12.lesson 6 WAI
12.lesson 6 WAI
Lesson 6
LEADER’S NOTES 3
APPENDIX
Case Study Pictures 14
Craft Sheet 15
Chat Time Sheet 16
Visual Summary 18
Who Am I?
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We recommend the International Children’s Bible for use with children during the lesson. Our leader’s notes and Take Home Sheets
use the New International Version.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the International Children’s Bible®. Copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All
rights reserved.
Cover design by Alex Webb-Peploe | Illustrators: Magriet Brink & Alex Webb-Peploe | Writing team: Amy Smith, Ed Drew, Cathy
Dalton, Rachel Allord & Paula Standal
Living Out (www.livingout.org) commissioned Faith in Kids (www.faithinkids.org) to produce these resources to help children build
a permanent identity based on God’s word. Visit www.faithinkids.org to download these resources and look out for accompanying
podcasts for both children and parents.
New identity
Saul was an outrageous choice. Jesus didn’t pick the good guy; he picked a
terrorist. Saul had a very clear idea of who he was, and it absolutely wasn’t being a
Jesus-follower. But God had other plans. He chose Saul to be not only a Christian
but an apostle to the Gentiles. Saul’s new identity as a child of God wasn’t
something he came up with for himself. It was the ultimate unexpected gift.
3 Who Am I? · Lesson 6
Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews
living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
ACTS 9:22
New direction
Saul’s identity change was baffling to those who knew him. The chapter begins
with him threatening Christians with death. 20 verses later he’s preaching that
Jesus is the Son of God. His new identity led to a complete transformation in his
thoughts, motivations and behaviour. He became God’s instrument (v15) and
Ananias’s brother (v17). Instead of persecuting disciples, he joined the family of
believers (v28). All his passion, determination and ability was for Jesus instead
of against him. When our hearts are won by Jesus, our lives will head in a new
direction; change is inevitable.
Constant help
Saul’s character and behaviour didn’t change by his own effort alone; he was
transformed from within, by the Holy Spirit, and encouraged by his new family
of faith. We share this experience. We have the gift of the Spirit changing us. Our
brothers and sisters in Christ are one of the key tools the Spirit uses. We can live out
our identity as Christians, even when it’s hard, because we know we are never alone.
What is your story? How has God worked to change you? When you’ve felt like giving up
or despaired at your lack of spiritual progress, who did God put in your life to help you?
The Spirit often uses gloriously ordinary, yet extraordinary, ways of working: a
friend, your home group, a moment, a song, a flower, a verse, your church. Growth
is often hard to see in ourselves. Just like it takes a trip to Granny’s for the kids to
hear, ‘Haven’t you grown!’, sometimes we need others to tell us about the Spirit’s
transforming work in our lives. Why not ring someone who has known you for a while
and ask them how they’ve seen God at work in you?
• In what ways is the Holy Spirit changing you to become more like Jesus? Maybe
you’re more aware of a particular sin or you can see progress in your thought life.
• Think of one way God has used other Christians to help you grow as a
follower of Jesus.
4 Who Am I? · Lesson 6
ALL TOGETHER TIME
Flexible resource: This has been written as an all-age slot to introduce the whole church family
to what the children are learning today, but it could be adapted for the children’s classes.
Being a Christian is like being on a path. Put your wallpaper roll down on the
Imagine this wallpaper roll is that path, the Christian life. Walking along ground and push it out to unroll it.
this path is us living our lives for Jesus from today to glory with him
forever.
Step by step. Day by day.
Jesus helped get us onto this path. We didn’t get here on our own. Have a child volunteer come
forward. Lift them onto the path.
We go where Jesus leads. Every day, we’re making decisions to follow him.
Step by step. Day by day. The child takes a few steps forwards.
But we are not alone on this path.
The day the Spirit came to the disciples, he came with the noise of Give the child a heart with a flame
wind and flames on their heads. From that day, every Christian is given drawn on.
the same Spirit.
Everyone repeats the words and
So firstly; we are not alone. actions:
The Spirit is with us. We are not alone.
Point up and then down.
The Spirit came to help Jesus’ friends and to change them to be more
and more like him. Stand next to the child on the
The Spirit is ‘God with us.’ path and hold their hand.
Everyone repeats the words and
actions:
continued
5 Who Am I? · Lesson 6
What to Say What to Do
That’s not all. God has put other people with us on the path to help us, Get 1 or 2 more children to join the
love us and teach us. child on the path.
It’s great having other people on the path. Encourage the group to walk along
When he falls over, she picks him up. the wallpaper path.
And when she’s fed up, someone makes her a lasagne. Point at them as you talk.
When he doesn’t know what to do, one of them shares a Bible verse. Mime looking into the distance
They pray together. along the path
When he’s having a meltdown because it all feels too hard, and there’s Point back the way they came.
too far to go, she points out how far they’ve come.
God is working in and through his people. Everyone repeats the words and
1) We are not alone actions:
2) We expect Jesus to change us Point up and then down.
3) We keep going together Point to your heart.
Point at the people either side of you.
Send the children back to their seats.
If you’re trusting Jesus, you’re on the same path and you have the
same help.
Jesus promised that everyone who trusts him will be given the Spirit
to be their helper.
And this room is packed full of wonderful stories of the Spirit at work
in the hearts and lives of his people - we have help. And the Spirit is at
work in us together. Everyone repeats the words and
Final time… actions:
1) We are not alone Point up and then down.
2) We expect Jesus to change us Point to your heart.
3) We keep going together Point at the people either side of you.
continued
6 Who Am I? · Lesson 6
What to Say What to Do
Today, with each other, in your families or with your friends, take the
time to share your story of how God has worked to change you.
Take the time to tell someone else, ‘Look how far you’ve come!’
Pray.
7 Who Am I? · Lesson 6
Get Teaching Brain Heart &
Going Time Break Hands
You’ll need a large enough space for the children to travel from one side of the You will need: 2 signs
room to the other and change direction. Place the signs on opposite walls. - ‘Jesus’ way’ and ‘My
Call out the direction you want the children to travel e.g. ‘My way’. When you shout way’, Blu Tack/tape.
a different destination they need to change direction. Develop the game by asking
the children to walk, crawl, hop, skip, slide on their belly, run etc.
Link: Today we’re thinking about how Christians change when they live
Jesus’ way not their own way. God helps us to keep going in the right direction.
TEACHING TIME
Place the strips of paper on the floor. Write ‘My way’ on one of the strips with an Use a suitable
Bible translation -
arrow pointing along its length. Write ‘Jesus’ way’ on the other strip with an arrow we use the International
pointing in the opposite direction. Children’s Bible
(found online at
www.biblegateway.com).
Old Path
You will need: a roll of
Explain that people who don’t follow Jesus are living their own way, not Jesus’ way. brown paper, cut into 2
Saul, the man in today’s story, was living his way. strips and a marker pen.
Ask a child to act as Saul - have them stand on the ‘My Way’ path. Read Acts 9:1-2. For pictures of this
As you read, ask ‘Saul’ and some children to act out: story look at www.
freebibleimages.com.
• Saul finding Christians (standing on the ‘Jesus’ way’ strip), arresting them and Or search YouTube for
taking them away to Jerusalem. ‘Saddleback Kids Paul
• Saul telling them to stop being a Christian or he would hurt them. Acts’ for a video.
Talking pairs: What did Saul do that showed he was living his way? What sort of
things do people do to show they’re living their way?
New Path
Read Acts 9:3-6, 15, 28. As you read, ask ‘Saul’ to act out:
• Hearing Jesus speak to him (v3-6).
• Being put on a new path to live ‘Jesus’ way’ (v15).
• Telling people about Jesus and starting new churches (v28).
continued
8 Who Am I? · Lesson 6
Explain that when a person becomes a Christian, Jesus puts them on a new path -
they move from living their way to his way. Jesus gives them his Spirit to help them
become more like him. Normally, we can’t see or hear the Spirit, but he changes the
way we think, feel and make decisions, usually slowly over time. For Saul, the Spirit
changed his thinking and decisions very quickly!
Optional: You could play a quick game where the children walk in the ‘My way’
direction. When you give them a cut out of a flame, they change direction and
walk ‘Jesus’ way’.
Talking pairs: How did the Spirit change Saul? What did he do differently? What
things do people do when the Spirit is changing them to live Jesus’ way?
Never Alone
Often, Jesus helps his people by giving them other Christians.
Read Acts 9:17. As you read, ask ‘Saul’ and some children to act out:
• Ananias and Saul praying and talking about Jesus on the ‘Jesus’ way’ path.
• Helping Saul to keep going when people tried to kill him for speaking about
Jesus.
Talking pairs: Who are the Christians who help you to live for Jesus? What do they
do to help you?
Finish by explaining that everyone, even us, starts out like Saul, living our own way.
Get the children to stand on the ‘My way’ path. When we started to follow Jesus, he
put us on a new path. Get the children to move to the ‘Jesus’ way’ path.
Jesus gives us his Spirit to change us and to help us live his way, together. Get the
children to cheer each other on/link arms and walk along the ‘Jesus’ way’ path.
God promises to help us as we follow him. He will never leave us on our own.
BRAIN BREAK
Link: We can trust God to help us change and to become more like Jesus.
We’re not on our own as Christians, we have the Spirit and each other to help
us live Jesus’ way.
9 Who Am I? · Lesson 6
HEART & HANDS
Craft time - Make a cuff bracelet Make a craft and have a chat.
Give the children time to
reflect on today’s big truth, so
Prepare in advance: cut out the rectangles from the craft sheet. Cut the toilet it can impact their hearts.
paper tubes open (diagram - cut 1) and then cut them in half (diagram - cut 2) to
make 2 cuffs that can be worn on the wrist. You will need: printouts
of the craft sheet page
Give each child a ‘We are not alone’ rectangle and a toilet paper cuff. They decorate (1 per 6 children), glue,
the rectangle and then glue it to the cuff. Make the Truth that changes me personal scissors, crayons/
to the children. Encourage them to wear their cuff bracelet to remind them that coloured pens, stickers
they are never alone when they have the Holy Spirit. God also gives us other and toilet paper tubes (1
Christians to help us to keep living Jesus’ way. Help them to write the names of a per 2 children).
few people who help them on their cuff.
Think time
Big Question: Who is always with you to help you to become more like Jesus? The
Holy Spirit.
A follow up question: Which people help you to keep following Jesus?
Prayer
Say together: Dear God, thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to be with us forever.
Thank you for giving us one another to help us keep trusting you. Amen.
10 Who Am I? · Lesson 6
Get Teaching Brain Heart &
Going Time Break Hands
Pair up the children. One is blindfolded and the other is the guide. The blindfolded You will need:
child must draw a simple object e.g. a house. The guide helps them by giving blindfolds, sheets of
instructions and repositioning the pencil. paper and pencils.
Options for a different challenge - make paper aeroplanes or do a short obstacle
course.
Link: It made a big difference to have a helper as you did the challenge. You
were not on your own. As Christians, we have help and we’re not alone. We
have the Holy Spirit and his people to help us.
TEACHING TIME
Saul (also known as Paul - Acts 13:9) couldn’t change direction on his own. He needed
to meet Jesus and have his eyes opened. Jesus put him on a new path.
11 Who Am I? · Lesson 6
Help That Never Leaves
God helped Saul a lot as he started following Jesus. Read Acts 9:10-19 and write the
different kinds of help on the ‘Jesus’ way’ path.
• v11 - A home for him to stay in.
• v17 - A friend to pray for him.
• v17 - The Holy Spirit.
• v19 - Food to eat.
We all need help to keep following Jesus. God helps us in many different ways.
Often the way God helps is by giving us other Christians to show us how to live for
Jesus.
BRAIN BREAK
continued
12 Who Am I? · Lesson 6
Work it out
• How would you explain how the Spirit helps us to a friend who doesn’t know
Jesus?
A chance to reflect and chat
• If you’re a Christian, what’s an example in your life of how the Spirit is helping about how the truth, through
you to be more like Jesus? Did you ask him to help you with this? the Spirit’s work, changes
our thoughts (head), feelings
(heart) and actions (hands).
Live it out
Use the Chat Time sheet
Look at case study picture A: Imagine this is a boy in your class at school. He feels – you could enlarge it and
work on it together. Hand out
like a failure because he keeps getting it wrong and messing up. sticky notes so children can
still respond personally.
• Describe his feelings - what does his body feel like (tummy, shoulders, hands,
chest)?
• Do you think he believes he can change? How could you encourage him?
• Jesus didn’t give us the Spirit to make us better at maths, art, football or
gaming. The Spirit helps to make us more like Jesus. What might that look like
in this situation?
• What could he tell himself in this moment when he feels like he can’t carry
on?
Or look at case study picture B: Imagine this is a girl you know. She feels like a hero
because she’s a winner.
• How do you think she is feeling? How would you be feeling? (Don’t stop at
‘happy’! Some feelings are very godly, and some are very selfish; can you help
the children to think about those?)
• Do you think she feels like she’s going in the right direction today? Why?
• What might she need the Spirit’s help with? What could the Spirit help her to
remember?
Extra Stretch
These questions are designed
• What do you know about how the Spirit helps Christians? Have you seen
to stretch the resource up to
that in your life and/or other people’s? Are you convinced that he is helping teenage years. Depending
Christians today? on the level of discussion in
your group, you may want to
• What would you say to a Christian who is struggling to keep going and thinks consider using them.
they might as well give up?
• Do you think Saul struggled with guilt and shame about his past? Look at 1
Timothy 1:15-16 to see what he says about himself. How did he have the guts
to be so different to how he was before? What can we say when we don’t see
change happening in ways we would like?
Prayer
Ask these questions to prompt personal responses:
• How has God helped you recently? What changes do you see that you can
thank God for?
• What help do you need? What do you want to ask God to help you with?
Consider starting a group prayer diary so you can reflect on how God helps, makes
changes in individuals and answers prayers.
13 Who Am I? · Lesson 6
A
B
Jesus’ Jesus’
way way
Who Am I? · Lesson 6
Acts 9:1-28, John 14:16-17 Acts 9:1-28, John 14:16-17
Jesus’ Jesus’
way way
DID YOU SPOT IT? ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give
you another . He will give you
this to be with you forever.’
What did Jesus promise us?
JOHN 14:16
What changed in
Saul’s life after How is God helping us?
My way
meeting Jesus?
Jesus’ way
His Spirit His People
WORK IT OUT
Give everyone a chance to answer...
tummy hands
How do you
think this girl
is feeling?
How would you be feeling?
Why?
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