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1Good News for an EthiopianBIBLE STORYPhilip Shares the Good NewsActs 8:1–8, 26–40

BIBLE TRUTHGod sends Christians to tell unsaved people about His love.

This lesson will help early elementary children . . .

• Know what a missionary is• Discover how the gospel

began to spread• Feel concern for those who

don’t know Jesus as Savior• Pray for unsaved people at

home and in other cultures

VERSE-A-MONTH“Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ ” (John 20:21).

Reflect on the WordRead Acts 8:1-8, 26-40. What a story! Violent persecution of the young

Jerusalem church broke out the very day of Stephen’s death, driving disciples out into Judea and Samaria. Luke tells it in just three verses without one men-tion of the emotional traumas of broken families, broken hearts, and a shattered church. He tells instead of scattered refugees who “went about preaching the word” (v. 4, rsv). Amazing, isn’t it?

One of them was Philip. When they chose this layman for the food bank committee, they chose better than they knew. He’s the only disciple in the New Testament called an evangelist. Fleeing Jerusalem, he found himself in a Samaritan town and promptly began to proclaim “the Christ.” Was it the town where Jesus talked with the woman at the well about the Messiah and living water? Perhaps they remembered the two days Jesus spent with them (John 4). It seems the whole town gave careful attention to Philip’s winsome proclama-tion and the confirming signs, and, of course, there was joy all around. We read in John 4 that Jews of that time had no dealings with the Samaritans; but Jesus did, Philip did, and Christians do.

Suddenly, Philip’s life took a radical turn. One day he was in the middle of a joyful city-wide revival, and the next he was all alone, walking toward the des-ert of the Gaza Strip. He happened upon an Ethiopian official who had been to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple, and happened to be reading aloud (as was customary) the passage in Isaiah about the Servant of the Lord who “hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows,” who “was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:4-5, kjv). Philip, who just happened to be there, heard him, and the Spirit nudged him closer. So began an encounter that ended with a baptized believer rejoicing on his way to Africa, of all places! Remarkable happenings, wouldn’t you say?

I’ve been pondering the question, What holds together all the diverse epi-sodes in this chapter, and, for that matter, the diverse episodes of our lives? I think of the sometimes strange and always saving providence of God; how Stephen’s death, Saul’s persecution, Philip’s escape to Samaria, his long walk to the desert, all worked “together for good!” And I think of the free and flexible power of the Holy Spirit. Persecution drove Philip to Samaria, an angel directed him to the desert, and the Spirit nudged him to the chariot. Directed by the Spirit he preached without license, did miracles without authority, and baptized without credentials!

But the cohesive center of it all was, and is, Jesus. It was the glorified Jesus that Stephen saw at the right hand of God. (7:56). It was Jesus the Christ who turned the Samaritan’s sadness into joy, and it was Jesus our suffering, dying, risen Savior who transformed the heart of the Ethiopian.

This means everything to us. I doubt Philip ever dreamed of being the first in the long, long line of witnesses who have told the saving story of Jesus. That line has gone unbroken from “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8), including ourselves! This Sunday you will teach your class and I will teach mine—and how many others around this wide world will do the same. We will bear common witness to our crucified, risen, exalted Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will open hearts to hear and respond. That’s a promise! We are blessed to belong to such a company.

Week 1 of 4

LESSON HELPS HELPING HAND Tips for teachers.

DIGGING DEEPERImportant biblical and theological insights.

Foundational words of the faith.

OLD TESTAMENT Before Jesus Was Born

“Good News” Bulletin Board Resources, Item 1

Hidden Verse Memory Flip-Flap Resources, Item 4

Optional Activity: Good News Relay

Bible Story Resources, Item 5

Bible Story Review Resources, Items 1 and 2

Optional Activity: Philip Shares the Good News

Go and Tell Maze Connections, Sheet 1

Chatting in a Chariot Connections, Sheet 1b and punch-outs from Sheet 14

Closing and Prayer Adventures; Parent Connections; Connections, Sheet 15

Optional Activity: Good News Wall Hanging

7

Attention

Getters

Bible Explorations

Connections

To Life

LESSON PLANNERChoose from these activities to support the Bible story.

See Hear & Say Sing Do Solve Read & Write

NOTES

NEW TESTAMENT When Jesus Was On Earth After Jesus Went Back To Heaven

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PRE-SESSION POPPERS

Travel PicturesThe lessons in this unit are about

the Church sharing Jesus. In the Early Church, persecution drove many believers out of Jerusalem. Many of the early Christians traveled and shared with those in other places. Encourage the children to think about places they want to go and see. Lay out all the supplies on a table. The large sheets of paper can be used to draw or create their own maps or collages of travel pictures (if you have provided materials that can be cut apart and used up).

You’ll need• Maps or children’s travel

books and magazines• Large sheets of paper• Crayons or markers

• Travel magazines or pictures of places around the world

• Glue

YO

U ARE

H

E R E

8

“Good News” Bulletin BoardBefore class, Prepare the bulletin board by

covering it with paper. Add the title and the world from Resources, Item 1. As you staple on the world, stuff tissues in behind it to give it a two-dimensional look.

In class, Say, We all like to receive good news. What’s the best news you have heard

recently? (Let children answer. Good grades, special visitors, a trip, are all examples of good news.) What is the best “good news” we have to share with others? (Let children respond.) The best “good news” is that Jesus loves us all. We want to share this Good News with the whole world. We can start by sharing with those we know.

TRANSITION: Say, For the next four weeks, we will hear stories about sharing Jesus with others. Today, we will hear a story of a man who shared the good news of Jesus in an unusual place and in an unusual way.

Hidden Verse Memory Flip-FlapBefore class, Prepare Resources, Item 4.In class, Say, All followers of Jesus are commanded to go and share the

good news of Jesus. Not all of us will go to other countries or even other places in our country, but we all know someone who needs to hear about Jesus.

Hold up the Hidden Verse Memory Flip-Flap so that all the words are visible. Say the verse together as a class two or three times. Then cover the verse with the flaps. Have the class try to say the first phrase be-

fore raising the flap, the second phrase before raising the flap, and so on until they have said the whole verse.

TRANSITION: Say, Today’s Bible story is about a man named Philip. Philip loved Jesus. Philip obeyed God when he was sent. Let’s find out what he was sent to do.

Good News RelayBefore class, Get two small newspapers or two

sections of a larger paper. Roll each newspaper up and put a rubber band around each, so they are easy to pass from person to person. Put down a strip of masking tape on the floor.In class, Divide the class into two teams. Have the two teams line up on one

side of the room. Give the first person on each team the newspaper and say, This is good news to share. God wants everyone to know about His love. When I say “Go,” the first person on each team should run to the tape line and back. He or she hands the next child in line the newspaper and tells them the good news message. Keep going until both teams have finished.

TRANSITION: Say, Someone in today’s story showed up at just the right time to share the Good News. Listen and find out how it all happened.

Use these activities to help focus the children’s attention and prepare them to learn today’s Bible Truth.

Attention

Getters You’ll need• Resources, Item 1

• Blue bulletin board paper• Tissues

• Stapler and staples

You’ll need• Resources, Item 4

• Scissors

You’ll need• Small newspapers

• Rubber bands• Masking tape

Masking tape can leave residue on floors and carpets. You may

want to use an alternative for marking a line on the classroom floor. Check with your church custodian for suggestions.

Lesson 1

Option

CHRISTIAN—Someone who has received Jesus Christ as Savior.GOOD NEWS—Jesus died on the Cross and rose again so we can be saved from sin.MISSIONARY—A person God has called to tell the good news about Jesus to people of another culture.UNSAVED—An unsaved person has not received Jesus as Savior.

9

Use these activities to help the children learn from the Bible story.

Bible StoryBefore class, Punch out the puppet figures of Philip and

the Ethiopian, Resources, Item 5. Laminate or cover with clear Con-Tact paper for added durability. Tape each figure to a craft stick. Use puppets to help you tell the story.

In class, Say, Our story today begins with bad news, but God turned that bad news into good news when one of His disciples was brave enough to share God’s love for all men.

After the story, Say, At the beginning of this story, the Christians were being persecuted. They ran to other cities for safety. What good came from them moving from place to place?

You’ll need• Resources, Item 5

• Craft sticks• Masking tape• Laminator or

clear Con-Tact paper

Philip Shares the Good NewsActs 8:1-8, 26-40

(Hold up the Philip puppet.) Philip ran (Hold up run sign for optional story. Run in place.) to the city gate. Jerusalem was in an uproar! He heard yelling and the thud of the soldier’s boots on the cobblestones. They were breaking down doors and hauling men and women into the streets. Philip knew these men and women were Chris-tians, and he had to escape. He slipped through the gates and headed toward the city of Samaria.

In the days that followed, Philip met many of his friends who had also escaped Jerusalem. Though the church had been scattered, the men and women shared the story of Jesus everywhere they went. In Samaria, Philip didn’t hide but boldly went into the streets and proclaimed Jesus. (Hold up Good News! sign for optional story. Shout “Good news! Good news!”) People paid attention because God helped Philip perform many miracles. The sick came to be healed. Many wonderful things happened, and there was great joy in the city.

One day an angel appeared to Philip. The angel said, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

Philip knew there was danger going back toward Jerusalem, but he obeyed. He began walking. On his way, he heard the rumbling (Hold up rumble sign for optional story. Make sound, rumble, rumble, rumble) of chariot wheels. This wasn’t just any old chariot! This was a beautiful chariot. Only an important and wealthy man could ride in such a chariot. In fact this Ethiopian man was an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians in Africa. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. Isaiah is a book in the Old Testament.

The Spirit told Philip, “Go to the chariot and stay near it.”(Hold up the Ethiopian puppet.) Philip didn’t hesitate one bit. He ran (Hold up run sign for optional story. Run

in place.) right up to the chariot and listened to the man reading.Boldly he asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”“How can I unless someone explains it to me?” said the Ethiopian.The official looked at Philip and said, “Please, come ride with me. If you know what this means, please explain

it to me.”Philip looked at the writing. The prophet was describing how Jesus was led like a sheep to be sacrificed. Jesus

was so meek and did not fight, but willingly gave His life for the whole world.The official looked at Philip and said, “Tell me please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”Philip began to share the Good News about Jesus; how God, the Father, had sent Jesus because He loves us

and wants us to become children of God. As they rode, they came to a river. The Ethiopian ordered the chariot to be stopped. The man stopped the chariot.

The Ethiopian said, “Look here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” This means the Ethiopian had chosen to believe in and follow Jesus too.

The Ethiopian jumped out of the chariot. They went into the water and Philip baptized him. (Hold up splash sign for optional story. Make splashing motion with hands.) Then the angel came and suddenly took Philip away. The Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing and Philip kept traveling and preaching the gospel in every town he visited.

10

Bible Story ReviewBefore class, Make a copy of the paper doll

figure in Resources, Item 1 for each child. Cut out Faith Words cards.

In class, Hold up the Faith Words word card, Christian. Ask, What is a Christian? (Let children answer, then read the defini-tion.) Tell me what was happening to the Christians in this story. Hold up the Faith Words word card, Good News. Ask, What is the Good News? What does it mean to share the Good News? Someone in the story shared the Good News. Who was it and what happened? (Let children tell that part of the story to you.)

Hold up the Faith Words word card, Unsaved. Ask, What does Unsaved mean? Who is unsaved in the story? (Let children answer.) Hold up the Faith Words word card, Missionary. What is a missionary? (Let children answer.) Was anyone in this story a missionary?

Philip Shares the Good NewsBefore class, Invite two people to

play the parts of Philip and the Ethio-pian. Make two copies of the story and give to each guest ahead of time to practice. Make signs by printing the

words on five separate poster board sheets. See HELPING HAND for commands.

In class, Introduce your guests as Philip and the Ethiopian. Have the guests act out the story. Say to the children, During the story, I will hold up signs with directions for you to act out or make the sounds. For example; one sign says, “run,” so you will run in place. Watch, listen, and do what I do.

Go and Tell MazeBefore class, Remove Connections, Sheet 1

from the Connections book.In class, Say, In today’s story we heard

about the Christians moving from place to place. Everywhere they went they told people about Jesus. Who could you tell about Jesus? (Let the children respond.)

Name some of the places where you have friends. Do any of your friends need to hear about Jesus?

Give each child Connections, Sheet 1. Read the directions and complete the maze.

You’ll needResources, Items 1 and 2• Crayons, markers, or

colored pencils

You’ll need• Two guests

• Robes and sandals or flip flops• Signs (See HELPING HAND)• Five sheets of poster board

(or one sheet cut into five signs)• Marker

• Two copies of the Bible story

Choose from these activities to help students connect the Bible Truth to life.

You’ll needConnections, Sheet 1

• Pencil

Lesson 1

Option Run

Good news! Good news!Rumble, rumble, rumbleSplash!

11

Chatting in a ChariotBefore class, Gather supplies. Punch out Philip

and the Ethiopian from Sheet 14 of the Connections book. Lay supplies out on the table.

In class, Say, Trace the trace word in the Bible Truth. Let’s read the Bible Truth out loud togeth-er. Ask, What does it mean to be a Christian? (Let children answer.) What kinds of changes do you think happen in a person’s life when he or she becomes a Christian? (Let children answer.)

Give the children Connections, Sheet 1b and Philip and the Ethiopian punch-outs. Say, Read the directions at the bottom of the page. Let me know if you need help. Help as children complete the sheet.

Closing and PrayerHelp as the class divides into pairs. Say, Praying with others is a bless-

ing. When we pray for others, we are caring for them and sharing God’s love with them. Take a few minutes and trade turns sharing prayer concerns

and praises with your partner. Take turns praying for one another.

Give the children several minutes to share and pray.

Hand out Adventures, Parent Connections, and the Verse-a-Month Club Bible verse remind-er from Connections, Sheet 15, for each child to take home and enjoy with family.

Good News Wall HangingBefore class, Gather the needed supplies. Make a sample of the wall hang-

ing. Gather enough hangers and 12” x 18” (30.48 cm. x 45.72 cm.) pieces of fabric for each child.

In class, Say, We can share God’s love with words and kindnesses given to others. We can also share God’s love by making a beautiful gift

with a message of love on it. Let’s make these Good News Wall Hangings. This hanging can be given to a friend or hung in your room as a reminder of God’s love.

Direct and help the children to lightly draw symbols of faith onto the 12” x 18” (30.48 cm. x 45.72 cm.) fabric piece. Words can be traced on the fabric and colored in with markers. Or they can use the stencils to trace the symbols and words onto the fabric. From the felt, cut out the symbols or words and glue them onto the muslin. Let it dry. Decorate the hanging with markers and art supplies. Fold the top edge of the fabric over the hanger and staple to hold in place.

You’ll need• Connections, Sheet 1b• Philip and Ethiopian punch-outs, Sheet 14

• Pencils• Crayons

• Glue• Pasta wheels,

spaghetti noodles, elbow macaroni

You’ll need• Adventures for each child

• Parent Connections• Verse-a-Month Club reminder

(Connections, Sheet 15)

You’ll need• 12” x 18”

(30.48 cm. x 45.72 cm.) piece of canvas or muslin

for each child• Felt scraps

• Glue• Scissors

• Stapler and staples• Pencils and markers

• Hangers• Decorative art supplies

(buttons, ribbon, glitter glue, etc.)

• Stencils of faith symbols and words, opt.

Lesson 1

Option

Parent Connections

for families of young children

Try This!

Many of us spend very little time outdoors enjoying nature. When

was the last time you took a walk in the woods, sat out under the

stars, or swam in a lake? How much exposure is your child getting

to the natural world? As long as you don’t live in an urban area,

you will be surprised how close to nature you can be in your own

backyard.

Take some time to

enjoy the great out-

doors before it gets

too hot. Camp out

one evening with your

children in your own

backyard. If you live in

the middle of a large

city, consider asking a

friend in the suburbs or

the country to let you camp out in his or her backyard.

Set up a tent. Stock up on supplies for S’mores. Order a pizza

and have it delivered. Sit in the tent and eat pizza and tell stories.

The S’mores can be cooked over a camp stove or made in the mi-

crowave. If you live in a place where you can see the stars (no big

city lights), then check out a star-gazing book from the library and

see how many constellations you can identify. Listen to the night-

time sounds. Do you recognize any?

Pray together and thank God for the wonderful world He created

for our pleasure. Your children will not forget this fun activity.

The ChurCh ShareS JeSuS

Bible Truth: The Good News of Jesus Christ is for the whole world.

These four lessons will help children know that God planned for the Church to take

the gospel to the whole world, grow in their understanding of what missionaries are

and what they do, want to help reach out to others at home and around the world, pray

for and support all the ways the Church takes the Good News to others, and be open to the

possibility of God’s call to be a missionary.

Verse-a-Month Club Bible Memory Verse: “Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent

me, I am sending you’” (John 20:21).

Faith Words: CHRISTIAN—Someone who has received Jesus Christ as Savior. GOOD NEWS—Jesus died on the Cross

and rose again so we can be saved from sin. MISSIONARY—A person God has called to tell the good news about

Jesus to people of another culture. UNSAVED—An unsaved person has not received Jesus as Savior.

Weeks 1 t

h rou

gh 4

Summer

200

9

Dear Parent,

It is a privilege to join you in teach-

ing your children about the purpose of the

Church. Our roots are planted in the New

Testament Church. The work of the early

Christians is a reflection of what God has

called us to do.

This may be a good time to evaluate your

involvement in the work of your church.

Have you prayerfully considered how you and

your family can serve in your church? Are

you involved in something, not enough, or

in too much? Are your gifts being used?

As you teach your children about serv-

ing in the church, teach them to pray for

the Holy Spirit’s direction. God has gifted

each of us for specific work. Think how much

more the Church could accomplish for the

kingdom if we do what He directs us to do—

follow His plan.

Share the Good New of Jesus with every-

one!

Symbols of faith can include a dove, cross, fish (ICHTHUS), or

flame. For other Christian symbol ideas, visit this web site: <http://christiansym.com>, click on “Christmas Tree Symbols.”