The Church Prays For Peter

The Apostle James has been killed by Herod and because there was such a favorable response from the Jews, he imprisoned Peter, who was to face a similar fate…but the church was praying without ceasing for him.  Peter was heavily guarded and secured with chains but an angel of the Lord was sent to rescue him.  As he walked out of the prison with the angel, he thought it was all a dream and it wasn’t until he was outside on the street that he realized he was truly free. He came to the home where the church was meeting and still praying for him and knocked on the door.  He had to knock for quite a while as it was hard for them to believe he was freed and their prayers answered!

This is a fun project but very messy. Have the kids choose light, bright crayons and fill a page with color.  It should be a space about 5 inches by 7 inches.  Make sure they apply heavy pressure. The coloring needs to saturate the page.  Now they will cover the area they have just colored with black crayon and then comes the fun part…..they scratch the design….fingernails work great but you might want to provide something to scratch with…experiment with a paper clip edge….somethings work better than others. The verse is from James 5:16b “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” and I have the kids write the verse on another paper and glue their dynamite page to it.

 

Peter’s Vision

The church was growing in Jerusalem  but there was a new thing God wanted to do.  Since Jews did not associate with non-Jews,  the message  of salvation was not being shared with the Gentiles. This all changed when a God-fearing Roman centurion was visited by an angel and was told to send for Peter in Joppa. While these messengers were on their way, Peter was also having some excitement on the rooftop of where he was staying. A giant sheet was lowered from heaven , full of unclean animals that had never entered his mouth.  A voice told him to kill and eat but Peter answered, “No, Lord!”  This happened three times and then the messengers from Cornelius arrived.  The Holy Spirit told Peter to go with the men who had arrived. He must have been surprised to find out his guests were not Jewish.  He went with them to the home of Cornelius and explained to those gathered that salvation was available to them because of the price that was paid  for their sin by the death and resurrection of the Son of God.  They were encouraged to receive forgiveness of sins by believing this truth and all the Jews there were astonished to discover that the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the newly-converted household.  When certain Jewish Christians first heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God they contended with Peter until he explained to them what had happened, starting with his vision and ending with the gift of the Spirit being poured out on the Romans.If you want your sheet to “pop” you will have to color the sky.  I recommend colored chalk for your “lazy” colorers….if you place 1/2 a piece of chalk on its side, you can apply color in seconds! Color and cut-out animals and glue on sheet and verse. O.T. dietary laws and a list of the unclean animals can be found in Leviticus 11.

Stephen’s Standing Ovation

                                                                                                          

(Have you been doing a weekly review? I hope so.) The church is growing and it’s leaders are experiencing persecution in ever- increasing amounts. Deacons are chosen to help the apostles  so that they can dedicate their time to prayer and ministry of the Word.  Stephen was one of these first deacons, being full of faith and power.  He was falsely accused of speaking blasphemy and dragged before the Jewish council.  “And all that sat in the council… saw his face as it had been the face of an angel”. After giving an account of the history of Israel, Stephen rebukes the unbelief of his accusers. “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and gnashed on him with their teeth.  But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand: and he said ‘ Look!  I see the heavens opened…’ But they raised a great shout and put their hands over their ears and rushed together upon Him.  Then they dragged him out of the city ” and stoned him to death.(Acts 7:54-57)There are 2 worksheets available for this lesson. One of the worksheets has the clouds and  a robe, which you will want to print in white.  Try to use another color for the main page so the clouds and robe “pop”.   Another glitter op.

Peter and John Went to Pray

“Peter and  John went to pray,

Peter and John meet the lame man

they met a lame man on the way,

He held out his hand, and he asked

for alms,

and this is what Peter did say…

“Silver and gold have I none,

but such as I have give I thee,

In the name of Jesus Christ, of

Nazareth, rise up and walk”

He went walking and leaping and praising God…”(words of children’s song)

The new church was growing .  Those saved on the day of Pentecost were  continuing “steadfast in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers…many signs and wonders were done through the apostles…and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2: 42-47  Peter and John were going to the temple to pray when they met a lame man who had been carried daily at the gate of the temple called  Beautiful, to ask alms of all who entered the temple.  Perhaps he was begging there when the Savior was in Jerusalem!  He asked alms of Peter and John but got something much better…”The faith which come through Him (Jesus) has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” Acts 3:16  Peter used this occasion to preach another sermon and many who heard the word believed, in spite of his arrest.

“…the word of God is not chained.” 2 Timothy 2:9

I have designed this lesson to be made into a card….As a Father’s Day Card, you would have the kids write…”Dad, Your love is better than silver or gold “…..Love, child’s name…

Fold your background paper in half.   Peter and John and the lame man go colored and cut out and glued on the cover…your fold will be at the top.  Write verses.  Your healed man goes glued inside.  Make a “Jacob’s ladder” to place under figure so it will jiggle.  Write verses.  Use gold or silver pens on black backgrounds. (see you-tube for instructions on making a jacob’s ladder)  If you choose another color for a background, use any shade of ink.

Peter and John meet the lame man

Pentecost

Waiting for the Promise

About 120 follower’s of Jesus were assembled in Jerusalem waiting for the promise of the Father. The Holy Spirit was given to fill them with the power needed to be His  fearless witnesses  “unto the uttermost part of the earth”, guide them into all truth and bring to remembrance all Christ had taught them.  After being baptized with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached his first sermon and about 3,000 souls were added to the church. (Do you remember when Moses came down with the Law, he had to administer judgement as a result of the people’s idolatry and about 3,000 people perished?)  “…for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6.

Pentecost worksheet

I used a heart-hole punch  to makes the flames by cutting yellow hearts in half.

For an alternate project check out the post on May 21, 2012 ,”God’s Holy Convocations – part one

4/29/2018
My class this year is 2nd and 3rd graders. I added some “fill in the blank” to go with this lesson page … the kids are learning to look up bible verses so it really teaches them about the Holy Spirit. Here are the verses I chose…
*Acts 1:8
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ me to be a witness for Jesus. (Empowers) if it helps, you can write the first letter in the blank!

*John 14:16
He lives in me _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
(forever)

*John 16:13
He guides me into all _ _ _ _ _. (Truth)

*Romans 8:26
He _ _ _ _ _ for me. (Prays)

*John 16:8
He convicts the world of _ _ _. (Sin)

*Romans 8:16
He bears witness with my spirit that I am a _ _ _ _ _ of _ _ _. (Child of God)

If you have time have the kids look up 1st Thess. 5:19 and explain that the Spirit can be quenched which will take some explanation and definitions. I drew a picture of a hose watering a flower and then asked them what happens when the hose gets a kink…. or some electrical appliance that loses its power when the cord gets unplugged… they can write this verse wherever there is room on the paper.

Doubting Thomas

You will need brass brads for the arm.Cut page in half and cut door with e-xacto blade .(or at least start with an initial cut, if you want the kids to cut out the door themselves…there is a dotted line to guide them)  Glue around edges of doors and place over the figures after coloring.Be careful or you will cover the words.  Poke Thomas’ arm with something so you can insert the brad, then poke his shoulder as you will not have the space to use a hole-punch.

Resurrection

“Now after the Sabbath, near dawn of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb.  And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled the boulder back and sat upon it.  His appearance was like lightning and his garments as white as snow.  And those keeping guard were so frightened at the sight of him that they trembled and became like dead men…” Matthew 28:1-4

Resurrection – angel/tomb

You will need a “jacob’s ladder” under the soldier.  For instructions go to you-tube and look up “how to make a jacob’s ladder” uploaded by rostichery.  Make sure the sky is colored or the wings will not show up very well. The kids will need to write out the verse from Romans…have them do it first so there is not a rush at the end of your time with them…it is an important verse! Optional: add a little “dazzle” with glitter.

Gethsemane – The Olive Press

Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus had asked Peter , James and John to watch with him one hour while He prayed to His Father, knowing that  Judas was on his way to the garden with a band of armed men.  Just as olives are crushed under  extreme pressure, our Lord was  beginning to feel exceedingly sad and grieved as His soul experienced the crushing and bruising that the weight of the world’s sins would inflict.  In fact, the amplified version says in Matthew  26:38, that  He felt like He was dying of sorrow and wanted the comfort and fellowship of His closest friends. What a wonderful example for us as we face our Gethsemanes .  We are able, though the scriptures, to be “a stones throw away” from our LORD…hearing His words of submission to his  beloved Poppa’s  will.  Soon He would also suffer brutal torture, and the knowledge that His Father would have to forsake Him as He became “sin for us, who knew no sin.”  Because we all desperately  needed  redemption, Jesus willingly paid the price with His blood , and that is why there is “no other name under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

  Green tissue paper and thinned white glue applied with a brush makes pretty leaves. Optional: Embellish with a favorite flower.  My middle school friend, Alyssa R. drew the hibiscus flowers which were  colored and then cut out and glued down.

Garden of Gethsemane – wkst

Jesus Serves

Jesus has been teaching the disciples for 3 years and  even up to their “last supper”, they are still discussing and contending among themselves who is “the greatest”. Usually the job of the most menial servant, Jesus gives them an example by washing their feet and shares an amazing principle: “Whoever wishes to be great among you, must be your servant”.  In John 13:17, He even adds that the key to happiness is serving others.  Have kids write out ideas for being a servant.  I’ve included several ideas to get them started.  Optional: add hearts.

Watch and Pray

We read the answers to the disciple’s questions , “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age, and when will the temple be destroyed?” in the Olivet Discourse,   recorded for us in Matthew 24-25, Luke 21 and Mark 13.  The disciples had been admiring the magnificent stones of the temple after Jesus had drawn attention to the munificent “two mite” gift of the poor widow.  She had  cast into the temple treasury her whole living, and now Jesus had shocked the disciples by declaring the future of that great edifice.You will need black construction paper for the eyelashes and pupil.  Use “white-out” to make the “sparkle” in the pupil and curl your eyelashes with a pencil.  Your eyeball is just a circle that will fit in the eye shape that you have cut out.   Use colors to match your kid’s eye color.  For the main page you will need a piece of card stock that is not white because you will glue a white piece of card stock for the “white of their eyes” and you want there to be a contrast. Have kids write the verse as shown. “Therefore KEEP WATCH      because you do not know on what day your LORD will come” Matt 24:42. E-mail me if you have questions about how to place the eyelid.Are you ready for the Lord’s return by watching and praying always “that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son Man?” (Luke 21:36)  Don’t be like the scoffers , who walk after their own fleshly desires and say, “Where is the promise of His coming?…Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord does not delay…but is long-suffering toward you, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night…”2 Peter 3

Make a red heart out of construction paper and pleat like a fan.  Glue tops of heart to page , leaving 3/4 inch to glue weights. Cut “weights” out of black paper.  I cut 2 shapes…write types of “weights” with silver gel pens( I used anxieties of life, drugs & alcohol, worry, too much stuff, worldliness) and glue to top of heart.  Write verse as shown “Take Heed… Lest your heart     be weighed   down… glue tip of heart into a twine lasso and write the rest of the verse…”and that day come on you suddenly like a trap!  Luke 21:34.