Lesson 1: The apostles’ mission.
Passage: Luke and Acts - This week’s lesson is about how the story of Jesus continues from the Gospel of Luke into the Book of Acts. Luke tells us about Jesus’ life, his teachings, and the amazing things he did — right up to his death, resurrection, and return to heaven. But before Jesus went back to the Father, he gave his followers a special mission: to be his witnesses throughout the whole world, spreading the good news of God’s love and forgiveness that is available to all. The Book of Acts picks up the story, showing how the apostles carried out that mission and how the church began to grow.
Big Idea: Sent to share the good news.
For Teachers:
Lesson plan.
-
Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class.
Warm Up Activity: Worship Action Song — Activity Leader
Kids can sing and dance along to the song “When I Look” from KidSpring Children’s Ministry on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iW9MN7vMpQ
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we are starting something brand new. For Easter, we learned about how Jesus died and rose again, and now we are learning about how he gave his followers an important mission to tell the world about God’s love for everyone.
Let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
What was the special job that Jesus gave his followers before he left?
What good news did he want them to share?
Do you think Jesus wants us to share his love with others too?
What are some ways we can do that through our words and actions?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
Dear Jesus, thank you that we are your followers, that you love us, and that you’ve given us a special job to share your love with everyone we can. Please help us to do this through our words and actions every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activity: Gifts of the Spirit Craft — Activity Leader
Kids will glue and colour the Holy Spirit dove.
If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
-
Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class.
Warm Up Activity: Copycat Pat — Activity Leader
Kids will sit in rows and the leader will stand at the front. The leader will say “Copycat pat, pat your…” and will touch their face somewhere different than what they say. (Example: they will say “Copycat pat, pat your chin” but will touch their forehead).
All the kids have to try to copy what they say but not what they do. If someone messes up, they go to the end of the line. If the leader messes up, they go to the end and the person at the front of the line becomes the new leader.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVI1timBfgE — you can show this video to explain the rules (“5 Minute Family Game: Copycat Pat”).Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we are starting a brand new series. For Easter, we learned about how Jesus died and rose again, and now we are learning about how he gave his followers an important mission.
Let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
What was the important mission that Jesus gave his followers before he left?
What was the good news that he wanted them to share?
What did Jesus promise to give them to help with their mission?
Do you know what a witness is? What are some ways that we can be witnesses of Jesus to the world?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
Dear Jesus, thank you that we are your followers, that you love us, and that you’ve given us an important mission to be your witnesses in the world. Please help us to share the good news of God’s love and forgiveness for all through our words and actions every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activity: Gifts of the Spirit Craft — Activity Leader
Kids will glue and colour the Holy Spirit dove, and attach “gifts of the spirit” to the dove with ribbon.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
-
Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class.
Warm Up Activity: Action Copy Circle — Activity Leader
Kids will stand in a circle while one person leaves the room. Select one kid to be the leader who will guide the group through different actions, changing it up every so often. The kid who left the room will return and try to figure out who the leader is. They will be given three chances to guess, and then the leader becomes the next guesser.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we are starting a brand new series. We just finished our Easter Series where we learned about how Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Now, we are continuing that story and finding out what Jesus’ followers did next. Let’s start by reading our passage for today.
Read: Acts 1:1-8.
Now let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Who is believed to be the author of the Book of Acts? What was the book that he wrote first, which was like Part 1 of the story?
When Jesus appeared to his followers after his resurrection, what was the mission that he gave them?
What was the kind of “superpower” that Jesus gave his followers to help them with their mission?
What are some ways that we, as Jesus’ followers today, can carry on the mission of the first apostles?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
Dear Jesus, thank you the lesson we learned today about how Jesus left his followers with an important mission, to be his witnesses to the world by spreading the good news of God’s love and forgiveness through Jesus. Thank you that we are also part of this mission and that we have the Holy Spirit to help us. Please show us ways that we can share the good news of your love with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activity: Gifts of the Spirit Craft — Activity Leader
Kids will cut out dove template, glue it together, and colour it. They will then attach the “gifts of the Spirit” with ribbon.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
For Parents:
Follow-up questions.
-
What was the story you learned about in class today?
What was the special job Jesus gave his friends?
What did Jesus promise to give them to help them with this job?
What are some ways that we can share the good news of Jesus’ love with others?
-
What was the story you learned about in class today?
What was the important mission that Jesus gave his followers before he left the earth?
What was the “superpower” that Jesus gave them to help with their mission?
Do we have the same mission and superpower today? How can we share Jesus’ message of God’s love with others through our words and actions?
-
What was the story you learned about in class today?
Who was it that wrote the Book of Acts in the Bible? What was the other book that he wrote as Part 1 of the story?
What was the mission that Jesus left his followers?
What was the “superpower” that he gave them to help with this mission? How does the Holy Spirit help them?
What are some ways that we can carry on the mission of spreading the good news of God’s love with others?
