Paul Said Goodbye to His Friends

Acts 20:16-38; Matthew 28:18-20

Our story comes from a book of the Bible called Acts. That name is short for “the Acts of the Apostles.” The word "Apostle" is another word to describe a helper of Jesus.

The Bible tells us about a man named Paul. Paul was a man who knew a lot about Jesus. He traveled all around to talk to people. He told them who Jesus was and why He had come to earth.


Paul told crowds of people how Jesus had died on the cross and then had come back to life. But the most important thing Paul told people about Jesus was that Jesus loved them and wanted them to be a part of God's family.


Paul had shared about Jesus in many churches. Together with others he had told the people in churches in many cities about Jesus.


Now Paul was going to take a boat to the big city of Jerusalem to tell lots of people about Jesus. Before he left, he met with his friends from the church in a town called Ephesus.


Paul and his friends walked on the beach toward the boat. Paul's friends knew they would miss him, but they were glad that Paul was going to share about Jesus with more people.


Paul looked at his friends and said, "You know I have told many people about Jesus and His love. I am going to tell others about Jesus. You may never see me again. But you need to keep sharing about Jesus too. Let's pray before I leave." So Paul and his friends all knelt down together in the sand.


Paul prayed, "Dear God, be with my friends. Help them love You. Help me teach more people about You. In Jesus' name. Amen."


Paul and his friends felt better after they had prayed. "Good-bye, Paul," they all said. "We'll miss you very much."


"Good-bye," said Paul. "I'll miss you, too. But Jesus will be with all of us."


Then it was time to go. Paul waved good-bye. His friends waved back.


The Bible says that Paul was told to share about Jesus. His friends shared about Jesus. The Bible tells us to share about Jesus too. Together we can share about Jesus.



Bible Paraphrase: Christ is the head of the church. (For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. – Ephesians 5:23 NIV)

Text Truth: Together we share about Jesus.




Family Devotional


Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  — Matthew 28:18-20


There are many ways we can share the Gospel with others. We certainly learn how through the study of all Scripture.

But then we must decide how we will respond. Your readiness to teach your preschooler is a response. Knowing your plan but also being ready to listen to your child and respond to them is another part.

Your availability to share about Jesus with your preschooler is a way to respond to Jesus' commission.

May the Lord bless you as you share Jesus with others.


Activities You Can Do at Home


Bible Phrase Rhythm

Pat your knees two times, then clap your hands. Christ is another name for Jesus. Our Bible phrase tells us that Jesus is the leader of the Church. Say the Bible phrase rhythm with your child. Pat your knees twice for every word in bold. Clap one time for each underlined word.

Christ is the head of  the church.



Bible Phrase Song

The Bible phrase song helps us remember our Bible phrase from Ephesians 5:23. Sing the words to the tune, “The Farmer in the Dell.”


Christ is the head of the church.
(Point up, then put hands together in a point.)
Christ is the head of the church.
(Point up, then put hands together in a point.)
We sing and pray to God because
(Fold hands in prayer.)
Christ is the head of the church.
(Point up, then put hands together in a point.)


At My Church

Sing this song to the tune of "Frere Jacques" to thank God with your child.

I will praise God. I will thank God.
Sing and pray, sing and pray.
Listen, learn, and worship,
Listen. learn. and worship,
At my church, at my church.


Telling Others About Jesus

Read Bible stories and other books this week about how people in the Bible told others about Jesus. Talk about ways your family can share Jesus with others.


Share Jesus 

As a family, think of ways you can help share about Jesus with people all over the world. You might support a church missionary or collect clothes and toys to send to a mission group.


We Can Share 

As you talk over the day with your preschooler, talk about ways you shared about Jesus. Remind your child We Can share about Jesus with what We share and what we do.


Tell the Bible Story

This week's Bible story will help your child know that together, with the church, we share about Jesus. Draw a heart and as you read the story, hold up the heart whenever the story talks of sharing about Jesus.


Pray and Share Jesus

Make a picture list of people you would like to share with about Jesus. Pray for those people by name and ask God to help you share with them.


-
The illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported license. www.freebibleimages.org
-

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Early Christians Shared Everything

Abraham and His Family Moved to a New Land

Isaac Did Not Fight