Grades 1-3
Introductory Activity – Verse Scramble
Materials: different colors of construction paper, marker, scissors
Print the Weekly Verse on different colors of construction paper. Cut each verse into 4-6 pieces. (Each kid will need a piece.) Mix the pieces. Guide kids to sit around the play area. (They can be spaced out; they do not need to sit beside one another.) Distribute a verse piece to each child. Say: “When I tell you, stand up and find everyone else who has the same color pieces as you. Then work the puzzle to read the verse. When your puzzle is complete, shout, ‘Got it!’” Give the signal and kids stand and scramble to find their groups. After all groups have shouted, “Got it!”, say the verse together. Say: “Today we will learn more about the church.”
Live It Out
Game – Early Church Matching
Materials: note cards, scissors, pen
Before class, write down ten events from today’s Bible story, one event per card. Make two copies. Jumble the cards up. In class, lay the cards out on the floor in a grid. Form two teams with the kids. Inform them that each team will take turns turning over two cards, attempting to find a matching pair. If they find a match, they are allowed to go again. The team that discovers the most matches wins!
Events to write on the note cards:
THE BELIEVERS MET TOGETHER
A MIGHTY WINDSTORM OCCURRED
TONGUES OF FIRE APPEARED
EVERYONE WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE BELIEVERS SPOKE VARIOUS LANGUAGES
PEOPLE MOCKED THE BELIEVERS
PETER PREACHED TO THE CROWD
3,000 PEOPLE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS
THE BELIEVERS WERE DEVOTED TO THE APOSTLES’ PREACHING
THE BELIEVERS ATE MEALS IN EACH OTHERS’ HOMES
Craft – Flame Headbands
Materials: red, yellow, and orange construction paper; scissors; glue, stapler with staples
Cut paper strips that will fit around the kids’ heads. Lead kids to print the Life Point on the paper strip. They can cut out flame shapes and glue to the strips. They can add other designs or shapes to the strips. Help them bend the strip around their heads; staple the ends of the strips together to create headbands. As kids wear their headbands, talk about the Bible story.
Grades 4-6
Introductory Activity – Prayer Together
Materials: note cards, pens
Give each child a pen and a note card. Instruct them to write down a prayer request they have. Pair each child with another kid, tell them to swap cards, and pray for the other’s request. Afterward, gather the cards and tell the children that you will pray for their requests this week. Explain that the first church spent much time praying with each other. Write the Weekly Verse on the board and say it together.
Live It Out
Game – Hot Potato Duel
Materials: two beanbags, bell or tap light, music
Set the bell or tap light on a table in the middle of the play area. Group the kids into two teams. Teams should move to opposite sides of the play area (opposite sides of the table) and form a circle. Play music while each team passes a beanbag around the circle. Stop the music unexpectedly. The two kids holding the beanbags should come to the table. Ask a review question; the first kid to hit the bell or tap light gets an opportunity to answer. If the answer is correct, the team gets a point. If not, the other team may answer for a point. The two players move back to their circles; start the music again. After the game, challenge the winning team to say the Life Point.
Craft – Verse Print Posters
Materials: cardstock, alphabet stamps of various sizes and types, stamp pads, washi tape
Open Bibles to Act 2:46 and read the verse. Guide kids to use the materials to create posters of the verse that look like print shop posters. They can use the stamps of various sizes and styles to create the posters. They can use the washi tape to make borders and lines between words. As they work, talk about the Bible story and the Life Point.
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