Choosing a New Leader Based on Acts 1:15–17, 21–26

Resource Sheet May 16, 2021 Choosing a New Leader based on Acts 1:15–17, 21–26

Choosing which name to use for Peter stood up and said, “You all know that each story figure introduces Jesus chose 12 of his disciples to be leaders. One of these leaders has gone and now we the theme of making are only 11. We need to choose someone else choices. to help us. The person we choose needs to be someone who has been with us from the time John baptized Jesus until this day.”

fter Jesus’ death and resurrection, Everyone looked around the room. Who had Jesus’ friends knew it was important been with Jesus from the beginning? to continue the work Jesus had “Justus,” called a voice from the back of the A room. started. Jesus had asked them to help people everywhere and teach people how to live “Matthias,” said someone near the door. in God’s way. Jesus’ friends began to meet in small groups to make their plans. (Invite Justus and Matthias were both good people. children to group their figures together with two or “How can we choose between them?” asked three others.) Peter. “How would Jesus have decided?”

Word spread and soon more and more people Everyone remembered that Jesus had prayed wanted to join the community of believers. to God whenever there was a decision to Soon there was more work than the leaders make, big or small. So Jesus’ followers decided could manage. The leaders were 11 of Jesus’ to pray to God too and to ask for God’s help. closest friends, and one was named Peter. Then, knowing that God was in charge, they (Invite the child with the Peter figure to place it in cast lots, which is something like rolling dice. the middle of the Church Leadership circle created From this, Matthias was chosen to be the new in Engage.) Peter called an important meeting leader. (Move Matthias into the circle.) and 120 people came. Some of their names are written down in the Bible. (Invite children The Bible doesn’t tell us what happened to to place their figures in the circle as the names Justus, but we know he was already a follower are called.) Besides Peter, the other men were of Jesus. So he probably kept on helping the called John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, rest of Jesus’ friends to spread the good news Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of of God’s love. (Move Justus into the circle too.) Alphaeus, Simon, and Judas the son of James. Mary the mother of Jesus was there too. So were Jesus’ brothers. Other women were probably there also: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, Salome.

100 Seasons of the Spirit™ Multiage/Ages 5–122021 2020 Resource Sheet May 16, 2021 Twelve Questions Who exactly were the “twelve disciples”? Matthew 10:2–4 lists twelve names. But Luke 6:14–16 has a 1 different list. What names are different between the two lists? ______(John 1:45–49) Hey, wait a minute! What about this guy? He seems to have been a pretty important 2 disciple, but he isn’t on any of the lists of twelve disciples in Matthew, Mark, or Luke. What’s his name? ______(Matthew 9:9) Matthew the tax collector gets added to the group of disciples. But now read Luke 5:27. 3 Wait a minute! I wonder why the tax collector is called ______in this gospel? 4 In Mark 10:46–52, ______becomes a disciple of Jesus. But he’s not on the official list either. Well, maybe there were more than twelve disciples. The writer of Luke offers this explanation 5 ______(Luke 6:13) John’s gospel does not have a list of twelve disciples or apostles. The writer offers a different understanding 6 of who the disciples were: “anyone who ______is a disciple.” (John 8:31) All the way through John’s gospel there is an unnamed mystery disciple whom John simply calls “___ 7 ______.” Read John 21:20–24. I wonder who it was? In John 20:16 ______calls Jesus “Rabbouni.” This is the Hebrew word that means 8 “______.” It is the word disciples used to address the one who was their teacher and leader. So this person is also a disciple. In fact, she’s the first person to see Jesus alive after the crucifixion and definitely meets the criteria for a disciple in the Book of Acts (“a witness to the resurrection and follower of Jesus”). Give a possible explanation why this person wasn’t one of those suggested to replace Judas. ______Why do you think no women were suggested to replace Judas in the story from Acts 1? It’s not that there 9 weren’t women around. John 12:1–3 tells the story of two sisters, ______and ______, who were very close friends of Jesus. (Mark 15:40–41) Mark’s gospel names three women who were disciples of Jesus; these and other 10 unnamed women waited with Jesus at the cross while the men, including Peter, ran away. What are their names? ______and ______and ______(Luke 8:1–3) Luke also talks about women who were followers of Jesus. They had money, it 11 seems, because they helped to pay for Jesus’ ministry out of their own pockets. Who were they? ______and ______and ______Who was the new apostle chosen to replace Judas? (see Acts 1:26)

12 ______

10. Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Salome; 11. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Suzanna and Joanna, Magdalene, Mary 11. Salome; James, of mother Mary Magdalene, Mary 10.

Martha; and Mary 9. Magdalene; Mary 8. loved; Jesus whom one the 7. him; in believes 6. apostles; be to them of 12 only chose

1. Judas son of James and Thaddaeus; 2. Nathanael; 3. Levi; 4. Bartimaeus; 5. There were more than twelve disciples but Jesus Jesus but disciples twelve than more were There 5. Bartimaeus; 4. Levi; 3. Nathanael; 2. Thaddaeus; and James of son Judas 1. Answers:

Resource Sheet May 16, 2021

names to your list. your to names

acting as good disciples. Add their their Add disciples. good as acting

Do it now: Look for those who are are who those for Look now: it Do

are good disciples. disciples. good are

5. List four people who you think think you who people four List

God’s work. God’s

know who are involved in doing doing in involved are who know

Do it now: Pray for leaders you you leaders for Pray now: it Do

who give caring leadership leadership caring give who

your church, or your community community your or church, your

1. List some people in your school, school, your in people some List

today. 6. Write down one way you can

to use one of your leadership skills skills leadership your of one use to

help care for our world. today. make you decisions the with

Do it now: Look for an opportunity opportunity an for Look now: it Do Do it now: Ask God to help you you help to God Ask now: it Do

Do it now: Look for an

opportunity to do something to

might need to make this week. week. this make to need might

you a good leader. leader. good a you care for the earth today. 3.

Write down a decision you you decision a down Write 4. List three things that make make that things three List

2. Name some of your own leadership gifts or abilities.

Do it now: Think of a way you can use one of your gifts today to help someone else.

102 Seasons of the Spirit™ Multiage/Ages 5–122021 2020