A Family Worshiped Jesus in their Home Dear Lord, please help the believers to gather people in their homes, tell them about Jesus and worship you. Choose any of these children's learning activities. 1. An older child or teacher reads or tells by memory the story of a Philippian Gaoler, Acts 16:22-36. This story shows how a family worshipped God in their home. After telling the story, pose these queries. [Answers appear after each question.] · How did the magistrates treat Paul and Silas? [Verses 23-24] · What were Paul and Silas doing in prison at midnight? [25] · Why did the gaoler want to kill himself? [26-27] · How did the gaoler find salvation for himself and his family? [31] ·
At what hour of the night was the gaoler and
his family baptized? [25 & 32-34]
2. Dramatize parts of the story of the gaoler and his family. · Arrange with the main worship leader for the children to present this brief drama. · Use your time with the children to prepare the drama. · You do not have to use all the parts. · Let older children help the smaller ones to prepare the drama. · Older children or adults play these parts: Paul Gaoler (Find strings to represent two chains, and something to represent a sword.) Narrator (Prepare a stack of small rocks or books on the very edge of a table.) · Younger children play these parts: Silas, Narrator
Summarize the first
part of the story, from Acts 16:22-28. Then say, Magistrate “Gaoler! Put Paul and Silas in prison. Beat them. And guard them carefully!” Gaoler
Wrap their ankles
with the ‘chains’ (Do not tie knots.). Then say, Paul and Silas Sit under a table and sing a song. Gaoler “Earthquake!” (Shake the table so the rocks or books fall.) Paul and Silas Take off the ‘chains’ and stand up. Prisoners “We are free! The doors are open.” Gaoler
Raise the sword.
Say, Paul Shout, “No, sir! Do not kill yourself. We are all here!” Narrator
Summarize the second
part of the story from Acts 16:29-33. Then say, Gaoler
“Bring a light! I want
to see Paul and Silas.” Paul “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your family will be saved.” Gaoler’s family “We want to believe in Jesus, too.” Gaoler “Please let me clean your wounds. Then we will all be baptized tonight.” Narrator
Summarize the third
part of the story from Acts 16:34-36. Then say, Gaoler
“I am filled with joy
because my entire family has believed and been baptized. Magistrate
Knock on the table
top and say, Gaoler “Brothers, thank you for bringing my family the good news of Jesus. Go in peace!” Narrator When the drama is over thank everyone who helped with it. 3. If the children dramatize this story for the adults, let them also pose to the adults the queries listed under #1 above. 4. Ask the children to give examples of ways we can worship and serve God in our homes. 5. Draw a simple picture of a house that is typical in your town. Let the children copy it and show the
pictures to the adults at the worship time, The children may also like to colour the
picture found at the end of this lesson.
6. Memorize John 4:24. 7. Let three children each recite two of the verses from Psalm 136:1-6. Ask the entire group to repeat after each phrase,” His love endures forever”. 8. Let older children write poems or songs about meeting in homes to worship. 9. Let an older child pray: “Dear Lord, we thank you that we can worship you anywhere and at any time. It does not matter if we are a very small group. Thank you that you bring our entire families to you. Help us to worship you with our whole heart.”
Whilst in a gaol at
Phillipi, Paul and Silas sang and worshipped Jesus, till an earth
tremor shook the place |