Lesson Continued...

Warm Up 

What is the strangest dream you've ever had?

In today's Bible story, two men had a dream, or a vision, that caused them to meet each other.

Teach the Story 

Read story from a Children's storybook Bible for younger children.

The Book of Acts begins with the story of the resurrected Christ giving final instructions to his disciples, culminating with this promise: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8 ESV)

We have followed along as this promise was fulfilled with the disciples. They received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Peter and the rest of the disciples were witnesses of his resurrection in Jerusalem - even getting thrown in jail, beaten, and killed for it - and as a result they were scattered throughout the region in Judea and Samaria. Philip was sent to Samaria and ministered there and then reached a man from Ethiopia (the ends of the earth). Paul was converted and began ministering in Jerusalem and Judea to the Jews.

In the story of Peter and Cornelius, we continue to learn about how the Gospel is meant for everyone - Jews and Gentiles alike. Two men had visions from God that caused them to cross paths. Cornelius, a Roman soldier who was a follower of God, had a vision in which an angel tells him to send some men to Joppa to fetch a man named Simon Peter, who was staying with a man named Simon the Tanner. 

Peter had a strange vision of a white sheet being lowered down from the skies with all sorts of animals on the sheet. A voice told him to eat the animals that were on the sheet. Peter protested, though. Some of the animals on that sheet were deemed unclean by the Law given to Moses. But the voice replied: "Do not say anything is not pure that God has made ‘clean,’" (Acts 10:15). This vision was repeated three times. Peter was confused and was unsure about what it meant.

Just then, the men that Cornelius sent to get Peter arrived. The Holy Spirit told Peter that these men were sent by God and that he should go with him. So he did. And they went back to Caesarea to meet with Cornelius. When they met for the first time, Cornelius fell down and worshipped Peter, apparently thinking he was an angel or a god. But Peter quickly told him to get up - that he was just a man like Cornelius. They compared dreams and Peter was sure what it meant. God was making it clear that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone from all nations, not just for the Jews. While Peter was there, many people believed in Christ, were baptized, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, just like the apostles did on the day of Pentecost! 

However, the believers from Judea (Jewish-background Christians) were not happy that Peter was associating with people who weren't Jewish. They didn't think he should be breaking the Jewish rules about not eating with Gentiles. But when they heard Peter's story, they were convinced just like he was that everyone was to be accepted, no matter what country they were from.

In this story, it is important to teach the children the meaning of the word "Gentile". It simply means, "one who is not Jewish".

Comprehension Questions 

• What were the names of the two men who had visions from God?

Peter and Cornelius

• What nationality was Cornelius?

He was a Roman

• What vision did Cornelius see?

An angel told him to send men to a man named Peter who was staying in Joppa

• What vision did Peter see?

A sheet coming down from heaven with all sorts of animals in it, and a voice told him to kill the animals and eat them

• Why did Peter not want to do what the voice told him?

Some of the animals were unclean, and Peter was a devout Jew

• How many times did he see the vision?

3 times

• What happened while Peter was trying to figure out what the vision meant?

The men Cornelius sent showed up

• What did Cornelius do when he first met Peter?

He fell down to worship him, thinking he was an angel or a god

• After going to Ceasarea with Cornelius and comparing visions, what did Peter determine was the meaning of the vision?

That God was calling all men, regardless of whether they were Jewish or not

• Why were the Jewish background Christians upset with Peter?

He broke some of their rules - not eating with Gentiles

• What is a "gentile"?

Someone who is not a Jew

• In this story, Peter learned from God that he accepts people from any country, and so he went and told Cornelius and others about Jesus. Who do you know that needs to be told about God?

Memory Verse hide God's Word in their heart

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (ESV)

Directions

1. Help the kids rip 3 different color pieces of construction paper up into shreds (about the size shown in the picture)... You can also use tissue squares. 

2. Give them a white sheet of paper (or color construction paper) and draw a heart on it. Around the heart, write "God love everyone to pieces."

3. Let them have some glue in a paper plate and dip the ripped pieces of construction paper into the glue and paste it on the heart. 

Directions

1. Let the kids look at the kids Bibles, build some people from the story and some scenes from the story, and act it out with a partner. 

Directions

1. Have the kids get into a circle and pretend their feet are "glued" to the floor so they can only move their hands. Throw one balloon into the air and see how long they can keep it up. To make it harder, add more balloons. To make it even harder, have them be on their knees.

Directions

Time: about 30 minutes (15 minutes to play round 1 and 2; 15 minutes for discussion)

Blob Tag – 2/3 of the children and adults hold hands in a circle to form the blob; the other 1/3 are freebies who can run about at will. (Note: this works best in a space that gives some room to move about, but not so large that freebies are impossible to catch in game 2)

Game 1
It is the freebies job to try and get into the middle of the blob. The blob is supposed to try and block the freebies and if a freebie does get in, move around to try and get them back out.

Game 2
It is the blob’s job to try and capture the freebies and keep them inside. The freebies are supposed to stay away from the blob and if caught are supposed to try and escape.

Which version of the game did you like better?
Which was harder?
Is it more fun to be the blob or the freebie? Why?

Life Application
Play Game 1 and 2 of the Blob again, only this time, re-label them. The “Blob” is the church and the freebies are people who don’t go to church, or unbelievers.

• Is our church more like Game 1 or Game 2?

• Do we try and “catch” people who don’t believe?

• Do we try and “keep out” people who want to be part of the church?

• Do we try and keep people in or do we let them leave?

Summarize together what happens after Peter meets Cornelius.
In the beginning of the story of Peter and Cornelius, was the church (Peter) more like Blob game 1 or 2? Explain.
By the end of the story, how was the church (Peter) behaving?

How does God want us to behave?
Are Christians supposed to “trap” unbelievers the way we did in game 2 and not let them out even if they want to get out? Why or why not?

Walk through a final version of the Blob game. The Blob tries to catch the freebies, but when they are caught, the freebies join the blob circle and are part of catching the next freebie.