God s Unfolding Story. Arrival

New Testament Unit 9: Jesus Began the Church Lesson 2: Peter and the Lame Man God s Unfolding Story Suggested Schedule: Bible Story: Peter and the Lame Man (Acts 3:1-10) Bible Phrase: Jesus said, Go and help others. (Luke 10:37) Bible Truth: I can obey Jesus command and help others. 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour A Unfolding God s Story for Teachers Please read our story from Acts 3:1-10. The breathing of the Holy Spirit upon the believers opened up doors they could never have imagined. They were filled with courage, boldness and a sense of urgency to spread the message of Jesus Christ. In this passage Luke records the first healing event after Pentecost and it involved two disciples who were part of Jesus inner circle, Peter and John. Possibly they had seen this beggar many times when they had entered the temple to pray and observe the sacrificial offerings. But today was different; they really saw him. Perhaps it was the infusion of joy and power from the Holy Spirit that allowed them to see beyond the financial need and see straight to the man s need of total wholeness. Both Peter and John said to the man, Look at us. Maybe he was not accustomed to looking at his benefactors. Eye to eye contact might have been difficult for one in such a state, embarrassing at the least. But the man looked and Peter gave him more than clanging change. Peter said, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Peter offered his hand and God gave strength to his lifeless legs; legs that now stood, moved and even jumped. The man was quick to acknowledge God s deliverance and went with Peter and John into the temple. The usual sanctuary quietness was interrupted with shouts of praise as the once lame beggar leaped through the doors. Naturally this caught the attention of the worshippers and they recognized the face of the man that had lain by the gate Beautiful every day. The scripture says they were filled with amazement and wonder. They witnessed only a small demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. This same powerful Holy Spirit is in each believer today and gives us eyes to see and ears to hear. Sadly, we diffuse these senses when disobedience and self-centeredness enter our hearts. There are people we pass everyday in our neighborhoods, at work, church, and home who are in a sense beggars. May we look pass the obvious and into their hearts. Through the Holy Spirit s power we can offer them more than they think they need. Our emphasis for preschoolers in this story is found in the Bible Phrase, Jesus said, Go and help others Luke 10:37. Preschoolers will hear that just as Peter and John reached out and helped the beggar, we can help others, too. Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT09 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 1

Block Center Build with Blocks Wooden blocks Transportation toys What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: As children build, listen for opportunities to share the Bible Phrase or tell a part of the Bible story. Home Living Center Role Play Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans, plastic food items; and doll items such as doll bed, baby doll, doll bag, blanket, clothes, bottles and diapers. Extra: Plastic dishpan, dish soap, and several towels What to Do: Home living items will encourage children to role play home activities such as cooking, cleaning and caring for the baby. If the extra items are provided, invite children to wash the dishes in the home living center. Link to the Bible Story: As children play, look for opportunities to engage in conversation about the Bible story, Bible Phrase or Bible truth. Center Time Art Center Design a Mat White construction paper Assorted colors of construction paper Glue sticks What to Do: Cut colors of construction paper into both length wise and width wise 1 strips. Ask children to turn their paper in a landscape direction. Show children how to glue the width wise strips one beside the other across their paper. Next, ask preschoolers to turn their paper long ways or portrait direction and glue the long strips across leaving at least one space in-between the strips. This produces a kind of weaving effect. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, express that what they are designing looks like a mat or rug. Express that in our story a man could not walk; he earned his living by sitting on a mat and begging for money. God used a man named Peter to heal him. Bible Learning Center Look for What is Different Copies of Activity Page Which One is Different (Reproducible) Pencils, crayons What to Do: Invite children to look at each row of pictures and decide which picture is different in each row. Children may use a pencil or crayon to color the picture that is different. Link to the Bible Story: Read the Bible Phrase. Share with children that in our Bible story today, God used a man named Peter to help a man who could not walk. Explain that the man spent all day sitting on a mat and begging for money to buy food, but Peter gave the man something better than food. Puzzle Center Work Puzzles Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for children to work. What to Do: Encourage children to finish a puzzle before leaving the center. Give guidance rather than doing the puzzle for the child. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible Phrase or briefly tell the Bible story. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT09 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 2

Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Bible Teaching Picture Peter and the Lame Man (Reproducible) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Show the God s Unfolding Story Cube. Point to each symbol and tell God s Unfolding Story. (Refer to page 1.) Encourage children to say the story with you. Comment to boys and girls today s story is from the segment Jesus Began the Church. (Point to that symbol on the cube.) Express the following in your own words: In our Bible story last week God sent a special power over the followers of Jesus to help them tell others about Him. The disciples went out and boldly told about Jesus and many people began to follow Jesus. This group of people became the church. A man named Peter was a leader in the church. One day Peter and his friend John met a man who could not walk. Listen to how God s power worked through Peter to help the man. Bible Story Peter and the Lame Man (Acts 3:1-10) Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray. As they entered the temple area, they saw a man lying on a mat. The man could not stand or walk. Everyday this man s family or friends carried him to the temple. And each day he sat on his mat and begged for money to buy food. As Peter and John walked by, the crippled man said, Please give me some money for food. Peter and John looked at the man and both said, Look at us. The man turned to look at them and thought they would give him some money. But Peter said, We do not have any money, but we can give you something else. Then Peter said, In the name of Jesus, get up and walk! Peter took the man by the hand and he helped him to stand. The man s ankles and legs became strong and he began to skip, and jump and hop! The man ran into the temple with Peter and John, telling everyone what had happened. As he came into the temple he praised God that he could walk. All the people in the temple saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized that he was the man who sat by the temple gate and begged each day. All the people were amazed at what God had done. God used the people of the church to help other people. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story. Ask the following: Who did Peter and John see on their way to the temple? How did God use Peter to help the man? What did the man do when he realized he could walk? 2. Say today s Bible Phrase together, Jesus said, Go and help others Luke 10:37. Express to boys and girls that Jesus taught his disciples to help other people. Peter was obeying Jesus words when he let God s power heal the man who could not walk. 3. Close the Bible Story Time in prayer asking God for opportunities to help other people and tell them about Jesus. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT09 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 3

Craft Time Make Bible Phrase Sandals Copies of Bible Phrase Sandals (1 copy per child, cardstock preferred) Crayons or washable markers What to Do: Cut out sandals and strips. Invite children to color their sandals and strips. Teachers can staple the strips across the foot shapes to make sandals. Link to Bible Story: As children work, review the Bible Phrase. Review the Bible story of the man who could not walk and how God used Peter to help the man to walk. Suggest that the sandals will remind them that we should also go and help others. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time/Dismissal I Can Help 1 sheet of construction paper CD player and CD What to Do: Form a circle of chairs in the game time area. Cut a foot shape from the construction paper and tape to the seat of one of the chairs. Explain to children that when the music begins to play they are to walk around the circle. When the music stops they are to sit down. The person sitting in the chair with the footprint will name something they can do to help at home, church, and school or at play. At the close of the activity, remind boys and girls of today s Bible Phrase, Jesus said, Go and help others Luke 10:37. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of your church. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT09 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 4

Resources and Supplies New Testament Unit 9: Jesus Began the Church Lesson 2: Peter and the Lame Man Hour A Standard Art Supplies (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn Standard Equipment (Equipment that is generally in the room) Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Activity Page Which One is Different (1 copy per child) Bible Phrase Sandals (1 copy per child- cardstock preferred) Teaching Picture Peter and the Lame Man (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parent Page (1 copy per child) Additional Art and Bible Learning Materials White construction paper (1 sheet per child) Assorted colors of construction paper 6 or 7 sheets Game Time/Dismissal Materials Construction paper 1 sheet God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT09 Lesson 2 Hour A

Bible Phrase Sandals Jesus said, Go and help others. Luke 10:37 Craft Bible Phrase Sandals Instructions: Copy 1 sheet per child on cardstock. Cut out the sandals and straps. Children color and decorate their sandals. Adjust strap length and staple straps to sandals. NT09 Lesson 2 Hour A Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com