The Spirit on the Move
Kindergarten: The Spirit on the Move

Lesson 2: The Holy Spirit Includes (Acts 10:1-48)

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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:

  • Who is the Holy Spirit for?

  • How does Peter teach Cornelius about the Holy Spirit?   

Bible Text:

  • Acts 10:1-48

Contextual Lenses:

Learning Goals:

  • Students will be able to understand and describe that the Holy Spirit is for everyone. 

  • Through the story of Peter and Cornelius, students will be able to identify ways that the Holy Spirit includes everyone. 

  • Students will be able to illustrate what the Holy Spirit is like according to the interaction between Peter and Cornelius.

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.SL.K.2- Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.

  • 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.5- Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.

Teaching Points:

  • Jesus went UP (point up)

  • The Holy Spirit came DOWN (point down)

  • The disciples went OUT (point anywhere using both hands) 

  • Peter was a Jew, Cornelius was a Gentile which would naturally lead to conflict during the early church. We see the power of the Holy Spirit uniting Peter and Cornelius despite their belief differences.

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. 

  • Gather art supplies in order to create collage/banner for the responsive activity. Possibly pre-cut circles.  

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):

  • Caesarea Maritima (Slide 1: Map of Caesarea) 

    • Caesarea was a city on the Mediterranean coast built by King Herod. Herod built a port city so that ships could sail to Rome and back to Israel. 

  • Caesarea Maritima (Slide 2: Artist Rendition of Caesarea)

  • Remains of King Herod’s palace in Caesarea (Slide 3 & 4: King Herod’s Palace/Remains of Palace)

    • Herod built a palace out into the Mediterranean Sea.

  • Remains of the hippodrome in Caesarea (Slide 5 & 6: Hippodrome/Remains of Hippodrome)

    • The hippodrome is where they raced horses and chariots.

  • Home in Caesarea (Slide 5: Home in Caesarea)

    • This is what a house for a wealthy person would have looked like.

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)

Today we’re going to meet a friend of Peter’s called Cornelius. He lived in Caesarea. (Slide 6: Map showing Caesarea, Jerusalem, and Joppa.) This is where Jerusalem was. But at the beginning of this story, Peter was staying in a place called Joppa. Peter and Cornelius weren’t always friends. Peter was a Jew, Cornelius was a Gentile. Jews and Gentiles did not like each other! Let’s go to Cornelius’s house and find out what happened to make them friends.

GOD-CENTERED STORYTELLING

Cornelius was an important Roman soldier who loved God (fold arms, nod). He prayed to God every day (put hands together in prayer). He gave money to the poor (pretend to offer money out). But Cornelius did not know about the Holy Spirit (shake head).

One day, Cornelius was praying (put hands together in prayer). Suddenly an angel appeared! (gasp, shield eyes). “Cornelius, “ said the angel, “send some men to a house in Joppa. Peter is there. They must bring Peter here so you can meet him.” Cornelius was surprised (shrug shoulders, say, ‘Huh? He’s a Jew. I’m a Gentile’). But Cornelius obeyed.

The men knocked on Peter's door (knock on an imaginary door). “Come with us to meet Cornelius,” they said. (beckon). Peter went to Cornelius’s house (walk fingers in air). All his family were there. 

Cornelius bowed in front of Peter (bow). “I don’t think you can talk to us Gentiles,” he said, and shook his head (fold arms/shake head.) 

But Peter gave a great big grin (do as big a grin as you can). “It’s okay!” he said. (Put thumbs up). “God told me in a dream that the Holy Spirit is not just for Jews, like me (point to self). The Holy Spirit is for Gentiles too!” 

(Say that with me: “The Holy Spirit is for Gentiles too!”) The Holy Spirit is for you! (Say that with me: The Holy Spirit is for you!” Point to someone). The Holy Spirit is for everyone! (Say that with me: “The Holy Spirit is for everyone!” Point around at every person).

Then the Holy Spirit came down again, and filled the room, just like it did in the Upper Room! (Put hands in air, bring them down, dancing your fingers). Everyone clapped (clap) and they all got baptized.

Wow! What a story! Now Peter knew that the Holy Spirit was for everyone!

EXPLORE THE STORY

Spend five minutes discussing the story. Possible wondering questions/starter points:

  • I wonder why it was important for Jews and Gentiles to get along?

  • I wonder if God wants everyone in the whole world to get along?

  • I wonder if God wants everyone in the whole world to know about the Holy Spirit?

  • I wonder how I could help spread the good news about the Holy Spirit?

RESPOND TO THE STORY

Work together on a giant collage/banner that shows either faces of many different colors or people who are all different (different ages/shapes/races.) An easy way is just to use precut circles. (Perhaps the children could draw two faces representing themselves and someone else.)

Have someone write these words at the top: The Holy Spirit Includes!

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!