Week of August 25, 2013 Lessons for the Leader How do you react when God answers a specific prayer request? Do you attribute the outcome to something other than God? In Acts 12 we learn what happened when a group of believers prayed specifically for one man Peter. Read Acts 12:1-5. Times were tough for believers. Imagine how it must have been and is today for believers to be under attack for their faith. John's brother, James, had been martyred, and Peter, a disciple and prominent leader in the early church, found himself imprisoned and sentenced to death. Read verses 6-10. While Peter was in prison, the church prayed for his release. An angel appeared to Peter and woke him. The angel gave instructions to get up and follow him out of prison. Why do you think Peter thought the experience was a vision? Do you think Peter knew the church was praying for him? Have you felt prayers prayed just for you? Read verses 11-17. After Peter's release, he went to the house where his fellow believers had gathered to pray. When Peter arrived at the house, he knocked on the door. The servant who answered his knock was so excited hearing his voice, she failed to let him. Instead, she told the others he was there! Would you have thought the servant was crazy when she told you God had answered your prayers for Peter? What convinced the believers Peter had been rescued? When you pray for others, do you expect God to answer? Realize many preschoolers are eager to pray. How often do you show love for others by praying for them? As you prepare to teach, love on the preschoolers in your class by taking a few minutes to pray for them by name. What do these symbols mean? 1a Application Activities Format: Follow the numbers with arrows for a 30-minute, large group plus 20-minute Application Activities format. People Prayed for Peter Focus Passage: Acts 12:1-17 Key Bible Verse: James 5:16 Life Application: I can pray for people. Session at a Glance Introduction to Worship (6 to 8 minutes) Greet Children Color Letters Worship (30 minutes/45 minutes) Welcome Children Present Offering and Pray Sing "Glorious Is Thy Name" Sing "Whoa!" Learn About Peter Find It Tell the Bible Story Review the Bible Story Learn the Bible Verse Use Worship Guides Make Application Transition Application Activities (20 minutes) Wrap-Up (10 minutes) 1 Follow all the numbers for a 45- to 60-minute large group only format. OK to copy. Page 1 of 39
Introduction to Worship 1aGreet Children Pull It Together Offering container Show kids where to place their offerings. 2aColor Letters Pull It Together Construction paper, scissors, markers, crayons Cut out the letters P, R, A, Y, cutting at least one letter per child. Invite kids to color the letters. Talk about praying as kids color (what does it mean, who can pray). Invite kids to display their letters. State: "We colored the letters of the word pray. We'll learn what happened when friends prayed for a friend." Collect letters to send home with kids. Worship 3aWelcome Children (1 minute) Say: "I am so glad you are here. We will talk about praying and how God answers prayers. Let's pray." 4aPresent Offering and Pray (2 minutes) 5aSing "Glorious Is Thy Name" (DVD, 2 minutes) 6 Sing "Whoa!" (DVD, 2 minutes) 7aLearn About Peter (4 minutes) Pull It Together Scissors Print "Peter" (CD). Print the pages front/back or print and glue front/back. Cut apart pictures. Display Peter name card. Say: "This name is Peter. Peter's name was Simon, but Jesus gave him the name Peter. What do you know about Peter from the Bible?" Invite responses. Say: "I have some pictures to help us learn about Peter." Display and read aloud each picture, commenting as needed to explain (see backs). 8 Find It (3 minutes) Pull It Together Print "Acts" (CD). Display and read aloud title. Quiz: "Is Acts in the Old or New Testament? (New) What is Acts about? (early church, missionaries) Acts comes after what set of books in the New Testament? (Gospels) Open your Bibles to the Book of Acts, Acts 12." Enlist adults to help kids turn to Acts 12. 9aTell the Bible Story (7 minutes) Pull It Together Scissors, tape Print "Bible Story Names" (CD) and cut apart. Place a tape loop on the back of each name. Teacher Tips Provide Bible times clothing and a white robe. Make a simple jail cell by overturning three tables to resemble the back and side walls of a cell. Invite six kids to stand by you. Explain: "These kids will help me tell the Bible story. Let me introduce who they will be." Tape a sign to each child as you say the name. Instruct: "Everyone else will be the church people praying at a house. I'll move the kids with name tags as I tell the story. Rhoda, go sit with all the people at the house [move child]. I'll get you to help later in the story." Lead kids (actors) with tags to sit to one side of you. Open your Bible to Acts 12 and tell the story. Move kids as noted during the story. People Prayed for Peter Based on Acts 12:1-17 [Stand Herod on opposite side of actors.] Herod was the king at the time of our story. He did not like the church or people who loved the church. He hurt some of the people of the church, even killing the disciple James. Herod arrested Peter and planned on killing him, too, after the Passover (an important celebration). [Stand Peter beside Herod]. But the church people were praying for Peter. [Guide kids sitting to pretend to pray. Stand Herod to the side.] On the night before Peter was to be killed, he was sleeping, chained between two guards. Page 2 of 39
[Guide Peter to lie down. Place guards on both sides of Peter.] Guards also stood at the prison doors. Suddenly, an angel woke Peter up. [Guide angel to wake Peter and motion for him to follow.] The angel told Peter to get up, get dressed, and follow him. Peter did not know if the angel was real or a dream. The chains fell off of Peter. He got up and followed the angel. [Guide Peter and the angel to walk a few steps while the guards return to sit with the actors.] The angel led Peter past the guards to an iron gate. The iron gate opened by itself. Once Peter was safely on the street, the angel left Peter. [Move angel back to sit with actors.] Peter realized what was happening was not a dream. God had sent an angel to rescue Peter. Peter went to the house where his friends were praying for him. [Guide Peter to pretend to knock on a door.] When Peter knocked on the door, a servant named Rhoda answered. [Direct Rhoda to stand opposite of Peter.] When Rhoda recognized Peter's voice at the door, she was so excited she forgot to let Peter in. Rhoda ran to the others and told them Peter was outside! [Guide Rhoda to tell the people.] The people did not believe her. [Guide people to shake their heads no at Rhoda.] Peter stood outside knocking. Finally, someone let Peter in. [Invite a seated child to pretend to open the door. Tell Peter to face the people.] Peter's friends were surprised and happy. Peter told the people to tell the good news to James and the brothers. Peter left the city. [Guide Peter to sit with the actors.] 10aReview the Bible Story (7 minutes) Pull It Together Strips of paper, tape or stapler/staples Print "Teaching Picture 13 Peter" (CD) Make a paper chain using tape or staples (9 loops). Thank kids for helping tell the Bible story. Collect "Bible Story Names." Display the paper chain. Say: "This chain reminds me of when Peter was in prison. [Break a loop.] My chain is easy to break. Did Peter break his chains?" (No, God made them fall off.) Invite a child to answer a review question (see Review Questions under Wrap-Up). Allow the child to break a loop after he answers. Continue until each question is answered and loop is broken. Display the teaching picture. Comment: "The people of the church prayed for Peter. We can pray for people also. Let's learn what the Bible teaches us about prayer." 11 Learn the Bible Verse (6 minutes) Pull It Together Flashlight, paper, marker Print James 5:16 from your preferred translation. Teacher Tip Print "James 5:16 Paraphrase" (CD). Display and read aloud the verse. Say: "This verse teaches us to pray for each other. What happened when Peter's friends prayed for him?" Allow children to answer. Continue: "Let's pretend we are Peter being led out of prison by the angel. Everyone stand up and get behind me. [Pause for kids to move.] Let's follow the light. When the light goes off, freeze. Then we will say the Bible verse together and turn the light back on." Shine light on floor and move about the room. Stop several times, leading kids to say the verse. 12aUse Worship Guides (7 minutes) Pull It Together Worship Guides, crayons Distribute Worship Guides and crayons. Lead kids to complete Worship Guide activities. Ask: "How many times did you find the word pray hidden in the picture? We can pray anytime, anywhere, and about anything." 13 Make Application (4 minutes) Say: "Peter's friends prayed for him while he was in prison. The people prayed and God answered their prayers Peter was freed. God wants us to talk to Him. When we pray we talk and listen to God. We can pray for our family, friends, missionaries, and other people around the world." Invite children to pray. 14aGo to Application Activities or Wrap-Up Week of August 25, 2013 Page 3 of 39
Wrap-Up (Large Group Only Format) 15 Sing "There's No One Exactly Like Me" (DVD, 2 minutes) 16 Sing "God's Plan" (DVD, 2 minutes) 17 Review (6 minutes) Pull It Together Scissors, letters from step 2 Print "Prayer Strips" (CD) and cut apart. Print 1 or more strips per child. Remark: "We learned we can pray for people. Who is someone you can pray for this week?" Invite kids to name people. Say: "I'll give each person a strip of paper. On the strips are the names of people we can pray for each day. When you get home, put your strip somewhere you will see it each day. Remember to pray for the person listed on your strip." Distribute strips. Comment: "If your strip begins with the letter m, stand up. If the second letter is i, sit down. Those standing should have the name mom m, o, m on their papers. Pray for your mom each day." Continue through the strips until children know whom they can pray for each day. Ask: "Who prayed for Peter? (church members) Why did the people need to pray for Peter? (He was in jail and was to be killed.) Did God answer the people's prayers? (yes) How? (released Peter) I'm glad we can pray for one another." Distribute letters. 18 Dismiss Children to Parents *Giant Game Floor Mat (001114564) may be ordered through LifeWay Christian Resources Customer Service Center at 1.800.458.2772 or online at www.lifeway.com. Week of August 25, 2013 Wrap-Up (Application Activities Format) 15a Sing "There's No One Exactly Like Me" (DVD, 2 minutes) 16aSing "God's Plan" (DVD, 2 minutes) 17aHighlight Application Activities (2 minutes) Call on several children to tell what they did in their Application Activities. darts d and Crafts Make Prayer Cubes ddramatic d Play Go on a Prayer Walk dgames Play d a Mat Game dexploration d and Discovery Explore How to Pray Apply: "Our activities helped us learn we can pray for people." 18aReview (4 minutes) Pull It Together Scissors, letters from step 2 Print "Prayer Strips" (CD) and cut apart. Print 1 or more strips per child. Ask: "Who prayed for Peter? (church members) Why did the people need to pray for Peter? (He was in jail and was to be killed.) Did God answer the people's prayers? (yes) How? (released Peter) I'm glad we can pray for one another." Distribute prayer strips. Display and name each strip so kids know whom to pray for each day. Distribute letters. 19aDismiss Children to Parents Review Questions Why was Peter in jail? (Herod put him there.) What did King Herod plan to do to Peter? (kill him) Where was Peter when the angel visited him? (in prison, chained between two guards) What was the church doing while Peter was in prison? (praying) Did Peter dream about the angel helping him or was the angel real? (real) What did Rhoda do when she knew Peter was outside? (forgot to let him in) Did Peter's friends believe Rhoda when she said Peter was outside? (no) Does God answer prayer? (yes) Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition Leader Guide 2013 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Page 4 of 39
Application Activities Select from the following choices. Each choice is designed for 20 minutes of small group time. Pull It Together Scissors, tape, markers, scrap paper Print "Prayer Cube" (CD). Print 1 per child. Teacher Tip Cut and fold cubes. Flatten for kids to color and assemble. Worship Through Arts and Crafts Make Prayer Cubes Say: "God wants us to talk to Him. When we pray, we talk and listen to God. Let's make prayer cubes to help us know people we can pray for each day." Distribute supplies. Instruct: "Cut around the outer lines on the cube. [Point to each place on cube.] Draw pictures of family members, people from church, people you know who are sick, friends, people from your community (neighbors), and missionaries. We might not know any missionaries, but we can draw a man, woman, or child to help us remember to pray for missionaries." Assist kids with cutting. Point to and say again the different cube titles. Talk about the Bible story. Help children fold the cubes and tape sides shut. Invite children to roll their cubes and tell about people they drew. Say the Bible verse (James 5:16). Suggest: "Put your cube on a table at home or by your bed. Roll the cube and pray for the person who is the top picture. Why did the people pray for Peter? (keep him safe) Did God answer the people's prayers? (yes) We can pray for people, too." Pray. Pull It Together Scissors Print "Prayer Walk" (CD) and cut apart pages 1-4. Save page 5 to use during the activity. Place each sign at a different location in the classroom. Teacher Tip Walk to the actual locations in the church. Worship Through Dramatic Play Go on a Prayer Walk Ask: "What were the church people doing while Peter was in prison? (praying) What is praying? (talking and listening to God) We can pray for people, too. Have you ever walked and prayed at the same time? Let's do that! We're going to walk to the signs I placed around the room and pray for specific people or things. Stay together and use quiet voices as we prayer walk." Walk to the different areas in the room, stopping to ask who or how kids can pray for people or activities in those locations. Suggest actual people or activities (missions, choir programs, etc.) from your church for some locations or use printed prayer suggestions (p. 5). Pray for specific people at each location. Talk about the Bible story. Say the Bible verse (James 5:16). Walk around the room one time, praying for all people. Ask: "Why did the people pray for Peter? (keep him safe) Did God answer the people's prayers? (yes) We can pray for people, too." Pray, thanking God for the opportunity to pray for people. Week of August 25, 2013 Page 5 of 39
Pull It Together Giant Game Floor Mat*, brad, large paper clip, scissors, 4 sheets of construction paper Print "Prayer Mat Game" (CD). Place pictures and construction paper randomly in pockets. Make spinner: push brad through end of paper clip and center of spinner. Open brad on backside of spinner. Worship Through Games Play a Mat Game Say: "God wants us to talk and listen to Him. When we pray, we talk and listen to God. Let's play a game to help us know different places we can pray and people we can pray for each day. I will spin the spinner and tell you where to place your hand or foot." Allow several kids to play at one time. Spin the spinner and assist kids with placing correct arms or feet. Talk about the people or places the kids land on, suggesting how or what kids can pray. Play three rounds then switch players, playing until all kids play. Ask: "Does God hear us when we pray at these places? (yes) Who are some people we can pray for each day? (parents, preacher, missionaries, etc.) This time, I'll spin to identify someone or somewhere. Try to be the first one to find and stand on that picture." Spin and call out person or place. Play several rounds. Ask: "Why did the people pray for Peter? (keep him safe) Did God answer the people's prayers? (yes) We can pray for people, too." Say the Bible verse (James 5:16). Pray. Pull It Together Scissors, markers Print "Pray" (CD) and cut apart. Print 1 strip per child. Worship Through Exploration and Discovery Explore How to Pray Ask: "What does pray mean?" Encourage responses. State: "To pray means 'to talk and listen to God.' We can talk to God anytime, anywhere, and about anything. Let's use the letters of pray to make prayer guides to help us remember what to pray each day." Distribute strips and markers. Lead kids in accordion folding the strips: P over R, A under R, Y to A. This makes two empty ends on the guide for kids to color. Say: "Decorate the front and back covers on your prayer guides." Talk about each letter as kids color. Say: "The first letter of pray is p. Praise also starts with a p. We can praise God. How can we praise God?" Invite responses (thank Him for everything, tell Him how great He is, thank Him for His love, sing about Him, pray to Him, etc.). Continue with the other letters: R (repent or ask forgiveness: sorry for talking ugly, for being mean, saying bad words, hitting, biting, not listening, not obeying parents, etc.); A (ask for others' needs: anyone with sickness, for people on vacation or traveling, missionaries' safety, for people to hear about Jesus, etc.); Y (yourself: help you say the right things, make good choices, tell people about Jesus, etc.). Ask: "Why did the people pray for Peter? (keep him safe) Did God answer the people's prayers? (yes) We can pray for people, too. Use your prayer guide each day as you pray." Pray. Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition Leader Guide 2013 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. OK to copy. Page 6 of 39
Dick Wahl People Prayed for Peter 2005 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in the USA. Acts 12:1-17 Page 7 of 39
12 Disciple Tomb Rock Scroll Fisherman Prison Peter Water Peter (August 25) 1 Page 8 of 39
Saw that Jesus was not in the tomb (Luke 24:12) Was one of Jesus' disciples (Matthew 10:2) Wrote letters to churches to encourage and help people grow closer in their walk with God. (1 Peter, 2 Peter) Peter's name means "rock" (Matthew 16:18) Was put in prison for telling about Jesus. Jesus saw Simon Peter and his brother Andrew fishing and called them to be disciples. (Matthew 4:18) Walked on water to Jesus, but started to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus. (Matthew 14:28-29) Jesus gave Simon the name Peter. (Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14) Peter (August 25) 2 Page 9 of 39
Acts Acts 10 Page 10 of 39
Angel Peter Bible Story Names (August 25) 1 Page 11 of 39
Guard Guard Bible Story Names (August 25) 2 Page 12 of 39
Rhoda Herod Bible Story Names (August 25) 3 Page 13 of 39
Pray for one another. James 5:16 James 5:16 Paraphrase (August 25) Page 14 of 39
Mom Dad Family Members Missionaries Church Staff Mom Dad Family Members Missionaries Church Staff Mom Dad Family Members Missionaries Church Staff Mom Dad Family Members Missionaries Church Staff Prayer Strips (August 25) Page 15 of 39
Church Family 1. Cut along the dotted lines. 2. Fold on the solid lines. 3. Fill with scrap paper. 4. Tape closed. Sick Missionaries Friends Community Prayer Cube (August 25) Page 16 of 39
Church Office Bed Baby Room Choir Room Kitchen Prayer Walk (August 25) 1 Page 17 of 39
Adult Sunday School Classroom Gym Youth/Student Area Children's Area Prayer Walk (August 25) 2 Page 18 of 39
Fellowship Hall Parking Lot Auditorium/Worship Center/Sanctuary Hallways Prayer Walk (August 25) 3 Page 19 of 39
Neighborhood Town/City State Foreign Lands Prayer Walk (August 25) 4 Page 20 of 39
Prayer Suggestions Church Office: pray for the church staff Bed Baby Room: pray for the nursery volunteers and the babies Choir Room: pray for the choir, worship leaders Kitchen: pray for the people who cook meals and/or help with fellowships Adult Sunday School Room: pray for Sunday School teachers Gym: pray for safety as kids play; pray that people will learn about Jesus at church Youth/Student Area: pray that youth will make good choices and follow Jesus Children's Area: pray that children will learn about Jesus Fellowship Hall: pray that people will feel like a close family at the church fellowships Parking Lot: pray that people will be safe as they come to church and go home Auditorium/Worship Center/Sanctuary: pray for the preacher, people playing instruments, people listening to hear God's words Hallways: pray for anyone you pass in the hallway Neighborhood: pray for people living on your street or in apartment complex Town/City: pray for city leaders, people as they drive or walk State: pray for government leaders, missionaries, churches across the state, for people to hear about Jesus Foreign lands: pray for missionaries' safety; pray for people to hear, understand, and choose to follow Jesus Prayer Walk (August 25) 5 Page 21 of 39
School Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 1 Page 22 of 39
Teachers Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 2 Page 23 of 39
Church Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 3 Page 24 of 39
Preacher Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 4 Page 25 of 39
Playground Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 5 Page 26 of 39
Missionaries Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 6 Page 27 of 39
Grocery Store Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 7 Page 28 of 39
Parents Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 8 Page 29 of 39
House Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 9 Page 30 of 39
Friends Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 10 Page 31 of 39
Relatives Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 11 Page 32 of 39
Office Building Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 12 Page 33 of 39
Doctor Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 13 Page 34 of 39
Dentist Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 14 Page 35 of 39
Bedroom Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 15 Page 36 of 39
Car Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 16 Page 37 of 39
Left Foot Left Hand Doctor Office Building Relatives Friends House Parents Dentist Grocery Store Bedroom Car School Teachers Church Missionaries Playground Preacher Left Hand Right Foot Prayer Mat Game (August 25) 17 Page 38 of 39
PPraise say good things about and to God PPraise say good things about and to God RRepent tell God the things you are sorry for thinking or doing RRepent tell God the things you are sorry for thinking or doing AAnother person pray for other people (family members, friends, neighbors, missionaries, people you do not know) AAnother person pray for other people (family members, friends, neighbors, missionaries, people you do not know) YYourself pray for God to guide and help you YYourself pray for God to guide and help you Pray (August 25) Page 39 of 39