friend s youth camp during the month of July. The summer before seventh grade, our entire family joined my father. I was the most excited, as I would be old enough to actually participate in the fun instead of being a tagalong kid sister. My excitement quickly turned to nervousness. Most of the kids already knew each other. Without realizing it, I began to act and speak differently to fit in. After the second or third day of camp, my dad took me on a walk. He told me he noticed I was acting differently to make friends, but that I didn t have to. All I had to do was be myself. I thought about what my dad said. I felt loved and special that he took the time to encourage me. I tried to live out his advice. By the end of the week, I had an entire roll of film filled with pictures of my new friends and the fun times we had shared. I learned to see myself not as others see me, or even as I see myself, but through the eyes of a heavenly Father who loves me. As an adult, I continue to be tempted to adapt to my environment. Then, I remember to turn to Jesus. He is the One who changes lives. He is the One who reminds me how much I am loved and that I belong to Him. I am made in His image, and He gives me the strength and confidence to be me for another day. Asriel Medina ROCKHARBOR Church Convinced of the Spirit s calling to change lives by proclaiming the good news to the people of Macedonia (Acts 16:9 10), Paul and Silas set sail to the island of Samothrace. Next, they traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony. In many ways, Philippi was the closest thing to being in Rome itself. During their stay in Philippi, Paul and Silas were seized and publicly accused of introducing people to customs that were unlawful for Roman citizens. The surrounding crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas until the magistrates ordered that the men be flogged and thrown into prison. While in prison, as they were singing hymns of praise to God, a massive earthquake shook the building. The stocks were loosened from the prisoners feet and the prison doors opened. When the jailer, who was likely a retired military officer, awoke to see the doors opened, he drew his dagger to kill himself, assuming his prisoners had escaped. Although his reaction may seem extreme, a jailer who allowed a prisoner to escape would most likely lose his life as payment. Before the jailer could impale himself, Paul s voice rang out: Don t harm yourself! We are all here! (v. 28). Saved from physical death, the jailer fell to the ground and asked, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (v. 30). How quickly a life can change. Plucked from fear and death, the jailer was filled with joy as he and his household believed in Jesus and were baptized. Paul and Silas had temporarily laid aside their rights in order to see what God would do. They could be joyful even in the darkest of prisons because their identity did not depend on their circumstances. From their steadfast testimony, God changed the lives of the jailer and his entire family. 9

10 As leaders, we know spiritual transformation in the lives of those we lead ultimately belongs to the Holy Spirit of God. We are His servants, conduits of His love and mercy, charged with the task of creating an environment where the Spirit has free reign. This week, take some time to pray for the children in your small group by name. Make a prayer board using colored sticky notes, index cards, or paper. Say the children s names out loud, surrendering them individually to the Lord. Ask how He would have you pray for each child. Write down any special words of encouragement. Consider sharing these words with the children the next time you gather for a time of blessing. May each child within your ministry know what it means to belong to Christ. May they stand strong against the world s lies and false identities. 10