Acts Chapter 16 Lesson

Bible Verse Activity:Tell the children to form a circle. Give one child a large ball. Tell them to throw the ball to another child in the circle. When the second child catches the ball, they will say the first word in this week's memory verse-Matthew 5:10. That child will then throw the ball to a third child who will say the first word and add the second word in the verse. This continues until all the words of the verse have been repeated.
Tell the story of Acts 16, starting with verse 16, in your own words. Then follow up with some questions:
*Do you think Paul and Silas were surprised?
*Why do you think they did not run away after the earthquake?
*Paul and Silas were in prison together. What difference does it make in overcoming problems/obstacles by having a trusted partner/friend by your side rather than facing it alone?
*Have you ever encountered a problem because you were telling others about Jesus?
*What can you do when you encounter a problem?
Wall of Obstacles Activity:
Put a sign on a wall that reads "Wall of Obstacles". Have the children write on a sticky note an obstacle or problem they are facing or the name and problem of someone they know who is facing a problem. After they finish, have them post it on the wall.
End by saying something like, "Obstacles can build until a wall is created. It must be broken down before people can accept Christ. But sometimes obstacles can turn into opportunities. That is what happened with Paul in Acts 16".

Acts Chapter 15 Lesson

Activity-Live in Harmony Line
Hang the rope /clothesline across some chairs or room and hide the cards with the Bible verse in various parts of the room. Do not make it too difficult for the children to find. Show the children the rope stretched across the chairs or room. Tell the children that the words to the Bible verse, 1 Peter 3:8, are hidden around the room. Send a few at a time to find one card, and bring it back to the group. Once all the words have been found, have the children hang them in order on the rope using the clothespins/paperclips. Have the children repeat the verse together. Ask two or three children to share a time when they were treated badly. Ask a volunteer to read how the verse says we should live with each other. Share that today they will learn what happens when two christians disagree and how God wants us to act even when we disagree.
Then tell the story of Paul and Barnabas from Acts 15:36-41 in your own words but have the Bible nearby as you tell the story.
Share with the children your experience of disagreeing with a fellow Christian friend and how God helped you handle that. Ask the kids to share any of their own experiences.
Then have kids complete a Christian Anagram with the word C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N, vertical down the left side of the paper and have the children fill in descriptions that begin with each letter of the word CHRISTIAN. For example, next to the letter "C", they could write "Christ-Follower" and for the letter "H", they could write Heart filled with the Spirit, etc.

Good Time for New Habits

This is a good time to start new habits. Teach your children to submit (another word for obey) to your family's rules by giving them a chart to mark their progress and make a habit.

For example: First, give them guidelines. Put toothpaste on the brush. Brush while you hum "Mary had a little lamb" or brush up and down, etc. Put your toothbrush in the holder. Then praise them when they do what they are told. Finally, put a sticker on a chart.

Ask:
What might happen if you don't obey and brush your teeth? What if you just pretended to do it every night? (Eventually, you would get cavities and your teeth would hurt, etc.)

Why is it important to obey Mom and Dad's rules? (They want what is best for me; they want to take care of me, etc.)

Learning to submit to or obey one's parents is the first step to obeying God. Actually, when you obey Mom and Dad you are obeying God.

This idea taken from D6 Family:Splink