I Can Learn From God s Word Scripture Passage: Acts 8:26-35 Lesson Objective and Application.................................. Children will learn that Philip helped the Ethiopian man understand what he was reading from the Bible. They will begin to understand that God gives us many people who help us understand His Word. At the conclusion of this lesson, the children will name one person who helps them learn from God s Word. They will thank God for the people who help them learn from God s Word. Supply Bible List Lesson............ Scripture............. Memory............... Game........ Time........... Bible A game that the children have never played Directions for the game An importantlooking hat for the Ethiopian man A pair of adult athletic shoes Two chairs Bible BASIC GAME Chairs Portable CD player and music Small prize or treat for children ADVANCED GAME Beanbags number will vary according to size of group Box or bucket number will vary (optional: decorate to look like a chariot) Bible Lesson......................................................... Introduction Today, boys and girls, I brought a game to Gopher Buddies. How many of you have ever played this game? Allow time for response. Would someone like The Bible is God s Word Lesson 3 27
to help us learn how to play the game? Try to choose a helper who does not already know the rules to the game. Give the chosen helper the list of directions. All right, here are the directions on how to play this game. Now, can you tell us how to play the game? Allow the helper to respond. Mmmm... it looks like you need some help. Well, it just so happens that I have played this game before. Would it make it easier if I read the directions to you and explain how to play the game? Allow time for response. When we start something new, like playing a game we have never played before, it s sometimes a good thing to have someone beside us to help us understand the directions. Thank the helper and have them sit down. In our Bible lesson this week, there is a man who was having trouble understanding God s Word, the Bible. He needed help! I am going to open my Bible to Acts chapter 8, so we can find out who this man was and who helped him. Let s ask God to help us understand what we read. Thank God for giving us the Bible. Ask Him to help the children be good listeners. Lesson Our story today begins with a very important man. The Bible tells us this man lived in the country of Ethiopia. He was in charge of all the money for the queen of the Ethiopians. This man must have been very smart to do such an important job for the queen. I need someone to pretend to be this important Ethiopian man for our story. Choose a helper. Place an important-looking hat on his head. Let s read Acts 8:28 to find out what this man was doing. Read Acts 8:28. What does this verse say the man was doing? Allow time for response. The Bible says he was on his way home, sitting in his chariot, and reading the Bible. A chariot is a small wagon that is pulled by horses. Have helper sit in a chair that will be his chariot. Give him a Bible opened to Isaiah 53. So, boys and girls, here is our Ethiopian man. He s sitting in his chariot, trying to understand God s message. The Bible also tells us the Ethiopian man was not the only one traveling along the road that day. A man named Philip, who knew God s Word was true, was also there. Read Acts 8:26. I need someone to pretend to be Philip for our story. Choose a helper. Have him put on the pair of athletic shoes. Acts 8:29 says that as Philip was traveling along, God had a message for him. God told Philip to go up to the Ethiopian s chariot. Philip did what God asked him to do. OK, Philip, go up to the chariot! Direct Philip to run in place beside the chariot chair. Wait a minute! What is it that pulls a chariot to make it go? Allow time for response. That s right; horses pull a chariot to make it go. Wow, Philip, you had better really start running so you can keep up with those horses. After a while, the Ethiopian invited Philip to join him in the chariot. Have Philip sit in a chariot chair. Let s read Acts 8:30-31 to see what happened next. Read Acts 8:30-31. Philip asked the man if he understood what he was reading in the Bible. The man told Philip that he needed someone to help him understand what he was reading. Philip explained to the Ethiopian all that he 28 The Bible is God s Word Lesson 3
had read from the Bible. Philip told the man the good news about Jesus. Thank the special helpers and ask them to sit down. Application A few weeks ago, we talked about a story in the Bible where God talked to a boy named Samuel and told him what He wanted him to do. Who can remember how God gave Samuel His special message? Allow time for response. Will we hear God s voice calling our name in the middle of the night? No, God has chosen a different way to share His message with us. How does God share His message with us? Allow time for response. God has given us His message in the Bible. Sometimes, just as you needed me to help you understand the directions to the new game, you may need someone to help you understand what God s Word means. God sent Philip to help the Ethiopian man understand what he was reading in his Bible. There may be times when you are like the Ethiopian man and need someone to help you understand what you are reading in the Bible. Who do you think can help you? Allow time for response. God has given you many people who can help you learn from His Word. Your pastor, Sunday school teachers, Gopher Buddies leaders, moms, dads, and many other people can help you. You can learn more about the Bible by going to church, coming to Gopher Buddies, and doing your quiet time every day. Prayer Time Suggestion............................................ Thank God for giving us people to help us understand His Word, the Bible. Ask God to help us pay careful attention to what we learn from the Bible. Review Questions................................................... Show the children how to make a clip-clop sound of horses moving by slapping their hands alternately on the table. Practice with the children making the clip-clop sound. Tell them you are going to ask them questions about the Bible lesson. When they think they know the answer to the question, they should make the clip-clop horse sound. 1. Who did the Ethiopian man work for? (The queen) 2. What was the man sitting in? (A chariot) 3. What was the man reading in his chariot? (His Bible) 4. Did the man understand what he was reading? (No) 5. How did Philip help the man? (He explained to the man all the things he had read in the Bible.) The Bible is God s Word Lesson 3 29
Snack Time.......................................................... Crunch-n-Munch Critter Snack Serve this favorite horsey snack: baby carrots and apple slices. Add some veggie and fruit dip to make it even more fun. See the Snack Ideas Appendix for ways to pretreat fruit. Discussion Suggestion: During snack time, talk with the children about how the food served can remind them of this week s lesson. The Ethiopian man was riding in a chariot pulled by horses. Maybe the horses ate a snack like this while Philip helped the man understand what he was reading in God s Word. Remind the children that just as Philip helped the man in the lesson understand God s Word, their parents and leaders and others want to help them understand God s Word, too! Horsey Chew and Chomp Before class mix the following favorite horsey treats in a large bowl: mini shredded wheat (hay bales), Cheerios (oats), dried apples (apples), candy corn (corn). Discussion Suggestion: During snack time, talk with the children about how the food served can remind them of this week s lesson. The Ethiopian man was riding in a chariot pulled by horses. Maybe the horses ate a snack like this while Philip helped the man understand what he was reading in God s Word. Remind the children that just as Philip helped the man in the lesson understand God s Word, their parents and leaders and others want to help them understand God s Word, too! Discipleship Time................................................... Use Activity Sheet (The Bible is God s Word Lesson 3) Questions for Further Discussion: 1. What is God s Word? (The Bible) 2. What do you need to do to hear God s message? (Open and read your Bible) 30 The Bible is God s Word Lesson 3
3. What should you do if you don t understand something? (Ask for help) 4. Name someone whom God has given you to help you understand His Word (Answers will vary.) Prayer Time Thank God for the children. Pray that they will learn to love and understand His Word. Suggested sentence prayer Thank you Jesus for giving me to help me understand your Word. Scripture Memory Time............................................. Verse: Luke 11:28b Scripture Explanation: Read the verse aloud from the Bible in the version that the children will be learning. God will bless us when we hear AND obey His Word. There are times when you need someone to help you understand God s Word, so you can obey what it says. God has given you many people who can help you learn and obey His Word. Say the verse including the reference aloud several times. Then ask the children to repeat it with you a few more times. Activity Pop Up Have the children sit in a circle with you. Tell them that you are going to pretend to be popcorn popping. They are special popcorn and only pop on certain words. The first time you say the verse everyone is going to pop on the word hear. The second time you say the verse, have everyone pop on the words hear and Word. Continue adding words as time allows. The Bible is God s Word Lesson 3 31
Game Time........................................................... Musical Chariots Make a circle of chairs. Have one chair less than the number of children. Tell the children these are chariot chairs. Have the children form a circle around the chairs. Begin playing the music. The children should move in a line around the chairs. When the music stops, the children should try to sit on a chair closest to them. The child without a chair leaves the game and one chair is removed. Try to have a small prize or treat to give children when they leave the game. Continue playing until only one child remains. Learning Link: Briefly review with the children that the man in this week s lesson was riding in his chariot when God sent Philip to help him understand the Bible. Tell the children the game can help them remember the lesson. Just like the Ethiopian man, God has given them people who will help them understand His Word. Chariot Shot Have the children line up in one or several lines, depending on the amount of space you have available and the number of children in the group. Have the children take turns tossing beanbags into a chariot (a box or a bucket). Start with the containers fairly close to the children and move them back a bit further with each round. Repeat as time allows. Learning Link: Briefly review with the children that the man in this week s lesson was riding in his chariot when God sent Philip to help the man understand the Bible. Tell the children the game can help them remember the lesson. Remind them that just like the Ethiopian man, God has given them people who will help them understand His Word. 32 The Bible is God s Word Lesson 3