Lesson 8 Down the Wall - Trinity United Methodist Church

1 Today s Bible StoryActs 9:19b-25, 28 Three (Believe in God) TruthsHGod is a great big loves us with a great big are part of God s great big will hear the Bible story aboutPaul s escape down a city wall in will recognize that we aresometimes asked to do difficult thingswhen we follow Jesus, but God will alwaysbe there during those times to help was a deeply religious man, devoted toGod and to his Jewish faith. He belonged to thestrictest party of Jews the Pharisees whobelieved it was very important to keep theJewish laws and traditions. As a Pharisee, Saulconsidered Jesus to be a troublemaker and athreat to the Jewish faith. He decided to takean active role in stamping out God would be pleased with him, Saulwent from house to house in Jerusalem, huntingfor Christians and dragging them off to order to escape this persecution, manyChristians left Jerusalem and scatteredthroughout the countryside.

2 So Saul went to thehigh priest and received special permission totravel to Damascus to arrest the Christiansthere. But as Saul hurried toward Damascus, abright light from heaven flashed around him,temporarily blinding him. Saul fell to theground. Then he heard the voice of Jesussaying, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Saul, trembling, asked: Who are you? Saul sfriends were speechless when they heard thevoice of Jesus say: Get up and enter the city,and you will be told what you are to do. Saul s friends led him to Damascus, where hespent three days without sight. Then God calleda Christian named Ananias to place his handson Saul s eyes, restoring Saul s sight.

3 Thisexperience turned Saul into a new man. Heimmediately became a follower of Christ. Now,instead of persecuting Christians, he went intothe synagogues to teach others that Jesus isthe Messiah, the Son of the Jews and Christians were shocked tohear Saul teaching about Jesus. ManyChristians were afraid it was just a trick, andthe Jews felt betrayed. And suddenly Saul nowcalling himself by his Greek name, Paul foundthat he had many enemies on all sides. Paul s preaching about Jesus proved to be apowerful witness for Christ, and before long theJews decided they must get rid of him. Sincethe Jewish leaders knew Paul was inside thecity of Damascus, they watched the city gatesday and night so that they could kill him.

4 Someof Paul s supporters heard about the plot, andthey devised a plan to save Paul s life. In thedarkness of night, they used a basket to lowerPaul down through an opening in the city s life was saved, and he was able tocontinue teaching and preaching about Jesus. Lesson 8 HDown the granted to photocopy for local Church use. Abingdon Press. Lesson 8 July 24, 2011 July s IdeaWe believe that we can live and act with love andcourage because God is always with s Bible VerseMy help comes from the LORD, who made heavenand earth. Psalm 121:2 July s ThemeCome, Live the AdventureJuly 24, 2011 Ages 3 479 Permission granted to photocopy for local Church use.

5 Abingdon Press. Mr. Z and Ms. Lucy are playing a game ofhide and seek in the Backyard. It reminds Mr. Z ofthis week s Bible story, when Paul was hiding from hisenemies. Bongo asks for the Bible verse. Then Ms. Lucyhas an idea that will illustrate the importance of friendshelping friends. Just as Ms. Lucy needs Mr. Z s help to walkacross a balance beam, Paul needed help from his friendsto stay out of sight. Your children will hear that thegreatest help of all comes from God, who willalways be there whenever we need help. TimeSaverEcoFriendlyTimeSaver Activities that require little or no planningand only basic Activities that encourage responsible earthstewardship by providing options to use recycledor repurposed them in.

6 (15 minutes)Welcome! What s in the Basket Take Paul down the Wall Basket RubbingsTransition Time .. Into the Bible (30 minutes)Hear the Bible StoryPop-Out Paul Adventure Passports Backyard Time .. Into Life (15 minutes)Praise Time Closing Worship TimeSaverEcoFriendlyDVD Summary: Backyard TimeActivityWelcome!Supplies: Stickers, Attendance Chart, Leader inside front cover, DVD, DVDplayer, television, sailor hats made earlier (page 60)DoHWelcome the children as they arrive. Give each child a basket Stickerto place on the Attendance :Today s Bible story is about a man named Paul whose life was ingreat danger. His friends used a big basket to help save his :Do you remember our Bible verse for this month?

7 It says: My helpcomes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2).We will find out how Jesus helped his the children how to sign the Bible verse (DVD; Leader insidefront cover).HGive each child the sailor hat he or she made earlier this month (page60). Help any child who has been absent make a the children to look at the Stickerson the :Do you remember the adventures we have taken this month? Wehave spent time inside a big fish, and we have sailed on a stormy we are going on another adventure on a trip over a wall!HGive each child a basket Sticker to attach to the sailor the children to wear their sailor is always with us, helping us face life s s in the Basket?

8 Supplies:basket; small blanket; small items like a ball, a teddy bear, a bookPrepareHPut three items in a basket and cover the basket with a :Let s play a guessing game. I will give you hints about things in mybasket. I want you to guess what is in my basket!HGive the children hints for each item like I have something that I canbounce and roll or with soft, brown fur or with pages. HThen let the children :In our Bible story today, Paul s friends hid Paul in a big basket. Godwas with Paul to help him have is always with us to help us act with love and granted to photocopy for local Church use. Abingdon Press. The IdeaWe believe that we can live andact with love and couragebecause God is always with 8 July 24, 2011 Invite them in.

9 Choose one or more activities to introduce your children to the Bible 24, 2011 Ages 3 481 Permission granted to photocopy for local Church use. Abingdon Press. Take Paul down the WallSupplies:Leader page 86,crayonsPrepareHPhotocopy Take Paul down the Wall (Leader page 86)for each each child Take Paul down the Wall (Leader page 86).HSay:Find Paul and a big basket. Draw a line from the basket to the children use crayons to connect the basket to Paul. HSay:Then the friends lowered the basket down the wonder what they used to lower the :Do you think they used a chair? (no) a pair of socks? (no) a tricycle?(no) Whatdid they use?

10 (a rope)Live was with Paul to help him have the courage to do something RubbingsSupplies:Leader page 87,baskets, basket-woven paper-plate holders or wovenplacemats, tape, old crayonsPrepareHPhotocopy Basket Rubbings (Leader page 87)for each the papers from the each child a copy of Basket Rubbing (Leader page 87).HSay:In our Bible story today, Paul s friends hid Paul in a big basket. HTape the picture onto the bottom of a basket (or placemat or paper-plate holder). HShow the children how to rub the sides of crayons over the baskets to makerubbings. This will give texture to the baskets in the was with Paul to help him have the courage to hide in the TimeSupplies:building blocksDoHHave the children build city walls with openings for gates in your storytelling : Long, long ago people built walls with gates around their cities for the song My Help Comes From the Lord as the children build the Help Comes From the Lord(Tune: The Farmer in the Dell )My help comes from the help comes from the along and sing this song.