Unit 21 Theme: lesson 8 How Believers Live

Using Our Gifts

STEP . Life Need (5–10 minutes) Basis: 1 Peter uses his God-given gift of healing to restore the • Fill in “baseball cards” with one another’s talents lame beggar and (Acts 3:1-22; 9:36-43). and abilities. --Bible Adventures p. 1 Bible Truth: God gives all believers abilities, great and small, to use in --Whiteboard and marker, pencils His work. Lesson Aim: (15–20 minutes) STEP 2 . Bible Learning That your students will explore ways to use their abilities LES. 8 • Bible Study: Discover how Peter used his for God. spiritual gifts to help others. --Bible Adventures pp. 2-3 -- • Bible Review: Learn individual talents in UnderStanding context of the Bible study. the This week you’ll see how God gives Peter ▫▫“Helper Search” Teaching Aid—prepare before class, scissors, pencils the gift of healing and uses him to restore • Memory Work: Learn Colossians 3:17. BibLe the lame beggar and raise Dorcas. --Bibles The two incidents in this week’s Bible story—the --Whiteboard, marker, eraser healing of the lame man and the raising of Dorcas—are unrelated, except that both show Peter being used by God. STEP 3 . Bible Application (5–10 minutes) The two miracles are divided from each other in both time • Read a story about a girl who discovers that and place. everyone’s gifts are necessary to do God’s work. The healing of the lame man took place near the --Bible Adventures p. 4 temple. On the east side of the temple was the Beautiful Gate. (Perhaps it was the main entrance from the STEP 4 . Life Response (about 5 minutes) east into the inner court; this gate was made of Corinthian • Students learn how the Holy Spirit empowers us bronze.) Beside it sat a beggar who had been lame from and leads us to help others. --Index cards, pens or pencils for each student birth. As Peter and John approached the temple, the beg- • Optional Activity: Prayer journal assignment gar made his plea. Instead of giving him money, God used Peter to heal the man in the name of . The healing was instantaneous and complete—the man was standing, walk- Memory Verse ing, and even leaping for the first time in his life!

Whatever you do, whether in word or This was the first healing miracle of the apostles to be deed, do it all in the name of the Lord recorded in detail. It was followed by Peter’s second sermon Jesus. (Acts 3:11-26). Peter preached about Jesus and said that —Colossians 3:17

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▫▫indicates items you will need to prepare before class

Lesson 8 71 LES. 8 72 Understanding theBibLe the churchgrew. (Greek), alsocalledTabitha (Aramaic),openedhereyesandsatup. prayed, andaddressedDorcasdirectly, tellinghertogetup.Dorcas Jairus’s daughter(Mark5:37-42).Petersenteveryoneoutoftheroom, them. PeterfollowedthesamepatternasJesusdidwhenHeraised whom Dorcashadhelpedshowedhimtheclothesshesewnfor Dorcas, aChristianwoman,haddied.WhenPeterarrived,thewidows While there,PeterhadanurgentmessagetocomenearbyJoppa. where hehadhealedAeneas,paralyzedforeightyears(Acts9:32-35). called onthepeopletorepentandbeconverted. it wasthroughHisnamethatthismanmadestrong.ThenPeter TiPS Understanding YourStudents Through Peter’s giftofhealing,manycametobelieveinJesus,and The secondmiraclewasevenmorestartling.PeteratLydda, expectations grow. Somemaytrytocover family andinpeergroups asabilitiesand They maybeuncertainabout theirrole inthe comparing themselveswiththeirpeers. physical changeshavethemconstantly make themfeelhesitantandinsecure. Rapid are filledwithlotsofthings thatcantendto The livesofyourupper-elementary students Classroom • Help yourstudentsseethatitisnottheirtalentsandabilities • Your studentswillbediscussingoneanother’s spiritualgiftsthis • Unfortunately, thestudentswhogetmostattentionareoften them. that youfindsomething valuable andspecialabouteachof You thesetechniquestoletyourstudentsknow maywant totry gives theirlivesmeaning. the talentsandabilitiesthattheydohaveinGod-pleasingways make themworthyinyoureyes. Rather, itistheirwillingnesstouse important asthehighlyvisibleones. week. Pointoutthefactthat “behind-the-scenes” giftsarejustas in themiddle. get overlooked. Try togiveattentionandaffirmationthesestudents exceedingly brightorperpetuallydisruptiveones. The quietonesmay —cont’d real needsandfears. surface behaviorofyourstudentstotheir downs, orsilliness. these insecure feelingswith bravado,put- As theirteacher, youcanlookbeyondthe

..PRESESSION ACTIVITIES Aids packet. Creative Teachingthe this unit It”“Do CD, ontheDisKit found in n For Worship Time: Use thesongfor  decorate withtheribbon! someone to wrap upasalarge and gift Choosepaper andsomeribbon. activity. alarge Bring roll ofwrapping by God, you thisfun may want to try n To explainthat eachpersonis “gifted”  fractions. who isgoodat math, helpedmewith how to lead;Jason,my olderbrother Mr. ismy scoutmaster, Ortega heknows me pianolessonsbecausesheismusical; used. For gives Nakamoto example:Mrs. who helpthemandtheabilitiesthey differentknow namesofpeoplethey n Have students write down asmany students arrive. fromSelect thefollowing as activities  player wrapping paperandribbon Whiteboard, markers DisKit CD,DisKit CD Lesson 8

LES. 8 73 What hobbies, clubs, lessons, music, or sports are you involved in? (Write What hobbies, clubs, lessons, music, reponses on the board.) . p. 1 Bible Adventures, Whiteboard and markers Pencils Everyone has gifts and abilities. Sometimes we just need a prompt to think and and abilities. Sometimes we just Everyone has gifts than your normal schoolwork. Let’s survey all your activities other Ask a student to read aloud the instructions at the top of the page. Each student will Ask a student to read aloud the instructions by thinking about what makes each person Make all your comments positive what their themselves read to them to ask When students receive their pages back, of being God uses many different types of people and skills to do His work. Part ------Today’s lesson, from Acts 3:1-22; 9:36-43, will show students how Peter uses his God- Acts 3:1-22; 9:36-43, will show students Today’s lesson, from Dorcas to life. The students to heal the lame beggar and bring given gift of healing use in His work. To connect gives believers different abilities to will learn that God importance of each person’s this activity to help students see the to today’s lesson, use gift and abilities. activities. see our gifts demonstrated in our talk about them. We Objective: That your students will see the importance of everyone’s gifts in everyone’s gifts importance of will see the That your students Objective: God’s work. Materials: . Although our class is made up of people who are involved in very different and Although our class is made up of important thing we all have in common. We’re interesting activities, there’s one very special team where everyone is an MVP, most all on a team together. This is a very will explain what I’m talking about. valuable player. Page 1 in Bible Adventures by drawing the face on the player and filling in begin working on his or her own paper will pass their papers around the table and the other blanks on the card. Next, students the right on another student’s paper. write positive comments in the box on if you focus on less obvious qualities— special. This activity will be very interesting when someone is upset, or a cheerful like being a good listener, an encourager be passed to person who can make you laugh. If you have more time, the pages may several students. use their abilities to serve to pledge the Then have them sign have written. classmates God. work. A big the Church, the Body of Christ, is that we work together to do God’s used their part of working together is helping others. The people of the early church help others. gifts for God. In our lesson toay, we’ll see how Peter used his gift to Let’s find out how Peter was enabled to help.

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explore ways to use explore ways to use

Life Need Life Need (5–10 minutes) their abilities for God. That your students will will That your students STEP Lesson 8 Lesson Lesson Aim: LES. 8 Bible Basis: restore thelamebeggar STEP given giftofhealingto 74 and Dorcas(Acts3:1- (15–20 minutes) Bible Learning Peter useshisGod-

2 22; 9:36-43). .

. . Materials: the apostles. Objective: ThatyourstudentswillappreciatethevarietyofgiftsGodgave Bible Adventures. themselves. 2 and3,“PowertoHelp.”Askthemreadtheintroductionfootnotes later inthelesson.DistributeBibleAdventuresandhaveyourstudentsturntopages Ask students to find Acts 3 and 9 in their Bibles and bookmark these chapters to use Bible Study ------Choose avolunteertoreadthefirstScriptureSpotlightsection(Acts3:3-5)from “Helper Search”TeachingAid—preparebeforeclass,scissors Bibles Bible Adventures,pp.2-3 Whiteboard, marker,eraser Pencils . . been lookingaroundforotherpeoplefromwhomtobeg.) the manwasusedtopeoplepassinghimbywithoutevenlookingathim.Hemayhave Why doyouthinkPetertoldthemantolookathimandJohn?(Perhaps What didthemanexpectfromPeterandJohn?(Money,orperhapsfood.) Acts 3:6-8. Choose another student to read the nextsection, . . . . After reading thetransitionparagraph, havea sins couldbewipedout.) (Turn awayfromtheirsinsand turntoGodsotheir healing camethroughJesus. it mayhavebeenshocking to hearPetersaythe out thatthepeoplehadnotbelievedinJesus,so by faithinJesusthatthemanwashealed.)Point not PeterorJohnwhohadhealedtheman.Itwas man? to readActs3:12-13,19-20fromtheirBible. Read the transitional paragraph, then ask astudent from God.) awe ofHispower.YouwouldbelieveHehadcome want toknowmoreaboutthisJesus.Youwouldbein Him afterbeinghealed?(Youwouldprobably heard ofJesus,whatwouldyouthink money insteadofbegging. now hewouldhavetheabilitytogooutandearn students theimplicationsofman’shealing: money? . . . . What didPetertellthepeople todo? What didPetersayabouthealingthe If youwerethemanandhadnever What didPetergivethemaninsteadof (The peopleshouldn’tbesurprised;itwas (The abilitytowalk)Pointoutyour Lesson 8 LES. 8 75 (It caused many people to believe in the Lord.) (It caused many people (She was always doing good and helping poor always doing good and (She was How did Dorcas show her Christian love to Christian love Dorcas show her How did clue do we have that In :42, what . . others? people.) helped the early Dorcas’s death actually church? the concluding paragraph. Help Have a student read power— Spirit’s it was the Holy your students see that in these miracles. Peter used not Peter’s—at work about others, not he cared his spiritual gifts because to bring attention to himself. because he wanted glory goes to When the Holy Spirit is at work, the God. Prepare the Teaching Aid for Lesson 8, “Helper Prepare the Teaching Aid for Lesson from Teaching Search.” Before class, cut out the cards several Aid 9. If you need more cards, photocopy don’t fill up a (each card is different, so all students to photocopy line at the same time. Make sure not teams. In class, just one card) or have students play in a pencil. They give each student or team a card and someone with should go around the room finding find a they time Every card. the on listed talent the on the card. match, the person must sign their name student read Acts 9:36-37, 39-42 from their Bible. from their Bible. Acts 9:36-37, 39-42 student read Bible Review . . How can using your talents be a way that the Holy Spirit . helps you help others? . To start, students should sign their name in only one square on the card. To start, students should sign their name if no one fills a line. The game If needed, students can sign more squares the card—vertically, horizontally, is over when someone fills one line of or diagonally. Ask a volunteer to write Colossians 3:17 on the board. Next, invite volunteers to volunteers invite Next, board. the on 3:17 Colossians write to volunteer a Ask Memory Work their Bibles. You don’t have to wait until Have your preteens find Colossians 3:17 in now. Our you’re older to play on God’s team. The gifts you have are needed right Let’s read it Key Verse encourages us to dedicate everything we have to the Lord. aloud together. the verse and come up and erase one word at a time. Each time, have the students read erased and students until the entire verse has been fill in the missing word(s). Continue can say the verse by memory. Lesson 8 Lesson LES. 8 STEP 76 (5–10 minutes) Bible Application

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that weallneedeachother. behind thescenes.Turntopage4inBibleAdventuresandreadaboutagirlwholearned God’s kingdomgrow.Theupfrontpeopleareimportant,butsothosewhowork It takesallkindsofpeoplewithspiritualgifts,workingtogether,tomake ...... Materials: work. Objective: ThatyourstudentswillseethatallgiftsareimportantforGod’s once ortwiceintheBible,notatall. playing animportantpartinspreadingtheGospel—peoplewhosenamesappearonly In theearlypartofBookActs,therewerelotsotherpeoplebesidesPeter - - Bible Adventures,p.4 ...... things turnoutbetterwheneveryone’sgiftsareused,thusmaking themfeelneeded.) do andrealizedthatsheshouldhaveaskedfortheirhelpinthefirstplace.) planned todoeverythingherself.Thenshediscoveredwhatagoodjobotherpeoplecould develops cooperationandmakespeoplefeelgoodaboutthemselves.) (We allneedtoworktogether,witheachpersondoinghispart.Workingtogether been allright,buttheotherchildrenwouldn’thavefeltasgoodaboutit.) do youthinkthepartywouldhavebeenasuccess?(Itprobably herself? would youdescribeEileen?(Talented,capable,hardworking.) that theyusedweregenerosity,encouragement,andservice.) Good Newswiththeirneighbors;peoplewhogavetheapostlesmoney.Someofgifts in theearlychurch?(Peoplewhofedandhousedapostles;peopleshared What doyouthinkEileenlearnedfromthisexperience?(Shethat Why wasEileenembarrassedattheendofstory?(Becauseshehad Why isitsoimportantforeveryonetohaveapartinthiskindofactivity? Suppose Eileenhadn’tgottensickandhadgoneaheadwithherplans— Why doyouthinkEileendecidedtoeverythingforthepartyby Your studentsmaytaketurnsreadingthestory“EileenGreat.”How What kindsofpeoplemighthaveplayedanimportant—butquiet—role (She hadallthetalentsneededfortasks;itwaseasier.) Lesson 8 LES. 8 77 What things can you pray about? for spending time with the Lord so What will be your strategy this week What does this quote say about the power of prayer? What does this quote say about the prayer during each day? How much time do you spend in you don’t miss the power of the Holy Spirit? you don’t miss the power of the Holy . . . . Index cards each student Pens or pencils for Discussion: “Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees.”—William Cowper “Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Discussion: - - - - “Ten minutes spent in the presence of Christ every day, aye, two minutes, will make “Ten minutes spent in the presence the whole day different.”—Henry Drummond Closing Activity Have a few students close in prayer by reading the prayers they wrote down. We have the same Holy Spirit living in us that lived in Peter. The Holy Spirit Holy Spirit living in us that lived We have the same with school, sports, and the us to help others. When we are busy wants to empower thing and forget what’s really lives, it’s easy to do our own busyness of our daily to listen to the nudging of frequently so busy that we don’t bother important. We are Spirit, we must spend time we want to be empowered by the Holy the Holy Spirit. If raised Dorcas from the dead recognize His voice. Before Peter with the Lord so we his knees and prayed (Acts of the Holy Spirit, he got down on through the power read the following at some quotes about prayer. Have volunteers 9:40). Let’s look quotes about prayer. Objective: That your students learn about how the Holy Spirit empowers Spirit empowers how the Holy learn about That your students Objective: us to help others. us and leads Materials: . . . . Optional Activity God for Thank gifts and abilities. your think are you make a list of what journal, In prayer your His use them for glory. to how you them and ask Him show to God has a unique purpose for each of us to help others. Let’s follow the example God has a unique purpose for each the Holy Spirit to help others. Let’s spend some of Peter and pray for the power of to help us follow the Holy Spirit. Pass out quiet time to write a prayer for God students take a few minutes to write a personal index cards to each student, and have by the Holy Spirit to help others and make a prayer asking the Lord to empower them and share commitment to spend time in prayer. Give students a few ideas for prayers if you wish. your own as an example before you start. Have students work in groups Have students share their prayers.

His work. . 4 small, to use in small, to use in abilities, great and abilities, great and Life Response (5–10 minutes) God gives all believers God gives all believers Bible Truth: STEP Lesson 8 Lesson