Have you ever had a song stick in your head and refuse to go away? This week a friend of mine shared a song with me that has done exactly that.
The song is not fancy. It only has six words. It is a teacher training video and not a performance for the Grammy Awards. Even so, it is stuck in my mind like glue. Listen a few times and I dare you to forget it.
From a blinding light to angry mobs to a shipwreck, the Apostle Paul’s story is one that involves devotion, determination and drama.
These sixteen lessons from the life of Paul help children grasp how God used Paul and others to expand the reach of the good news of Jesus to far away places .
The lessons are already covered on www.missionbibleclass.org within the book of Acts section but are grouped together here so that you can teach them as one unit.
Online materials make it easier to keep children and families engaged in the Word of God. Instead of printed materials lesson links can be emailed to teachers and parents each week.
Each of these sixteen lessons listed below include:
A Bible lesson and teaching instructions
Practical and enjoyable activities to help children learn
Links to other online resources
A slideshow to view online or download and use
The same slideshow in .pdf if you choose to download and print
An online video depicting the story from Paul’s point of view
One of my favourite memories from my recent trip to the ancient city of Corinth, Greece was listening to a group of children singing songs. I think their parents must have brought them along to look at the ruins and the museum that day. It was a hot day so it appeared that they had stopped in the shade to have a rest. Hearing these young Greek children sing and observing them becoming increasingly shy as the song went on reminded me once again that children are everywhere in this world. Children were in Corinth on the day of my visit and children were in Corinth when Paul was there so long ago.
Paul stayed in Corinth for 1 1/2 years. During his time there he supported himself by working with another couple in his same trade of tent making. The couple’s names were Priscilla and Acquila. Paul taught the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. He taught in the synagogue and the synagogue leader, among others were baptised.
Angry Jews brought Paul before the judgement seat of the Roman proconsul, Gallio, and asked the proconsul to punish Paul for converting Jews. Paul ended up being released because Gallio saw this as a religious matter and not a governmental one. You can read about Paul’s time in Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquila. in Acts 18:1-18
In the photo below, and behind where the group is standing, is the “bema” or raised platform from which Gallio would have judged Paul.
I’ll leave you with some final photos from Corinth. Both are from inside the Corinth Museum. The first photo is of toy furniture and the second a stone doll. Both are in the Corinth museum. Yes, there were kids in Corinth even long ago!
Here I am today in Berea, Greece which is now known as Veria. We viewed a mosaic which was made to commemorate the Apostle Paul’s visit as recorded in the Bible.
Below one mosaic were some ancient steps that were part of the raised area where people used to gather to hear important people talk. Perhaps he spoke there but we do know he spoke in the synagogue.
I thought about the Jews in Berea heard the message of Christ from Paul and were willing to examine what he said. No wonder they are referred to in Acts 17:10-15 as the Noble Bereans!
As I was looking at the mosaics and a statue an artist formed of Paul, I could hear children playing in the coutyard next door. I wonder if children were nearby when Paul was speaking.
As my trip through Greece continues We make a stop in ancient Philippi.
First we went down to the likely location of the first meeting of Paul and Lydia. Their conversation led to the baptism of Lydia and her entire household ( Acts 16:11-15).
Throughout the trip I’ve had my ears open for what children might find interesting. Today such a thought came up when discussing the fact that Lydia was a business woman who sold purple cloth. Our guide shared one gross tidbit that I know the boys in my Bible classes would find interesting. The local method of the day for making purple dye was to crush a particular kind of seashell and mix it with human feces. Yuck!
After going to the river we toured the nearby ruins of the ancient city. We viewed the market area where Lydia might have sold her wares.
In this same city Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into jail. An earthquake later made the gates of the jail swing open and the chains on prisoners simply fall off. This led to the jailer becoming a Christian. You can read all about it in Acts 16:16-40 and the Bible lesson is at Jailer Becomes a Christian.
Have you ever had a song stick in your head and refuse to go away? This week a friend of mine shared a song with me that has done exactly that.
