Kindergarten: The Spirit on the Move
LESSON INFORMATION
Unit Essential Questions:
How was the Holy Spirit on the move during the early church?
How is the Holy Spirit on the move today?
How does the Holy Spirit work through followers of Jesus?
Lesson Essential Questions:
How does the Holy Spirit guide Paul and Timothy?
How does the Holy Spirit guide us today?
Bible Text:
Acts 16:1-10
Contextual Lenses:
Learning Goals:
Through the story of Paul and Timothy, students will be able to identify ways that the Holy Spirit guides.
Students will be able to explore ways that the Holy Spirit guides us today.
Students will be able to write a letter of encouragement to a friend, with the assistance of an adult.
Common Core ELA:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.1- Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.1.f- Produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.3- Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.1.a-Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others and taking turns speaking about the topics and texts under discussion).
Teaching Points:
Jesus went UP (point up)
The Holy Spirit came DOWN (point down)
The disciples went OUT (point anywhere using both hands)
Paul and Timothy were often travel companions which formed into a model of discipleship as the Holy Spirit guided them to many different places to speak to many different groups of people.
LESSON PREPARATION
What you should prepare . . .
Use the arrow symbol as a visual anchor. It will also be on the presentation slide.
Get the presentation slides ready on your computer, screen, or smart board.
Print out the attached scroll template for every learner. Gather pieces of string for each learner to tie their scroll.
What you should know . . .
These lessons focus on the powerful stories of the Holy Spirit’s work in the early followers of Jesus. Jesus promised that after He ascended into heaven, He would send a Helper to be with His followers. That Helper is the Holy Spirit, who now dwells within everyone who believes in Jesus.
LESSON INTRODUCTION
Where are we? (time and location):
Travelling with Paul from Jerusalem to Troas and on to Neopolis.
Do you remember: (Show arrow symbol)
Jesus went UP (point up)
The Holy Spirit came DOWN (point down)
The disciples went OUT (point anywhere using both hands)
After Paul became a disciple, he traveled everywhere to tell people about Jesus. (Slide 1: Show map. Follow arrows from Jerusalem all the way to Neapolis). Let’s follow one of his early journeys. From Jerusalem, Paul went to Antioch and met a new friend called Silas. (We’ll hear more about him later.) Next, in Lystra, they met a new friend called Timothy. Together, they went to Troas and then sailed to Neapolis.
Guess what? Timothy was just a teenager, but he knew lots about God already, because his mom and his grandma had taught him. Paul knew that Timothy would be a great friend and help spread the good news about Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Let’s join Paul and Timothy on their journey and hear how the Holy Spirit guided them. They would have walked on Roman roads, like this one (Slide 2: Roman Road).
GOD-CENTERED STORYTELLING
Paul and his new friend, Timothy, were tired! (yawn, rub eyes, stretch). They had been traveling all day, encouraging all the new followers of Jesus and telling people everywhere about the Holy Spirit. (Stand). Paul and Timothy had been walking for miles! (walk in place). They carried all their belongings on their backs. (Pretend to lift up a heavy pack, put it on your back, and walk in place.)
They were walking to a place called Bythnia, but Paul heard the Holy Spirit (cup ear). The Holy Spirit said, “Stop! Don’t go there!” (Raise hand in a stop sign. Say that with me: “Stop! Don’t go there!). So they turned around (turn around). They knew that the Holy Spirit was guiding them.
“I’m tired!” said Timothy (Say that with me: ‘I’m tired!’) So they stopped walking and sat down. (Sit down).
“Where will we sleep?” asked Timothy. (Say that with me: “Where will we sleep?”). But Paul wasn’t worried. He was a tentmaker! He made great tents! Paul pulled a tent from his pack (pretend to pull a tent out and lay it on the floor.). He took some poles, put them under the tent (act that out). Then he rolled out two bed mats (roll out two mats). And then, under the stars (make stars with fists) Paul and Timothy went to sleep (put head in hands as if sleeping).
In the night, Paul dreamed about a man who was calling to him. “Please,” said the man, (put hands together as if begging). “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” (Say that with me: “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” Beckon with hand.)
The next morning, Paul knew what to do. Paul and Timothy woke up (wake up, yawn, stretch), packed up the tent (act that out), put their belongings on their back (pretend to put pack on back) and set off onboard a ship for Macedonia (from Troas to Neopolis). (Slide 3: Show map. Follow arrows from Jerusalem all the way to Neapolis)
EXPLORE THE STORY
Possible wondering questions…
I wonder if you would have liked to be Paul’s companion?
I wonder if you would have liked sleeping under the stars?
I wonder what the Holy Spirit’s voice sounds like?
I wonder if the Holy Spirit still guides people today?
RESPOND TO THE STORY
After the sharing time, tell the children that Timothy was a very good friend to Paul and traveled everywhere with him. He delivered lots of letters that Paul wrote to different churches and Paul also wrote letters to Timothy, to thank him and to encourage him.
(Slide 4: scroll) Explain to learners that letters weren’t written on the kind of paper we have today. They were often written on papyrus or animal skins that were rolled up. Papyrus is made by weaving together flat plant strips. (Slide 5: Papyrus). You’ll find the letters written by Paul to Timothy in the Bible! (Show children 1 & 2 Timothy.)
If you were writing a letter today to encourage someone and tell them about Jesus, what would you say? Have the children write their own short letters to either a friend, a family member or someone imaginary. Then roll them up like a scroll and tie it with a string.
Lesson Files Include:
Lesson PDF
Presentations Files (Keynote, Power Point, Google Slides)
Additional Lesson Resources
Contact info@lovegodloveothers.com if you are interested in trying out this unit with your students!