Purpose: To teach the importance of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit Bible Lesson and Text : Acts 1 and 2 Focus : To stir up the children who are Baptized in the Holy Spirit and to teach and stir faith in those who need to be filled, thus releasing the class to a new level. Scripture : Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NIV) Lie Buster: I am a Witness for Christ I am a Power House Teaching Styles: Visuals with object lessons added to the Bible lesson.
Object Lesson #1: My Fan Doesn t Work Teaching Point: We can do lots of things but still not have the full effect that God wants us to have. We need His Holy Spirit power in order to work at 100% effectiveness. Props: Electric fan that is not plugged in. (Don t show the kids that it isn t plugged in.) Object Lesson in Action: 1. Show the fan to the children. Ask the class what it s supposed to do. Explain that when the fan is doing what it is supposed to do, the people in the room receive the full benefits from it doing it s job--they feel the breeze of the fan moving the air. 2. Turn the fan on (still unplugged). Something is wrong with this. Keep turning the switch to the on position. It s not doing what it was created to do. Ask the class, What could be wrong? and hear their answers. 3. Teaching: This fan can represent us. We can only see and hear the work of the Holy Spirit in us when we are plugged in. Where does the power come from? The power source! Our power source is God. Can we see the wind from the fan? No! Can we see the effects of the wind if it is blowing on someone? We can t see the Holy Spirit, but when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we can see His power demonstrated. 4. Optional addition: tie ribbons or streamers to the fan casing. When the fan is turned on, you can t see the wind but you can see its effects by the movement of the ribbons. 5. Would God want us to be His child and not have every thing He gave us? No! He gave us a great promise when we receive the Holy Spirit Baptism. That promise is POWER! (Acts 1:8)
Object Lesson #2: The Gift Teaching Point: A promised gift is always delivered. A gift is received. Then we use the gift to bring honor and to please the Giver, God. Props: One item that is broken, old, dirty, etc. wrapped in pretty paper. One nice gift that a child would really want, wrapped in pretty paper. (Candy or money always work.) Object Lesson in Action: Note: This is a two-part lesson. You can shorten it by only focusing on part two. Part One: The Bad Gift 1. Select a child to open the bad gift. 2. Ask the class, Who would want a gift like this? Sometimes we get disappointed when we don t receive what we thought we would get. But God is not like that. He doesn t disappoint! 3. God can only give good gifts. He made a promise to send us His Holy Spirit. God keeps His promises. He gives us more than we can think or imagine. His gift is awesome! 4. The Holy Spirit is a good gift that each of us can have. Part Two: The Good Gift 1. For a small class you could wrap a gift for each child to open. For a large class have one gift and choose a child to open it. 2. Teacher asks, Who wants a gift? Get them excited!! Select a child. (Or give each child a gift.) 3. Do you think this will be a good gift? Pass out gifts or have the selected child open it. This gift represents the promise of God to send His Holy Spirit. 4. This is a good gift. Ask, Was it hard to get the gift? 5. What was needed to receive this gift: A. Faith that there was something worth opening. (Remember the bad gift.) B. Physically receiving it.
C. Opening it. D. Using the gift in the box is the proof that the gift was received and valued. 6. The gift of the Holy Spirit is received in the same way we received Jesus in our heart. 7. Points to cover to prepare to lead in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. A. When you asked Jesus to come into your heart, did He? Yes! B. Did it take a long time to get Jesus in your heart? No! C. Are you sure Jesus came when you asked? Yes! D. Would you want to give Jesus back and not have Him in your heart? No! E. Jesus is a good gift! F. The Gift of the Holy Spirit is very valuable. He is a good gift. G. We receive Holy Spirit the same way we received Jesus: by faith and with a thankful heart. 8. The gift of the Holy Spirit includes a new language (speaking, singing, praying in tongues.) We have to choose to use all of the gift of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Just like we pray for sick people and they are healed or go out to tell someone about Jesus so that they can be saved, we want all of the Holy Spirit to be active in our life.
Object Lesson #3: Flowing Over Teaching Point: The idea of this is to show how an ordinary glass of water just sits there. With Holy Spirit power, it bubbles over! Props: A container of baking soda with a picture of Jesus on it. A bottle of white vinegar with Holy Spirit written on it. A clear glass filled with water. A flat pan to catch water. Little plastic play people to represent those God brings around us as we go forth with the power of the Holy Spirit. Note: Practice at home to make sure there is enough baking soda in your glass of water so when the white vinegar is poured into the water, it bubbles over. Object Lesson in Action: 1. Place the glass of water inside the large baking dish. Place some small play people inside the dish around the glass. 2. Here is a glass of plain water. This glass of water heard about Jesus. It wants to have Jesus live in it. 3. Ask: How does Jesus get into our hearts? We ask and believe and He comes! 4. This box with the picture of Jesus is an example of how Jesus came to live inside of us. Watch! (Put some of the baking soda into the glass of water and stir it up.) Wow! This water is changed! Just like we were changed when Jesus came into us. It is not plain water anymore but Jesus lives inside of us. 5. Jesus promised another helper for those who belong to Him--The Holy Spirit. 6. We want everything Jesus promised. Ask, Who wants everything Jesus has promised? 7. Look what the Holy Spirit does when He comes and fills us. 8. Pour some white vinegar (labeled Holy Spirit) into the glass. Wow! Watch the children get excited! 9. With the Holy Spirit we aren t just changed, we re overflowing. We are filled! We can have more! The overflow also touches the people around us!
Concluding Point: That is just like when we are Baptized in the Holy Spirit. Those around us notice the change. We are a powerful witness who brings the good news of the gospel of Jesus to others. Once we are filled with the Holy Spirit, God s life and Word bubbles out all over the place. Anyone close to us gets wet. The springs of life flow from us. Look how we get to pray and touch their lives.
Object Lesson #4: Mega Muscles Teaching Point: We have mega muscles with the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not our natural strength or giftings that will do God things of the Spirit. Only the Spirit will produce Spirit results, both in us and for others. Props: Have two identical bags--one that is heavy (can fill it with rocks or books) and one that is light (filled with crumpled newspaper, socks, or cotton). Keep the light bag hidden. A child or helper who has already received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Object Lesson in Action: 1. Get a child or helper to volunteer. In a classroom setting, choose a person that you know is already baptized in the Holy Spirit. Give them the heavy bag. Have them walk around, lift it up, hold it out, etc. As they lift the bag, the teacher is talking about how strong the child/helper is and then about how strong and powerful the Holy Spirit is. Continue until the child/helper shows fatigue. 2. Have a helper remove the heavy bag and put it back where the light bag is hidden. 3. The teacher says: I know what you need, POWER! Ask the child/helper if they want the power of the Holy Spirit? They respond, Yes! 4. For demonstration s sake, lead the person through the steps to receive the Holy Spirit until there is evidence through speaking in tongues. 5. Have a helper give the light bag to the child/helper. Now when they pick up the bag, WOW! What a difference receiving power makes! 6. It is not our own strength or muscles that make us powerful over the enemy, but the Holy Spirit s power within us! It is like having megga Spirit muscles that make what used to be hard and heavy a whole lot lighter! Concluding Point: This is what it is like when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit. We have spiritual power to do things we could not before. Our physical muscles may have strength in time of a need, but this power is for our walk with God to be strong and we are empowered for kingdom dominion.
Object Lesson #5: The Holy Spirit blows me up and sends me out. Teaching Point: It was the breath of God that breathed into Adam and gave him life and made him a living soul. Even as Jesus lives in our heart, He wants to fill every tiny part of us with His Holy Spirit power to overflowing. As the Spirit fills us, He increases in us. It is not us anymore but the Spirit of God in us that is all powerful, thus bringing forth the power of the Gospel of Christ with signs, wonders, and salvation. Props: Four balloons (extras in case one breaks) An oversized shirt with Holy Spirit Power written on it. A helper Object Lesson in Action: 1. When we are born again we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit. We become new creations. The Bible tells us that the old has gone and the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17) 2. This balloon will represent the Holy Spirit. A. I get ALL of the Holy Spirit, not just a piece of him. Cut a piece of the balloon off. B. Would a piece of a balloon be a good gift? (God doesn t divide up His Spirit.) C. We have the whole Holy Spirit, as promised by the Father. 3. Hold up a different balloon (not inflated). Say, I have the Holy Spirit. He now lives in my heart. 4. Put the balloon under your shirt. Ask, Can you see it? Can you see the Holy Spirit in my heart? No. 5. Ask, What would cause you to see that I had a balloon under my shirt? Wait for replies. (The correct answer: If the balloon were FILLED WITH AIR. 6. What causes us to be filled with the Holy Spirit? The baptism of the Holy Spirit. 7. Can this balloon blow up itself? No. We ask to be baptized and God does it. 8. Have your helper blow up a balloon and try to put it under someone's shirt. It won t fit now! We need a new, bigger shirt. We are changed by the Holy Spirit. Inward filling shows outward change. 9. Helper puts on the oversized shirt. Now you can put the inflated balloon under the shirt.
10. We don t really get bigger clothes, but inside, our spirit man does get filled. We become empowered which causes things in us to start to change so that more of God can rule in our lives. 11. Have your helper blow us another balloon. Explain that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit s power, we just have to share with others; we want to share all the great things that God has done in us, for us and for those around us. Let go of the blown up balloon so it flies around the room. 12. A balloon without the air in it doesn t go anywhere. With air it flies! The same happens with us. Filled with the Holy Spirit, we go places with God.
Object Lesson #6: Light My Fire Teaching Point: When we are born again, Jesus becomes the light of our life. When we receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, our flame is powerful. Props: A taper candle in a candle holder Matches or lighter An aerosol can of hairspray covered with aluminum foil Object Lesson in Action: 1. Show the candle unlit. Without Jesus we are cold, in darkness, and have no way to be what God made us to be. No way to fulfill our destiny. 2. This candle has a purpose. What is it made for? (To give light) 3. What does it need to burn? (A match or lighter to light it.) 4. What do we need in order to live for the purpose we were created? (Jesus) 5. Light the candle. Explain how salvation is like a lit candle. A. We are changed from death to life. No more are we like this unlit candle, but now we have a purpose, to shine the light of Jesus. 6. There is even more that God wants us to have. He wants us to have His POWER: The Holy Spirit baptism. 7. What happens if I blow on the candle? It goes out. 8. That is what the devil wants to do to us. 9. Hold up the can of (Holy Spirit) hair spray. God has given us a way to fight back when the devil wants to stop our light or the life God gave us. He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit. 10. NOTE: Be sure to keep the candle far from the children for this. 11. Spray the hairspray one quick time on the flame. Wow! That was powerful. 12. That is what the power of God in us can do when we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Object Lesson #7: Full or Empty Teaching Point: Water baptism s immediate evidence is that we come up from the water all wet--just like Jesus did. The baptism of the Holy Spirit has immediate evidence also--speaking in tongues. Whether or not a child immediately chooses to speak in tongues, assure them that when they prayed, they received. The tongues are already in them. It is just a matter of faith to release them. Other changes come as they grow in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Props: A clear drinking glass A bowl deep enough for the glass to be submerged in water. A large pitcher with water in it. (Can also have a small doll that will fit in the water bowl. This doll would demonstrate how water baptism is immediately seen; it is all wet.) Object Lesson in Action: 1. Tell the class how Jesus obeyed God and was baptized in water. 2. All the people know when a believer gets baptized in water. What is the evidence? They are all wet! 3. Baptism means to immerse or put under water. 4. Here is a glass. This represents us. To receive something into this glass, which way does it need to be positioned or turned? Upright! 5. That is how we also must receive everything from God. 6. God said that He will pour out His Spirit from on high. Hold up the pitcher of water, which represents God. 7. Turn the glass upside-down over the bowl and pour some water on it. What happened? Did the glass get filled? No. 8. God is pouring out His Spirit. He told us to be filled with His Spirit and that He would baptize us. Do we want that? Ye! 9. Place empty glass inside the bowl right side up. Is this glass able to receive now? Yes. It is open and in the right position. 10. Start to pour water into the glass. It is being filled. Keep pouring. Now it is overflowing. Keep pouring. Now it is baptized fully.
11. What do you see more of? The glass or the water? Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to show us and the world the Lord Jesus Christ. More of God, and less of us.
Object Lesson #8: My Tongue is Stuck Teaching Point: As Christians we want to obey, RIGHT? What are some of the things we do to obey? Everything we do to obey God requires us to do something. Most often a part of our body is needed. God doesn t move our hand or foot, take our money, make a phone call, visit a sick friend, clean the church, etc. We do it through faith. Praying in the spirit requires us to speak. Our tongue and vocal cords need to do the speaking. God never requires us to do something we are not able to do. We can all pray in tongues. If we can talk, we can talk in tongues. It is even easier because we don t have to learn the language. Object Lesson in Action: 1. The Bible says that when we ask we shall have. When we ask for the evidence of the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongues, we shall receive! 2. For each activity, ask a child or helper to do it, but they may not use their body to do it. Can they do the thing asked of them? They should make this funny by trying to get the activity done without using their body, but they always fail. A. Give a high five B. Comb your hair C. Say your Bible verse D. Put on your jacket E. Tie your shoe F. Tell me your name G. Shake my hand H. Sing: Happy Birthday 3. Ask them, Are you thinking about doing this? Do you want to do what was asked? Is thinking or wanting to do something going to get it done? What else must you do? Take action by moving a part of your body. 4. When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, there is an action or response for us to do. God gives us a new language to speak as a response to His filling us with His power. 5. Lead those who want it through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Have them ask Holy Spirit to fill them up and show them the evidence of His power in their lives. Have each one
begin to move their tongue and mouth and ask Holy Spirit to fill their mouths. Encourage them as they are filled! Activation: Make it fun. There are a lot of gifts and functions of the Holy Spirit. We are going to focus on one right now because it is one we can do right here and it is for everyone. This is easier than anything you have ever tried! There are no wrong words. All the words are exactly right. And the best thing is, it is so much FUN! 1. Sing in the Spirit. A. Sing a song of the spirit, a new song. B. Sing a familiar song in tongues, such as: Happy Birthday 2. Have only boys and then only girls pray. 3. Pray very softly in a whisper and then turn up the volume. 4. Stop and start the praying in the Spirit to show that we have the ability to pray by our will. 5. Get a specific prayer need and pray in the Spirit together, releasing faith for that need. 6. Who knows what a mystery is? How many of you like a mystery? How many like to figure out the mystery? The Holy Spirit knows all the mysteries and wants to speak them out through us. 7. In us God has mysteries that He wants us to release in the earth. When we pray in tongues, we are releasing the hidden or secret things of God and His plans in the earth. We can all release them by speaking the mysteries; speaking in tongues.
TEACHER NOTES Recommended Reading: Isaiah chapter 61. Fill yourself with this to stir vision for the fulness of God s Spirit in the earth today and through the children. 1. GOD S PLAN FOR ALL MANKIND IS TO HAVE HIS SPIRIT POURED OUT ON THEM. Joel 2:28-29, "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. (NKJ) 2. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US FLOWS RIVERS OF LIFE OUT OF US TO THOSE WHO WILL RECEIVE. John 7:38-39, He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (KJV) 3. THE FATHER S GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FOR ALL HIS CHILDREN. Luke 11:11-13, If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (KJV) Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-- for all whom the Lord our God will call." (NIV) 4. THE FATHER HAS PROMISED TO EMPOWER US WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. Luke 24:49, I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (NIV)
5. THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FOR THE DEMONSTRATION OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND TESTIFYING OF JESUS CHRIST Acts 1:4-8, And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (NKJ, bold added) A. Power is a word that is forceful. It includes miraculous power for the supernatural, along with an ability or grace to demonstrate the strength, righteous violence against darkness and an abundance of the life of God in us. B. The word witness comes from the Greek word for martyr. It also indicates one who records what is seen, thus a witness. C. Another definition of martyr besides physically dying for the cause of Christ, is to sacrifice something of great value. We may not physically die but the most valuable things in our life and relationships with people may be sacrificed for kingdom advancement. 6. SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND DEMONSTRATIVE PRAISE OF GOD IS EVIDENT IN THOSE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. Acts 10:44-46, While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. (NKJ) Acts 2:4, And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (NKJ)
7. THE EARLY CHURCH IS EXPANDED BY MEN FILLED WITH FAITH AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. Acts 6:5, And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost... (KJV) Acts 6:8-10, And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. (KJV) Acts 7:55-60, But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (KJV) 8. THE CHURCH TODAY CONTINUES IN THE POWER AND FAITH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BY PRAYING IN TONGUES. Jude 1:20, But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost... (KJV) 9. PRAYING PERFECT PRAYERS IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT Romans 8:26-27, In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (NIV)
10. SPEAKING IN TONGUES BUILDS UP OUR SPIRIT MAN, MAKES US STRONG, ENCOURAGES AND KEEPS US STIRRED UP. 1 Corinthians 14:4, He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. (NKJ, bold added) Matthew 5:6, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. (NKJ) 11. WHO THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO US A. He is the Spirit of truth. B. He guides into all truth. C. He brings to our remembrance the words of Jesus. D. He shows things to come. E. He glorifies Christ. F. He speaks not of Himself but of Christ. G. He bears witness to Christ. H. He gives us power to do greater works than those of Christ. I. He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. J. He is our Comforter. K. He abides with each believer forever. L. He is the Spirit of adoption. M. He bears witness with our spirit of our relationship to our Father. N. He shows us how to pray. 12. SCRIPTURES 1 Corinthians 14:2, For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. (KJV) 1 Corinthians 2:7, But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. (KJV) 1 Corinthians 2:10, But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (KJV)
TRUTH STATEMENTS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR CHILDREN TO REPEAT The holy Spirit A. Comforts me B. Teaches me C. Gives me power D. Gives me God s Gifts E. Brings God s fruit to maturity in me F. Keeps me free from sin G. Helps me pray H. Helps me praise and worship God I. Draws me to God J. Seals me K. Leads me in truth L. Is springs of life in me M. Speaks to me N. Is Wisdom to me O. Brings revelation to me P. Is life in me Q. Is the deposit of my inheritance R. Agrees with the Word in me S. Is joy in me T. Covers and protects me
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT STUDY SHEET NAME: 1. How do we get the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? ( Circle the right answers) A. By going to church B. By Faith C. By promising God to be good D. By asking Our Father in heaven 2. What is a physical proof that one has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit? ( Circle the right answer) A. We fall down and shake B. We speak in a new tongue C. We get warm and have goose bumps D. There is no physical proof, you just have to hope you got it E. Your tongue gets real big F. God forces my tongue to move 3. MEMORY VERSE: Fill in the blanks and say it out loud three times. Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive when the Holy Spirit has come ; and you shall be to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (NIV) 4. If you pray in tongues circle the days you prayed: M T W T F Sat Sun 5. How do you believe Jesus wants you to be a WITNESS for Him?