Paul s Conversion and Ministry

Transcription

1 Pop some popcorn and talk about how the heat source causes the popcorn kernels to change. Eat the popcorn together as you open your Bible to Acts 9 and briefly review Paul s conversion. Talk about how Paul s life was very different. Talk about how God changes Christians from the inside out to be more like His Son, Jesus. Paul s Conversion and Baptism Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-31 Big Picture Question: What happened when Saul heard Jesus? Saul loved Jesus and told others about Him. Christ Connection: Saul had hated Jesus and His followers, but then he met Jesus. Jesus came to earth to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) Jesus changed Saul s life! Saul, also known as Paul, spent the rest of his life telling people the good news about Jesus. Big Picture Question: How did Jesus change Saul s life? Jesus saved Saul from his sins. Christ Connection: Jesus appeared to Saul and changed him inside and out. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) Jesus called Saul, also known as Paul, who was once an enemy to Christians, to spend the rest of his life telling people the gospel and leading them to trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. UNIT 35 Session 1

2 If you have a road map of your state or an electronic map app, mark your city. Mark the farthest city north, south, east, or west of your town. Talk about how long the car ride would be to one of those cities. Briefly review Paul s first missionary journey. Invite your kids to think about ways to tell people in your city about Jesus. Paul s First Journey Acts 13:1 15:35 Big Picture Question: What does a missionary do?a missionary goes and tells people about Jesus. Christ Connection: The Holy Spirit told Paul to tell the world about Jesus. Paul obeyed. Paul told the good news about Jesus to anyone who would listen. We can obey God and tell others about Jesus so they can be saved from their sin. Big Picture Question: What is a missionary? A missionary is someone who obeys God s call to go and tell others the good news about Jesus. Christ Connection: Paul obeyed the Holy Spirit s call to tell the world about Jesus. Many of the Jews rejected Christ, so Paul shared the gospel with the non-jews. Many of them believed in Jesus. God uses people to tell others about Jesus so that people all over the world can be saved from their sin by trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior. UNIT 35 Session 2

3 Hold an impromptu scavenger hunt. Invite family members to search the house for something purple and bring it to the group. Read Acts 16:9-15. Paul told Lydia, a woman who sold purple cloth, about Jesus. Lydia and everyone in her household trusted in Jesus. Think of someone who has not trusted in Jesus as Savior and pray for the opportunity to share the gospel. Paul s Second Journey Acts 15:36 16:40 Big Picture Question: What did Paul and his friends teach as they traveled? Paul and his friends taught about Jesus. Christ Connection: Lydia, the jailer, and many others believed in Jesus and were saved from their sin. We do not have to work to be saved. Jesus did all the work when He died on the cross. We are called to turn from our sin and trust in Jesus. Big Picture Question: What did Paul do as he traveled? Paul started churches in other cities and taught people about Jesus. Christ Connection: Lydia, the jailer, and many others were saved because they believed in Jesus. Jesus offers us salvation as a gift. He did all the work to save us by dying on the cross. We do not need to earn salvation; we can just receive it by repenting and trusting in Jesus. UNIT 35 Session 3

4 Read to your kids Paul s description of the one true God in Acts 17: Invite your family members to think of someone at school or in the community who might believe something different about God, or who might believe that there is no God. Set aside time this week to pray for the opportunity to share with that person the good news about Jesus. Paul Preached in Europe Acts 17:1 18:21 Big Picture Question: Who deserves our worship? Only God deserves our worship. Christ Connection: Paul taught the people in Athens about the one true God. He told them that Jesus died on the cross and is alive! People can know God because Jesus brings us into God s family. Big Picture Question: Who deserves our worship? Only the Lord the one true God deserves our worship. Christ Connection: The men of Athens worshiped a false god. Paul explained to them God s plan of salvation. He said that only God should be worshiped. Paul talked about Jesus and the resurrection. People can know God because Jesus took the punishment for sin that separates people from God. UNIT 35 Session 4

5 Read Acts 21:10-14 to your family. Talk about Paul s willingness to suffer and even die for the good news about Jesus. Talk about some ways Christians in your neighborhood, city, or country face trouble for being disciples of Jesus. Pray for Christians all around the world to be encouraged. Paul s Third Journey Acts 18:18 21:16 Big Picture Question: Did anything stop Paul from telling people about Jesus? No, Paul told about Jesus even when he was in danger. Christ Connection: Paul told so many people about Jesus, and he encouraged people who believed in Jesus to keep loving Him. God changed people s hearts, and they turned away from their sin. The good news about Jesus is powerful. Big Picture Question: What did Paul tell people to do? Paul told people to turn from their sins and trust in Jesus. Christ Connection: Paul shared the gospel with people who didn t know Jesus, and he encouraged believers in the church to keep loving Jesus. God changed the people s hearts, and they turned away from their sin. The good news about Jesus is powerful and lifegiving. UNIT 35 Session 5

6 If weather permits, take a trip with your family to a lake, pond, or creek. Make boats out of leaves and twigs and sail them on the water. Open your Bible to Acts 27 and briefly review Paul s shipwreck. Invite a family member to read Acts 27: Guide kids to write Take courage on sticky notes as a reminder that God helps us carry out His mission. Paul s Ministry to Rome Acts 21:17 28:31 Big Picture Question: Why did Paul go to jail? Paul went to jail for teaching about Jesus. Christ Connection: Paul was punished and became a prisoner because he told people the good news of Jesus. Nothing could stop Paul s work to tell everyone about Jesus. The Holy Spirit helps people share the gospel all over the world so people will know and love Jesus. Big Picture Question: How did God help Paul on his journey? God protected Paul so he could keep telling people about Jesus. Christ Connection: Paul s work to spread the good news of Jesus continued in Rome. No punishment or suffering stopped Paul from telling others about Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives believers power to share the gospel all over the world so people will know and love Jesus. UNIT 35 Session 6