Paul Met Jesus- Sunday February 14, 2021

Sunday February 14, 2021 (Vol 10, Unit 30, Session 2)

Welcome back! Or if you're new here, welcome! The following blog is here to be a tool for you to help your kids grow in their faith. Please feel free to use as much of it as you choose. You know your kids and are the best possible teacher for them. God has given you the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you to do more than you think possible (Eph 3:20).  

Parent Devotional: This week’s lesson is found in Acts 8&9.

Saul was no stranger to religion. He grew up in a religious household. He was a devout Jew who was born in Tarsus (Phil. 3:5) and inherited his Roman citizenship from his father. So, when people began talking about this man named Jesus and claiming that He was the promised Messiah, Saul was defensive.

Saul believed strongly in the Jewish faith of his ancestors. He violently persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. (Gal. 1:13-14) He dragged believers from their houses and put them in prison. He approved of the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Saul thought he was doing the right thing by defending Judaism, but God’s purposes could not be stopped. As Saul was on his way to arrest believers in Damascus, the Lord stopped him in his tracks.

Jesus revealed Himself to Saul, and Saul was never the same. He was struck blind and led into Damascus, where a believer named Ananias placed hands on Saul. Suddenly, Saul could see again. Saul was convinced that Jesus is Lord. Saul later described the experience as being like dying and receiving a new life. (Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 5:17)

God had a purpose and a plan for Saul. He had set Saul apart before Saul was even born. (Gal. 1:15) God said, “This man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites” (Acts 9:15).

Jesus changed Saul’s life. As you teach kids, clarify that conversion happens when a person recognizes his sin, repents, believes in Jesus, and confesses Jesus as Savior and Lord. Jesus changes a person’s heart, and as a result, his life is changed too.

Jesus appeared to Saul and changed him inside and out. Jesus called Saul, who was once an enemy of Christians, to spend the rest of his life telling people the gospel and leading them to trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.

As we begin to explore this week’s lesson, take a moment to remember the verse from Deuteronomy about teaching your children the scriptures. Deuteronomy 6:9 says: "You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Maybe you don't have time to sit and have an hour of Bible time all at once, or maybe your children are too young to sit for that long. Consider the key points of the lesson and ask God to give you opportunities to speak them into the hearts of your children throughout the week. Let the Bible become a part of your day to day. Be blessed this week my friends!  

Each week we include songs, activity pages, the bible lesson video, memory verses and possibly a craft or 2. We pray this will help you find ways to engage your kids spiritually. It is written in script form from the K-2nd grade lesson so you can read directly from it or change it up to suit your children. Take some time to look at and print the activity pages as well as the additional activities and information (found in the links at the bottom of the page) also to review the lesson so you can make adjustments as needed. I have included the Bible and Discussion questions along with a breakdown of the Gospel in the Older Kids Activities pages and loads of activities and crafts on the Preschool Extra Activity Pages. Once you are ready, go ahead and start with these songs if you'd like or pick some of your favorite worship songs and then jump right in! Have fun! And remember, this does not need to be done in one sitting! Feel free to break it up over the course of the week. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!

So, let's get started. I like to begin each week with Blessings and Bummers. Tell me, what have you seen the Lord doing in your lives this week? What have your greatest blessings been? How about your biggest challenges? 

Parents share your blessings and bummers and encourage the kids to do the same. 

Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father God, Thank you. Thank you for providing for our needs. You are so good to us even though we don't deserve it! Thank you for continuing to bless us Lord. Thank you for being patient with us. Thank you for our friends as well as our families. Most importantly, we thank you always for sending Jesus to live a perfect life and die to pay for our sins. Thank you for raising Him from the dead and promising us life with you forever if we believe in Him. Help us to be thankful of all you do for us and to look to you in all that we do. In Jesus name, Amen. (please add to or customize prayer time to fit your family)

Praise the Lord for hearing our prayers! 

Prompt kids to talk about a time they went on a road trip or vacation with their family and something unexpected occurred. Did they have car trouble? Did someone get stopped at airport security, or lose a suitcase?

Say • When traveling, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Today we will learn about a time a man named Saul, also called Paul, had an unexpected delay to his trip. But it turned out to be something going very right!

Optional Session Starter Activity Pick one of two options, or do both, this is your party. These are found in the activity pages attached below.

Last week we asked and answered a big picture question—Why does the church exist? The church exists to glorify God by worshiping Him, showing His love, and telling others about Jesus. That means that Jesus didn’t save us for no reason. We are saved so that we can be a part of God’s mission on earth. God is the greatest treasure and deserves all glory and worship. As the church, we work to glorify God in everything we do and help others learn to glorify God as well. 

Last week we learned about Philip. The Holy Spirit led Philip to tell the Ethiopian man about Jesus. That Ethiopian official believed the gospel and was baptized. This week, we will learn about the unlikely conversion of another man. His name was Saul and he hated Christians.

Saul, also known as Paul, didn’t just dislike Christians. He hated them. In fact, he watched while the religious leaders killed Stephen—and Paul thought it was good for them to do that. When we understand how cruel Paul was before he met Jesus, we can see how merciful, gracious, and powerful God really is. 

No one but God could cause such a big shift in a man’s life. Jesus saved Paul and chose him to spread the gospel. As you can imagine, the first believers who met with Paul were concerned. Ananias was afraid to even go see him at first! But after Paul regained his physical sight, it became clear that the Holy Spirit had come into his heart to give him spiritual sight as well. Paul was a new person, completely changed by the power of the gospel.

That’s true for everyone who repents and believes the gospel. It always changes us from the inside out. The Bible teaches that we become new creations! In fact, the man who wrote that was Paul! This man, who hated Christians and wanted to see all of them arrested or killed, became one of the primary writers of the New Testament! There’s an entire division named for the writings that the Holy Spirit inspired him to produce (Paul’s Letters). No one is too sinful or too evil to be saved by God’s perfect goodness, grace, and mercy.

Christ connection

Jesus appeared to Paul and changed him inside and out. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) Jesus called Paul, who was once an enemy to Christians, to spend the rest of his life telling people the gospel and leading them to trust in Jesus.

Bible Time! 

Distribute a Bible to each kid. Help them find Acts 8–9. Ask the kids which division of the New Testament Acts is in. (History) Ask the kids how many books are in it, and which division comes before and after this division. (only one; Gospels, Paul’s Letters) Then, consider showing the New Testament Israel Map to point out the location of Damascus, where Paul was traveling in the story. (A8)

 Ask the following questions. Lead the group to discuss:

Why was Paul traveling to Damascus? (to arrest and persecute Christians, Acts 9:1-2)

What did Jesus ask Paul? (“Why are you persecuting me?” Acts 9:4)

What did Paul do when his sight was restored? (preached about Jesus in the synagogue, Acts 9:20)

Why do you think God chose to use Paul to spread the gospel? Help the kids think through what we learn about God’s power from His choice to use Paul.  Discuss our tendency to see some people as “too bad” for salvation. Remind them that all have sinned, and God’s power and love are greater than the power of sin in our lives. Choosing Paul was a way for God to show His power and control of all things.

Can you think of anyone you would be shocked to learn became a Christian? Encourage kids to be honest and open about their thoughts. Remind them that God loves each person, and that Jesus came to save all sinners. Help them see that all sin is enough to earn death and separation from God.

What are ways you think you need to change to be more like Jesus? Lead kids to discuss their own need for grace and mercy. Help them talk through their flaws and remind them that the Holy Spirit changes all believers over time to be more like Jesus.

Say • Jesus saved Paul and chose him to spread the gospel. Paul hated Christians and wanted to see all of them arrested and even killed. When Jesus changed his heart, he became a wonderful tool in God’s hands, and spread the gospel all over. How might God use us in His plan to reach the world?

Read the verse together 

After becoming a Christian, Paul wanted everyone to understand how wonderful Jesus is. Paul knew that his sins against God and the church were too great for him to deal with, but he also knew that nothing is too big for God to deal with. When Jesus is the most important person in our lives, we can live on mission to glorify Him in the whole world.

Memory Verse Activity:

Provide each kid with a sheet of paper and markers, crayons, or colored pencils. Direct the kids to write the key passage multiple time, switching colors each time, so that their writing looks like a rainbow. Then read the key passage aloud together.

Say • When Paul met Jesus, it changed everything about his life. Paul went from hating Christians to writing letters to help them love and obey Jesus more! This key passage is from one of Paul’s letters. He wanted believers to remember that Jesus is the most valuable treasure. Jesus is the leader of the church, and He is everything we need. 

Let's pray:

Father, thank You that no sin is too great for You to forgive. Help us to know that there is hope for everyone and give us boldness to share that hope with each person we meet. Amen.

Thanks for joining us! I hope to meet you here again next week!

Additional Activities and Information