Passages: Acts 1-8
Big Idea: The good news about the risen Lord Jesus can’t be stopped.
Ages: 8-11
Ten lessons exploring Acts 1 to 8.
Doctor Luke wrote two books about Jesus. The first volume, the Gospel of Luke, is a careful investigation, through eyewitness testimony, of Jesus’ life - what he said and did from his birth till his death and resurrection (Luke 1:1-4)
The second volume, the book of Acts, is the continuation of the first. ‘In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven…’ (Acts 1:1-2) The book of Acts is the continuation of the work of the risen Lord Jesus.
The gospel of Luke ends with the commissioning of the apostles to take the good news about the risen Lord Jesus, to the ends of the earth (Luke 24:45-47). There is also the reminder that they will not be left alone to do this. Jesus goes, so that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, may come.
In the book of Acts we see the continuation of the work of Jesus. ‘And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’ Acts 2:47 As the gospel is proclaimed some believe and receive it with much joy. The early church is in its infancy. Believers gather to praise God, share everything, and pray and break bread in community.
The spreading of the gospel also resulted in the rise of persecution. The death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is quickly followed by mass persecution of the Jerusalem church (Acts 7-8). ‘On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria…. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.’ Acts 8:1, 4 Not only is the proclamation of the gospel accompanied by persecution, the spreading of the gospel is aided by persecution.
The apostles were eyewitnesses to Jesus' life, teaching, miracles, death and resurrection. Jesus affirms their witness through signs and wonders. Nothing will stop this good news about Jesus spreading from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
The unit comes complete with stories, pictures, suggested songs/memory verses, games, drama activities, crafts, large and small group activities. A resource pack of crafts and worksheets is also included.