Lesson No. ( 40 ) The Life of Fellowship

References

Acts 4:32-37.

Notes for Servants

«         Have you been kind to the poor and the needy?  Have you shared their way of living and felt the same way they feel in the morning?

«         Did you bring happiness to some of them by your gift of love and help?  (We rejoice with those who rejoice and we give to all those who need.)

«         The more man keeps away from the love of the world, the more he is filled with love for God.  Remember they are Jesus’ brethren.

Objectives

General:  Love - believers' love for one another.

Specific:

The children will be able to...

1. Know that when Jesus died on the Cross, He made us all as one big family. We are all brothers and sisters.
2. Understand that they share their toys with other children who don’t have toys.
3. Learn that the main thing is our love for the brothers and sisters.
4. Believe that every time we help someone, God helps us when we need help.

Bible Verse

                                       " They had all things common. "

( Acts 4:32 )

Teaching Aids

1. Felt figure and flannel board.
2. A picture showing the apostles receiving the believers' gifts.

Instructions

(1) Review last week's lesson.

(2) Who remembers the verse?

(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.

(4) Teacher should prepare the appropriate questions to emphasize the objectives during the lesson.

Story Time

The disciples met people in the streets, in the market and on the roads. They spoke to them about Christ.  They said that Christ came from heaven and lived on earth and that He died for us so that we might not die. He was buried in the tomb and stayed there three days and also he rose up again and they were witnesses.

Many people believed in God, and love filled their hearts toward one anther.  Believers used to sell their properties and gave the price to the disciples.  They did not keep anything for themselves.  Some Christian believers had fields, and when they gather the crops,  what would they do?  They’d  take some of the crops to the disciples.  Other people when they got their pay from work, they gave some of it to the disciples.

Also, the children, when they got some money from their parents, they’d take it to the disciples.  The disciples would take the money and give to the poor, each one according to his need.  All Christians, out of their love for Christ and for each other, used to help each other in their work, children shared their toys, food and gifts.

The Jews were annoyed when they heard that many people believed in Christ and they loved one another and gave their money to the disciples for the poor.  They arrested the disciples and struck them severely.  But the disciples were happy and preached more and more.  They said, "Christ died for us and we must die for him.

Christ loves us and we love Christ so we must love our brothers and sisters.  The Scripture says: ‘You shall love your neighbours as yourself.’”  The disciples were put in prison, in dark places, tied with chains of iron, but they prayed, sang hymns and rejoiced because they loved Christ.  They endured everything for Him.  When they went out of prison, they continued preaching to people again.

Discussion

1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.

2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.

3 - The pupils should collect some money for the next time to be given to the poor.

Learning Activities

Activity Sheet.