October 30, 2016

NT 44 Saul Meets Jesus

Reference: Acts 8-9

Story Summary: 
     Saul hated Jesus, he hated Christians, and he thought God hated Jesus, too. After Jesus died, Saul went around finding Christians to throw in prison. Saul had men in charge give him letters so he could travel to find Christians and put them in jail. He wanted them put to death.
     On the road, a bright light flashed before Saul. He fell to the ground. Jesus appeared and spoke to Saul. "Why are you opposing me? Now, go into the city. There, you'll be told what to do. The men travelling with Saul had heard the speaking, but hadn't seen anything. Saul, however, was now blind. The men with him had to lead him into the city of Damascus.
     In Damascus, God spoke to a believer named Ananias in a vision. He told him to God to Saul and place his hands on him so that he could see again. Even though he was scared of Saul, Ananias went to Saul. When he placed his hands on Saul, his blindness was God. Ananias then baptized him.
     From that moment, Saul went around and told people the good news about Jesus. The people were amazed. "Didn't he come here to throw us into prison?"

Big Idea and Motions: God can save even the worst sinners.
God - point up
Save - do the baseball “safe” sign
Worst - punch your palm
Sinners - two thumbs down

Verse / Motions: 1 Timothy 1:15, ESV - ...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
Christ Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
World - trace a big circle with your arms
Save - do the baseball “safe” sign
Sinners - two thumbs down
I am - point to yourself with two thumbs
Foremost - hold up 1 finger

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was today’s story about? // Saul
What was Saul doing? // Capturing Christians and throwing them in prison
Who did Saul meet on the road? // Jesus
What did Saul see when Jesus appeared to him? // A bright light from heaven
What did Jesus say to Saul? // Why are you hurting me and the people who believe in me?
What happened to Saul’s eyes after he met Jesus? // He was blind for three days
What was the name of the believer God appeared to in a vision in Damascus? // Ananias
How did Ananias feel about Saul and why? // He was afraid because Saul was putting Christians in jail
What happened to Saul’s eyes after Ananias visited him? // He could see
After Saul could see again, what did he do? // Believed in Jesus and was baptized

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/QIWTTE
Resources - https://goo.gl/ZObwRG

October 23, 2016

NT 43 Philip and the Ethiopian

Reference: Acts 8

Story Summary: 
     Philip was one of Jesus' disciples. An angel appeared to him and told him, "God south to the desert road." So Philip did what the angel told him to do. On his way, he saw someone sitting in his chariot.
     The man was important. He was in charge of all the wealth of the queen of Ethiopia. As he sat there, he was reading from the Book of Isaiah, the prophet. The Holy Spirit told Philip to go over to the chariot.
     Philip asked the Ethiopian if he understood what he was reading. The Ethiopian said that he didn't and needed someone to explain it to him. The part he was reading talked about a special person. This special person was led away to be killed, like a sheep is led away to be sacrificed at the temple.
     Philip explained that this was talking about Jesus. Then, he told the good news about Jesus to the Ethiopian. The Ethiopian believed the good news. As they passed by water, the Ethiopian asked, "Here's water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" So Philip baptized him. As the Ethiopian came up out of the water, God suddenly took Philip away from him to another place.

Big Idea and Motions: Believe the good news and be baptized.
Believe - Believe - pretend to grab a rope in front of you like it’s a rescue line*
Good news - two thumbs up
Baptized - pretend to baptize someone down, then up again
*This is the ASL sign for faith/trust. Follow this link to watch a video: http://goo.gl/4cHz3

Verse / Motions: Acts 16:31, ESV - And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
They said - make your hand talk like a puppet
Believe - pretend to grasp a rope in front of you with two hands
Lord Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
You - point to another person
Saved - do the baseball “safe” sign
Household - form a roof over your head with your arms

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What did the angel tell Philip to do? // Go down the desert road.
Who did Philip see on the road? // An important Ethiopian who worked for the queen
What was the Ethiopian riding in? // A chariot
What was he reading? // The book of Isaiah from the Bible
What did the Holy Spirit tell Philip to do? // Go over to the chariot
Did the Ethiopian understand the part of the Bible he was reading? // No
Who was the special man the book of Isaiah was talking about? // Jesus
What did Philip tell the Ethiopian about? // The good news about Jesus
What did the Ethiopian do when we saw water? // Ask to be baptized
What happened after Philip baptized the Ethiopian? // The Holy Spirit took him away.

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/0529r2
Resources - https://goo.gl/BXHPaG

October 16, 2016

NT 42 Peter Heals a Beggar

Reference: Acts 3

Story Summary: 
     Jesus' disciples, Peter and John, were going to the temple. On the way, they passed a man who had never been able to walk. Each day, people carried him to the gates. He would beg from the people going into the temple courtyards.
     The beggar asked Peter and John for money. Peter said, "I don't have silver and gold, but I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus, get up and walk." At once, God made the beggar's legs strong. He got up, then walked and jumped and praised God.
     All the people saw the beggar jumping and praising God. They were amazed, saying, "Isn't that the man who used to beg for money, whose legs didn't work?"
     Peter told the crowd of people that it was God who healed the beggar's legs. But he also told them about Jesus, how he died for all of our sins and rose from the dead. Peter told the crowd that, if they turned from their sins and believed the good news about Jesus, God would wipe away all of their sins. After hearing the good news, many people believed that day, bringing the number of believers to about 5000.

Big Idea and Motions: Tell others the good news about Jesus.
Tell others - make your hand talk like a puppet
Good news - two thumbs up
Jesus - form a cross with your arms

Verse and Motions: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, ESV - Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day...
Christ died  - cross your forearms in an “X’ over your chest
Sins - two thumbs down
Scriptures - pretend to open a book
Buried - pretend to dig with a shovel
Rose - gesture upward with both palms
Third - hold up three fingers

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What were the names of the two disciples in today’s story? // Peter and John
Who did Peter and John meet as they walked? // A beggar who couldn’t walk
How long had the beggar’s legs not worked? // Since he was born
Why did the beggar have to beg for money? // He couldn’t work
What did Peter say to the beggar? // In Jesus’ name, get up and walk
What happened after Peter talked to the beggar? Who did it? // He could walk because Jesus healed him
What did the Beggar do after he could walk to celebrate? // Ran and jumped around, praised God
How did the people who saw this happen feel? // Amazed
What did Peter say to the crowd? // He told them about Jesus
What did many people in the crowd do after Peter told them about Jesus? // They believed and were saved

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/J4nMhl
Resources - https://goo.gl/M3V8J7

October 9, 2016

NT 41 The Holy Spirit Comes

Reference: Acts 2

Story Summary: 
     Before he left for heaven, Jesus told his disciples that he would sent his Friend to them. That friend was the Holy Spirit, and he would teach the disciples and help them remember all the things Jesus said to them.
     Later, when all the disciples were gathered together, a sound of a great wind filled the house. Something like tongues of fire separated and settled on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
     The Holy Spirit suddenly gave the disciples the ability to speak languages they had never known before. A crowd of people from many different countries came around them when they heard this sound. The crowd was confused because the disciples were speaking in their languages. Some of them even made fun of the disciples, saying they were drunk on too much wine.
     But Peter stood up and spoke to them. He told them the good news about Jesus dying for our sins and rising from the dead. He told the people to repent and be baptized in Jesus' name and they would be saved and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. About 3000 people believe in Jesus that day.

Big Idea and Motions: The Holy Spirit helps us obey Jesus.
Holy Spirit - bow down in worship
Helps - reach down with your hands and pretend to help someone up
Obey - make a large “O” with your arms above your head
Jesus - make a cross with your forearms

Verse / Motions: John 14:16, ESV - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…
I - point to yourself
Father - point up
Give - pretend to hand a present to another person
Helper - reach your arms down and pretend to pull someone up
With you - hug yourself
Forever - trace an ∞ in the air with your finger

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who did Jesus say he’d send to the disciples? // The Holy Spirit.
What words did Jesus use to describe the Holy Spirit? // They begin with H and F. (Helper, Friend
What would the Holy Spirit help them remember? // Everything Jesus told them
What sound did the disciples hear in their house? // A strong wind
What appeared to rest on all the disciples? // Tongues of fire
Who went inside the disciples then? // The Holy Spirit
What special thing did the Holy Spirit give the disciples the power to do? // Speak new languages
What did some crowd members think the disciples did? // Drink too much wine
What did Peter tell the crowd about? // Jesus dying and rising again for our sins
How many people believed the good news that day? // About 3000

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/v49x60
Resources - https://goo.gl/XD212C

October 2, 2016

NT 40 The Great Commission and the Ascension

Reference: Matthew 28, Luke 24

Story Summary: 
     After he rose from the dead, Jesus appeared to his disciples for 40 days. After 40 days, he left earth to return to heaven. But before he did so, he gathered the 11 disciples together on a mountain.
     Jesus told them that God had give him all authority. For his very last words to them, Jesus gave them an important command. He wanted them to make new disciples, to baptize those new disciples, and to teach them to obey all the things he said to them. People who study the Bible have called this command "The Great Commission."
     After that, Jesus rose up into the sky, all the way to heaven. People who study the Bible also gave this even a special name: the Ascension.
     As the disciples were still looking up, two angels from heaven appeared. They said that Jesus would one day return to earth in the same way in which he left.
     Jesus' disciples obeyed the Great Commission. They shared the good news about Jesus dying and rising again for our sins. People believed them and became new disciples. They baptized those new disciples and taught them to obey Jesus.

Big Idea and Motions: Jesus wants us to make and baptize and teach disciples.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Make - pretend to mold clay/play dough with your hands
Baptize - pretend to baptize someone
Teach - wag your finger while pretending to hold a book with the other hand
Disciples - Hold up the index finger on both hands. Bounce them to the side, as if they’re walking, with one following the other *
* This is the ASL Sign for “Disciple.”

Verse / Motions: Matthew 28:19-20, ESV - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...
Make disciples - pretend to mold something out of clay/play dough
All nations - gesture your arms in a wide circle
Baptizing - pretend to bend someone back and baptize them
Father, Son, Holy Spirit - count on your fingers as you say the three names
Teaching them - wag your finger like you’re teaching someone
All that I have commanded - pretend to open a Bible (where Jesus’ commands are)

Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
How many days did Jesus appear to people after he rose? // 40 days
Where did Jesus take his disciples at the beginning of our story? // On a mountain
What does authority mean and how much did Jesus have? // Being in charge, Jesus had all authority
What is the name of the special mission Jesus gave his disciples? // Great Commission
What did Jesus want them to make in the Great Commission? // New disciples
What is a disciple? // They believe the good news and follow Jesus
What two things were they to do with the new disciples? // Baptize and teach them
How did Jesus leave earth? // He ascended into heaven
What did the two angels tell the disciples? // Jesus will come back in the same way
How can you make a new disciple? // Tell them the good news, pray that God will help them believe

Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/zSbIPN
Resources - https://goo.gl/TUUYKN