CCC Gainesville | Blog
Acts 23:12-35
God sends Paul a helper
On day four your kids will learn that God sends us helpers to keep us safe as we follow Jesus.
Once things had calmed down after Jesus had died at the hand of the religious leaders, they turned their attention to a new guy spreading news of God’s rescue plan for people. Paul’s life is in danger, the religious leaders are plotting to kill him just as they had with Jesus. But as always, God is in control.
It is easy to overlook children, and what they can do for God. Its easy to assume that they aren’t old enough to do things for the Lord. But in this story, we see God sending Paul’s nephew, to warn Paul of the conspiring plot against him. God can use anyone, of any age, who is willing to listen and yield to Him.
Each day we have seen God protect Paul so that he could keep running the race to tell others about Jesus. On day ONE we saw God stop Paul from doing harm to the followers of Jesus and change his heart. God saved Paul on the road to Damascus. On day TWO we saw God keep Paul safe in prison and even set him free from his chains. On day THREE we saw God keep Paul safe from the riot in Damascus. And on day FOUR God sends help, through a young man, to keep Paul safe.
Discuss: Talk with your kids about the ways God has kept you safe. People God put in your life to protect you. Ways that God is protecting the. It is important that children see the ways that God keeps us safe too.
Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
–(Habakkuk 3:2 NIV84)
Acts 16:16-39
On day two the kids will see our athletes talking about the importance of working with others. We will also see Paul invite others on his road to following Jesus.
Paul’s journey has begun. After he meets Jesus on the road to Damascus his life race is changed forever. When he once hated Jesus, his heart is now filled with love for his savior. Instead of trying to diminish Christian growth, he is now helping the church grow!
On the road to following Jesus, Paul is inviting others to join him. The race that Paul talked about in our memory verse (Acts 20:24) is sharing the message with others of God’s grace.
Take some time to read today’s passage, its a little heavy; a young girl is filled with an evil spirit that speaks against Paul and his friends, Paul and Silas get thrown in prison for helping her and for telling their story of God sending Jesus to rescue them, during the night the prison breaks open, and then the guard is invited to join Paul on the road to following Jesus.
Review yesterdays story:
Before Paul meets Jesus on the road to Damascus how does he view the purpose of his life?________________________________________________________
After Paul meets Jesus how does he change both physically and spiritually?___________________________________________________
In today’s story we see that Paul even wants to invite others with him and together join in the race!
Think of a time you have shared the story of God sending Jesus to rescue you from your brokenness.
Excitement is building in our worship center as things take shape for VBS. Dozens of volunteers are hard at work this weekend preparing for 90 registered children who arrive Monday for a week of fun and learning!
It’s still not too late register for this year’s FREE VBS. Just fill out the form here!
FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012
English club!
Today was fun! I went and helped with their English club they have on Thursday evenings. It was mostly older Bulgarians there, meaning mostly in their 20s or so. I met one girl who actually works for the Spanish speaking IBM help call center. I thought that was really interesting that they have that here in Bulgaria! Anyway, the theme tonight was “summer” so they learned different summer words like sand castle, sunscreen, tanning, beach, surfing, etc. Then we played charades where everyone had to go up and act out one of the words. We also watched funny summer clips from “America’s Funniest Home Videos”. I had a good time 🙂
Follow our partner’s trip daily (and see loads of great pictures) on her blog
