Kids - Friends Around the World
Jesus Wants Us to be a Friend Around the World - Week 4
July 27-28, 2019 |
Friends Around the World is a four-week curriculum that is used to teach elementary-age kids that God is our friend, he wants us to be his friend, and he wants us to share friendship with everyone in the world. This video series will teach kids the biblical reason for global outreach while exploring different parts of the world.
WORSHiP
BOTTOM LINE
Tell people everywhere about Jesus' love.
GROUP Q&A
- After Jesus died and came back to life, he went back to Heaven. But he didn’t leave us alone; what gift did he send so we can be with him forever? (The Holy Spirit of God.)
- How do you receive the gift? (Ask Jesus for forgiveness from sins.)
- When the first church started, what were some things they did together? (They met together to encourage each other, to eat meals together, to pray together, and they shared everything.)
- How did Agent Wilder Choose to be a friend? Did he give, pray, or go? (He did all three.)
- How can we be a friend with the people at church? (Discuss. Points of discussion: learn together, pray, share, invite)
PARENT BIBLE STUDY
Read: Acts 2
The Holy Spirit is the Helper and the Spirit of truth. Jesus told his disciples in John 16:7 that it would be better for him to physically leave them so that they could receive the gift of the Spirit. But this must’ve been nearly impossible for the disciples to understand at the time. After all, what could be better than walking alongside Jesus every moment of the day, having him right there in front of them?
But when the day of Pentecost came, and the Holy Spirit came to the disciples (Acts 2), it must’ve all made much more sense. In a moment, they were filled with the Spirit of Jesus himself. No longer was he in front of them physically. Instead, the strength, power, love – everything that made Jesus, Jesus – was now inside of them, empowering them not only to teach others the good news of his grace, mercy, love and salvation, but to be walking examples of those things. They became living evidence of the life of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit made it possible for Jesus to be everywhere all at once. In other words, the coming of the Holy Spirit made Jesus available to everyone on earth, and the newly empowered disciples literally preached, taught, and healed in ways they used to only see possible in Jesus.
When we choose to follow Jesus, the Bible promises that we are also filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13 tells us that “When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit …” It’s a good gift, because the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is now ours as we learn and grow in our faith. With his power inside of us, we have all grace and truth available to us.
When the disciples first received the Holy Spirit, they were able to spread the good news of Jesus to people all over the world. And with the Holy Spirit inside of us, we also have everything we need to act like Jesus did towards everyone in our lives, whether they’re our neighbor or thousands of miles away from us.
What a gift.
How have you seen the Holy Spirit at work in your life?
In what areas of your life is it hard to tap into the power of Jesus inside of you?
How has the Holy Spirit inside of you helped you become and act more like Jesus toward the people around you?
