The Followers of Jesus Thanked God
Acts 1:13-14; 2:42-47
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 that after Jesus went up to heaven, His friends went back to the city of Jerusalem.
The friends often met in a room to pray. Other people who believed in Jesus met there too.
During the day, the people who loved Jesus worked at their jobs. They needed water, food, and a place to live just as we do. Someone had to bake bread. Others carried water. Some built things out of wood.
At the end of the day, the people who loved Jesus met in a house to worship God. They wanted to show Him how much they loved Him.
The people remembered Jesus and all the good things He did. Jesus’ friends taught them about Jesus. The people remembered how much Jesus loved them. They prayed to God. They thanked God for being so good to them. They asked God to be with them and to help them share Jesus’ love with others.
The people had worked hard all day, and they were hungry. Everyone had worked together to make a meal. So, they all ate some food. They enjoyed being together.
Singing was a part of the worship time, too. The people sang and clapped and praised God. They told one another about Jesus. This is a sign for Jesus. How happy they were to be together!
Before they went home, all the people gave what they could to help others.
They shared money and food and clothes with people who were cold and hungry.
The people who loved Jesus loved each other, too. They showed God they were thankful for Jesus and for each other by meeting together to pray, eat sing, and share what they had. They people prayed and thanked God together. We can pray and thank God together.
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 pray and thank God.
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.
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.”
Sing this song to the tune of "Frere Jacques" to thank God with your child.
During this time of year, many preschoolers associate giving thanks with turkeys. This week create a turkey body and glue it onto poster board. Cut out feathers from construction paper. Take time each day to write, draw, or cut out pictures of things you are thankful for. Add them to your turkey and thank God for them.
Make alphabet letters using breadstick dough. As you eat each letter, identity the letter and talk with your child about things to be thankful for that start with that letter. Ask your child to tell you something she is thankful for Tell her the letter the word starts with and then help her find the letter.
Help your child recall what the early Christians did when they met together. They prayed, thanked God, ate, sang, and shared what they had. Point out that these are things that your child does at Sunday school too. Your child may enjoy setting up a corner of a room in your home to look like his Sunday school classroom. Pray, eat, and sing with your child.
Make a habit of thanking God when you pray. Each time you pray with your child this week, include one or two specific people or things you are thankful for.
-
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
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 that after Jesus went up to heaven, His friends went back to the city of Jerusalem.
The friends often met in a room to pray. Other people who believed in Jesus met there too.
During the day, the people who loved Jesus worked at their jobs. They needed water, food, and a place to live just as we do. Someone had to bake bread. Others carried water. Some built things out of wood.
At the end of the day, the people who loved Jesus met in a house to worship God. They wanted to show Him how much they loved Him.
The people remembered Jesus and all the good things He did. Jesus’ friends taught them about Jesus. The people remembered how much Jesus loved them. They prayed to God. They thanked God for being so good to them. They asked God to be with them and to help them share Jesus’ love with others.
The people had worked hard all day, and they were hungry. Everyone had worked together to make a meal. So, they all ate some food. They enjoyed being together.
Singing was a part of the worship time, too. The people sang and clapped and praised God. They told one another about Jesus. This is a sign for Jesus. How happy they were to be together!
Before they went home, all the people gave what they could to help others.
They shared money and food and clothes with people who were cold and hungry.
The people who loved Jesus loved each other, too. They showed God they were thankful for Jesus and for each other by meeting together to pray, eat sing, and share what they had. They people prayed and thanked God together. We can pray and thank God together.
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 pray and thank God.
Family Devotional
Two outstanding characteristics of these early Christians were joyfulness and generosity.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. — Acts 2:44-45
The early church shared. They practiced Jesus' love, outreach, and concern in their daily lives through daily worship and fellowship.
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. — Acts 2:46
This was reflected in their actions, deeds, and human relationships.
Thank the Lord for the body of believers He has brought you into. Be a part and invest yourself in seeking God, praising Him, and thanking Him—with the church body.
God will do something extraordinary because you pray and seek Him.
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.
Create and Thank God
During this time of year, many preschoolers associate giving thanks with turkeys. This week create a turkey body and glue it onto poster board. Cut out feathers from construction paper. Take time each day to write, draw, or cut out pictures of things you are thankful for. Add them to your turkey and thank God for them.
Alphabet Letter Breadsticks
Make alphabet letters using breadstick dough. As you eat each letter, identity the letter and talk with your child about things to be thankful for that start with that letter. Ask your child to tell you something she is thankful for Tell her the letter the word starts with and then help her find the letter.
Recall the Early Christians
Help your child recall what the early Christians did when they met together. They prayed, thanked God, ate, sang, and shared what they had. Point out that these are things that your child does at Sunday school too. Your child may enjoy setting up a corner of a room in your home to look like his Sunday school classroom. Pray, eat, and sing with your child.
Pray and Thank God
Make a habit of thanking God when you pray. Each time you pray with your child this week, include one or two specific people or things you are thankful for.
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
Post a Comment