Unit 32 • Session 1 Peter Escaped from Prison

Bible Passage: Acts 12

Story Point: God rescued Peter from prison.

Key Passage: Matthew 28:19-20

Big Picture Question: What is our mission as Christians? Our mission is to make followers of Jesus from every nation by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The BIBLE Story

Peter Escaped from Prison Acts 12

King Herod was mean to believers in the church. He hurt some of them, and he put Peter in prison. The king told groups of soldiers to stand guard at the prison so Peter could not escape. While Peter was in prison, other believers in the church prayed and asked God to help him. That night, Peter was sleeping in the prison. There was a guard on his left and a guard on his right. He was tied up with chains. All of a sudden, an angel appeared and a bright light shone in the prison. The angel woke up Peter. “Quick, get up!” the angel said. The chains fell off of Peter’s wrists. He put on his shoes and his coat, and he followed the angel. The angel led Peter out of the prison. He walked past the guards. The gate opened for them, and they walked out onto the street. Then the angel left. Peter looked around. The Lord had rescued him! Peter hurried to a house where other believers were praying. When Peter knocked at the door, a servant named Rhoda answered. She heard Peter’s voice and she was so happy she ran back inside without letting Peter in. “Peter is here!” she said. “He is at the door!” No one believed her. “You’re crazy!” they said. But Peter kept knocking, so they opened the door and welcomed him in. Peter told them how the Lord had rescued him from prison.

Christ Connection: God heard the prayers of the people. He had a plan for Peter, and He helped him escape from prison. Peter knew he might die because he believed in Jesus, but he wanted to share the good news about Jesus no matter what.

Bible Storytelling Tips

Knock, knock, knock: Arrange for an adult leader to leave the room as the Bible story begins. At the appropriate time, the leader should begin to knock on the door. The storyteller will answer the door and act out what Rhoda did in the story.

Sleep and wake: Direct preschoolers to lay on the floor and pretend to sleep. Tell them to keep their eyes closed until they hear, “Quick, get up,” at which point they should quickly sit up and listen to the rest of the Bible story.

Activity page “Match the Doors” activity page, 1 per child crayons or markers

Guide children to draw lines to connect matching doors. Say • You matched the doors. In today’s Bible story, Peter was knocking on a door. A servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. She was so excited to hear Peter at the door, she forgot to let him in! Listen to the Bible story to hear why Rhoda was so happy to hear Peter’s voice.

Knock, knock chant

Gather boys and girls in a circle. Begin a “Knock, Knock” chant as follows: You: Knock, knock Group: Who’s there? You: [Your name] Group: [Your name] who? You: Your friend, [Your name] Group: Hi, [Your name]! Go around the circle, leading each child to introduce himself or herself. Say • Seeing our friends is great! In today’s Bible story, Peter’s friends wanted to see him, but Peter was in prison! King Herod had put him there because Peter would not stop telling people about Jesus. Listen to what amazing thing happened for Peter to be able to knock, knock, knock on his friends’ door.

TEACH THE STORY

Introduce the Bible story Bible Place a bookmark at Acts 12 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible. bookmark Say • Today’s Bible story is found in the New Testament Book of Acts. The New Testament is the part of Giant Timeline the Bible that tells about the things that happened after Jesus came to live on the earth. We can know this story really happened because the words in the Bible are God’s words, and God’s words are true. Point to the Bible story picture on the giant timeline. Remind children that all the stories in the Bible fit together to tell an even bigger story. The Bible tells us the big story of how God rescues sinners through His Son, Jesus.

Watch or tell the Bible story

Story Point Poster “Peter Escaped from Prison” video (optional) Bible Story Picture Poster

Show the video or tell the Bible story using the provided storytelling tips. Use the bolded version of the Bible story for young preschoolers.

Preschool Leader Guide Unit 32, Session 1 © Copyright 2020 LifeWay Say • What an exciting story! Peter was in prison because he told people about Jesus. His friends prayed and asked God to help him. God heard the prayers of His people. God rescued Peter from prison by sending an angel to help him. God planned for Peter to keep on telling people about Jesus.

Practice the key passage Bible Key Passage Marker Key Passage Poster “Matthew 28:19-20” song “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy” song

Place the key passage marker at Matthew 28:19-20. Invite a child to open your Bible to the key passage. Read the key passage aloud. Create motions for preschoolers to use as they say the key passage. Use the key passage song video for inspiration. Say • Peter was with Jesus when Jesus said these words to His disciples, and Peter obeyed them. He told people about Jesus and taught them how to obey God. Sing the key passage song, “Matthew 28:19-20,” and the theme song, “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy.”

Learn the big picture question Big Picture Question Poster

Say • Peter knew that God wanted him to help people follow Jesus. That was his mission, or important job. Even though Peter knew that he might be put in prison or die because he believed in Jesus, he obeyed God. Peter shared the good news about Jesus no matter what. What is our mission as Christians? Our mission is to make followers of Jesus from every nation by the power of the Holy Spirit.

EXPERIENCE THE STORY

Sing the story

Lead children in singing the lyrics below to the tune of “London Bridge.” Make up motions as you go. “Peter was asleep in jail, sleep in jail, sleep in jail. Peter was asleep in jail. People prayed.

Peter’s friends asked God to help, God to help, God to help. Peter’s friends asked God to help. An angel came.

Angel said, ‘Pete, get up quick! Get up quick! Get up quick!’ Angel said, ‘Pete, get up quick! Gates swung open.

Peter hurried to the house, to the house, to the house. Peter hurried to the house. Knock, knock, knock.

Peter said, ‘God rescued me! Rescued me! Rescued me!’ Peter said, ‘God rescued me!’ Thank You, God!” Say • God heard the prayers of the people. He had a plan for Peter, and God rescued Peter from prison. Peter knew he might die because he believed in Jesus, but he wanted to share the good news about Jesus no matter what.

Play out the story in a “house”

large appliance box utility knife (adult use) duct tape markers Bible

Before the session, cut a door in the side of an upside down cardboard appliance box. Fashion a handle with duct tape. Suggest children decorate the house, inside and out. Guide children to play out the Bible story. Open a Bible to Acts 12 and show children where the Bible says the believers prayed. Say • God heard the prayers of the people, and God rescued Peter from prison. Rhoda was so excited that God answered their prayers, she even forgot to let Peter into the house! Thank You, God, for this true story from the Bible. Thank You for answering the believers’ prayers! God, help us to want to share the good news about Jesus no matter what.

Explore chains and locks locks and keys

Set out a variety of locks and keys for children to explore. Say • Peter was tied up in chains when God rescued Peter from prison. God sent an angel to help Peter in answer to His people’s prayers. When the angel told Peter to get up, the chains fell off of Peter’s wrists. He followed the angel all the way out of the prison gate! Peter knew that God wanted him to share the good news about Jesus with everyone, no matter what. This was Peter’s mission, the main thing God wanted him to do. God wants us to share the good news too. What is our mission as Christians? Our mission is to make followers of Jesus from every nation by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Create knocking art smocks heavyweight paper gallon-sized ziplock bags washable paint

Insert a sheet of heavyweight paper into ziplock bag. Help a child squirt a small amount of paint into the bag on the front of the paper. Remove as much air as possible, seal the bag, and lay it on a flat surface. Show her how to knock on the bag, using her knuckles to spread the paint across the paper. Carefully remove the paper and set it aside to dry. Say • After God rescued Peter from prison, Peter hurried to the house where his friends were praying. He knock, knock, knocked on the door. God had heard the prayers of the people and answered with a yes! He had a plan for Peter. Peter knew he might die because he believed in Jesus, but he wanted to share the good news about Jesus no matter what.

Snack and review countdown video (optional) Allergy Alert paper cups and napkins snack food Bible Story Picture Poster Big Picture Question Poster fruit leather strips (optional)

Play the countdown video to signal the end of activities. Wash hands and gather preschoolers for snack time. Pray, thanking God for the snack. Serve fruit leather strips for snack if you did not serve snacks earlier. Suggest preschoolers lay their strips in parallel lines to look like prison bars. Remind boys and girls that King Herod was mean to people who believed in Jesus, but God rescued Peter from prison. God had a plan for Peter. Show the Bible story picture as you ask the following questions. Retell parts of the Bible story as needed. What were the believers in the church doing while Peter was in prison? (praying for God to help Peter) Did God hear and answer their prayers? (Yes!) Who woke Peter and led him out of the prison gates? (an angel) What did Rhoda do when she heard Peter’s voice at the door? (She was so happy she ran back inside without letting Peter in.) What is our mission as Christians? Our mission is to make followers of Jesus from every nation by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Transition Bible Story Coloring Page crayons Key Passage Poster Big Picture Question Poster “Matthew 28:19-20” song “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy” song Big Picture Cards for Families: Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

When preschoolers finish their snack, they may color the Bible story coloring page, play a simple game to practice the key passage or big picture question, or sing along to the key passage or theme song.