[This is part 2 of our series on the life of Peter looking at Acts 10]
3-5s
Aim: Anyone can become a friend of Jesus’
Intros:
Sit in a circle with some
cards turned down in the middle. Explain that when the cards are turned over,
if they match the description then they need to turn around and face out of the
circle. Cards say things like ‘brown hair’, ‘blue eyes’ etc. Keep going until
there is no-one left. Then ask them how it felt to be left out? What if being
part of Jesus’ kingdom was just for people with eg blond hair?
Or
Have some photos of people
who look nice and some that don’t. Ask them who they think might be part of
God’s people.
Bible story:
Use flannelgraph or story
pictures. (eg www.freebibleimages.org)
Or use a roman soldier
doll and another doll, with a sheet with animals in
Main points of story –
- Cornelius – Roman therefore not a Jew, shouldn’t be allowed to worship God
- Had a vision (like a dream from God) – ‘Send for Peter’
- Peter praying on his rooftop – has a vision as well: sheet lowered from heaven with ‘dirty’ animals in, animals Jewish people shouldn’t touch and eat.
- Peter told to ‘kill and eat’ – happens three times. What God is saying is that it isn’t just about being Jewish anymore and following these rules. Anyone can follow Jesus now.
- Then told to go to Cornelius
- Peter says ‘God has shown me that the gospel isn’t just for Jewish people, anyone can follow Jesus.’
- And so Peter told Cornelius and other non-Jews all about Jesus and how He’d died and rose again.
- And as he was doing this the Holy Spirit came and they all became followers of Jesus.
Pray
Activities:
- Take smaller copies of the pictures from the first activity. Get them to stick in a circle which says ‘Anyone can be Jesus’ friend’. As they do talk to them about whether they can become Jesus’ friend.
- Stick red paper on a picture of Cornelius
----------
5-11s
Aim: Anyone can become Jesus’ friend
Intro:
Either – Odd one out – have
4 photos with one odd one out
Or – Tig – person who is
‘it’ is dressed up oddly.
Use to explain Jew /
Gentile situation.
Also – Have screen in
corner of room. Write names of people they don’t like and put them behind the
screen.
Bible teaching:
Act
out using Roman soldier costume and big sheet with plastic animals
Main points of story –
- Cornelius – Roman therefore not a Jew, shouldn’t be allowed to worship God
- Had a vision (like a dream from God) – ‘Send for Peter’
- Peter praying on his rooftop – has a vision as well: sheet lowered from heaven with ‘dirty’ animals in, animals Jewish people shouldn’t touch and eat.
- Peter told to ‘kill and eat’ – happens three times. What God is saying is that it isn’t just about being Jewish anymore and following these rules. Anyone can follow Jesus now.
- Then told to go to Cornelius
- Peter says ‘God has shown me that the gospel isn’t just for Jewish people, anyone can follow Jesus.’
- And so Peter told Cornelius and other non-Jews all about Jesus and how He’d died and rose again.
- And as he was doing this the Holy Spirit came and they all became followers of Jesus.
Sum
up and apply – Up until this point you had to be or become Jewish to be Jesus’
friend. Now Peter is saying anyone can become Jesus’ friend. The Holy Spirit
(the sign of being Jesus’ friend) has come to non-Jews.
Who
do you think could never be Jesus’ friend? Look behind the screen and bring out
the names – their names are there too! Pray for their friends.
Table time:
Knowledge
·
What sort of
person was Cornelius?
·
What happened
to him?
·
What did Peter
see in his vision?
Understanding
·
What was surprising
about Cornelius becoming a friend of Jesus?
·
What was
surprising about Peter’s dream?
·
What was the
sign that Peter had become Jesus’ friend?
Application
·
Why is it
amazing that you can be Jesus’ friend?
·
Who do you
look at and think, ‘They could never be a Christian?’
·
Who do you
look at and think, ‘They should never
be a Christian?’
Pray together
Funsheets
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