2009 Associational Children s Camp At Falls Creek New Testament Lesson God s Word: Do It! by Dennis E. Dawson Leader s Guide
2009 Associational Children s Camp at Falls Creek New Testament Lesson/Leader s Guide God s Word: Do It! Acts 9:1-22; 2 Timothy 3:14-17 by Dennis E. Dawson God can seem far away sometimes. When there is no one to talk to, problems abound, and life seems overwhelming, God s presence is just the thing we need. God can help us know and remember important things about Jesus through His Word, the Bible. His Word can comfort us when we are sad. The Bible can lead and direct our lives. We need the presence and Word of God to be real in our lives. Over 40 different writers wrote the Bible. Some were kings and leaders. Some were poets and singers. Others were prophets. In the New Testament some were apostles and others were missionaries. The Bible writers were inspired by God. That means that God helped them to know His message. No matter who they were, they wrote what God wanted them to write. Paul was a writer in the New Testament who clearly expressed God s Word. God had transformed Paul from a rabid persecutor of Christians to a radical witness for Christ. Paul traveled and wrote to churches and sometimes to specific friends, like Timothy. He recognized the importance of learning and living the Scriptures (see 2 Tim. 3:14-17). All of us need the Savior. We need God s Word as our Guidebook. It shows how to become a Christian. It is useful for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness which means It shows us what to do and not to do. It equips us for good work. We can assist preteens by teaching them His Word and how to live It. Central Truth: God gives us His Word so that we might come to know Him and live accordingly. Materials Needed: Bibles, pencils, paper, flashlight or candle, trash bag, and enough copies of the New Testament Learner Guide for each camper to have one. (NOTE: Be sure to make copies of the Learner s guide before you come to Associational Children s Camp at Falls Creek.) A Look at the Lesson: I. Keep the Change! (10 minutes) II. From Persecutor to Preacher (15 minutes) III. From Darkness to Light (10 minutes) IV. How Far is the East from the West? (10 minutes) V. Spread the Word! (10 minutes) 2
I. Keep the Change! Saul changed from a persecutor of Christians to a preacher of the Gospel following his unique experience in meeting God. Choose a partner and find the key words from Acts 9:1-22. Use the uncircled letters to complete the sentence underneath the puzzle. (NOTE: ANSWERS ARE IN BOLD FOR TEACHER S GUIDE ONLY) D L T V B L I N D WORDS TO FIND A I L O R D E G H ANANIAS EYES M G S I E V G R A LIGHT VOICE A H G C A N H O N BLIND GROUND S T R E I C A U A LORD PREACH C C H Y A P S N N DAMASCUS HEAVEN U E A E O E L D I DISCIPLES JESUS S R R F Y G O E A PRAYING P P J E S U S D S Saul was changed by T H E G R A C E O F G O D. Say: Grace is God s free, unearned love shown to man in Jesus Christ. Say: God loves you as much as He loved Saul (by the way, his name was soon changed to Paul). Let s look at a story about Paul in the Bible. Be listening for the words you found in the word search. II. From Persecutor to Preacher Form groups of four. Ask one preteen in each group to read Acts 9:1-22 aloud to the rest of the group. Stay in groups. Ask the following questions one at a time. Have the groups discuss the answers: What do you like most about this story? How would you have felt if you were Saul and Jesus came to meet you? What kind of person was Saul in the beginning of our story? In what way was Paul changed after he met Jesus? Why do you think people change once they know Jesus? Say: Saul was so changed by his experience on the road to Damascus that he changed his name from Saul to Paul. He began to live God s way. He began to share Jesus wherever he went. He also wrote down what God wanted him to say. In fact, his writings make up much of what we find in the New Testament. Say: Yes, God really changed Paul s life. And He will change yours, too. 3
III. From Darkness to Light Say: I want everyone to close your eyes. Now walk around the room (no peeking!). Allow preteens to walk for about 1-2 minutes. Then say: Now (without opening your eyes) find your way back to your seat. Ask: How did you feel while you were walking around? Were you afraid? Were you uncomfortable? Ask: Would it have been easier if someone had taken you by the hand and guided you around? Say: Knowing Jesus is like having a friend with a flashlight or a candle in a dark place. When we feel lost or alone and can t see which way to turn, Jesus shines the light of His love on our lives. He shows us which way to go through preachers, teachers and through His Word, the Bible. Knowing Jesus and following His Word can change your life. IV. How Far is the East from the West? (need paper, pencils and a trash bag) Say: In His lifetime, Paul did many things wrong. We all do things that are wrong. This might include disobeying parents or teachers, being mean to brothers or sisters, lying, and so on. Say: Write one of these wrongs on your paper and come put it in this trash bag. Read I John 1:8-9. Say: As I read it again, listen to what it says about our wrongs or sins. Read the passage again. Ask: What do these verses say about the sins we commit? How does being forgiven make us different inside? Tie the trash bag and throw it away. Say: Once we confess our sins to God, He throws them away! (by the way, the Bible also says in Psa. 103:12 that our sins will be removed as far as the east is from the west! How far is that?) Say: Once Paul met Jesus, he was never the same again. Jesus changed him by throwing away (forgiving and forgetting) all the wrongs Paul had ever done. When we ask forgiveness, Jesus comes and changes us, too, by forgiving our sins and giving us a new life to share with Him. Knowing Jesus can change your life. Say: Jesus wants to know you. He wants to forgive you for all your wrongs and give you a new life. Knowing Jesus will most definitely change your life! Say: Perhaps you have already met Jesus through talking with your parents, your relatives, or your friends. Or maybe you will meet and receive Him for the first time this week! Say: Jesus loves to forgive us, and He wants us to know Him. Knowing Jesus can change your life. Then following Him makes life better every day. 4
VII. Spread the Word! (need flashlight or candle) Say: Jesus is the Light that shows us the way (through His Word) to real life now and life with Him forever. He then tells us that we are to be light to the world. That means that we are to share Jesus with others and let others see Jesus in us in the way that we act, speak, react, and so on. He tells us that we are to not only read His Word but also we are to obey (do) His Word so that others can see Christ through us. Would you dare to let your light shine? Get in a circle. Say: We are going to pass around this flashlight as a reminder that we are to share the light of Jesus wherever we go. As we do, listen to some of the words of an older song called Shine by the Newsboys: Shine Make em wonder what you ve got Make em wish they were not On the outside looking bored Shine Let it shine before all men Let em see good works and then Let em glorify the Lord. Pray: Lord, we pray that if there is someone in this room who has not received the Light (Jesus) that they will do so this very week at camp. Help us to be bright lights to our friends so they will want to receive this great gift, too. Amen. 5