God’s Word“Tell the good news about Jesus.” (See Acts 8:35.)
God’s Word and MeHelping others by telling them about Jesus makes me glad.
Philip and the EthiopianBible StoryActs 8:26-40
Teacher ChallengePhilip had a direct word through an angel to go to a certain place. When he arrived there, the Spirit told him to go to a certain chariot. We don’t usu-ally get such specific directions from God. But He has given us the direction through His Word to tell the good news about Jesus. At some point, someone told you— and it changed your life for eternity.
➥ Who shared the good news about Jesus with you?
➥ When was a time you shared the good news with someone else?
God uses us to share His good news with others. He uses us to help others learn more about Him and about how to live. What a great privilege to share about Jesus with young children! You are impacting their lives for eternity.
Teacher’s Planning1. Choose which centers you
will provide and the order in which children will participate in them. For tips on schedule planning, see page 9.
2. Plan who will lead each center, making sure to have one adult for approximately every six children. For staffing tips and ideas, see page 12.
Lesson 34
God’s Word“Tell the good news about Jesus.” (See Acts 8:35.)
God’s Word and MeHelping others by telling them about Jesus makes me glad.
PrepareUse masking tape or yarn to make two lines 30 feet (15 m) apart.
Do1. Play a game like Red Light, Green Light. Children stand behind one line, while a volunteer stands
on the opposite line.
2. Volunteer turns his or her back to the other children. When you call out, “One, two, three, good news!” children walk towards the volunteer but must stop on the words “good news.” Repeat until children reach the finish line.
3. When all children have reached the finish line, volunteer turns and faces the other children. Select a new volunteer and play again. For each round, children may move in a different way (tiptoe, hop, etc.).
Talk About➥ In our Bible story today a man named Philip
ran up to a chariot. (A chariot is a special cart people rode in during Bible times.) Philip told the man in the chariot the good news that Jesus loves him. Let’s play a game that reminds us of what Philip did.
➥ The Bible says, “Tell the good news about Jesus.” We can help others by telling them the good news about Jesus!
➥ Seth, who is standing next to you right now? Tell your neighbor, “Jesus loves you!” This is good news! Pray, Thank You, Jesus, for the good news that You love us!
For Younger ChildrenWhen you call out, “One, two, three, good news!” children simply walk or run from one line to the next. When all children have crossed the finish line, say, I will tell you some good news about Jesus. Repeat it after me: Jesus loves us. Children repeat sentence.
For Older ChildrenWhen children have crossed the finish line, invite them to say the Bible verse aloud. Jenni, what is some good news about Jesus? When you go home, tell your dad that Jesus is alive!
Lesson 34
God’s Word“Tell the good news about Jesus.” (See Acts 8:35.)
God’s Word and MeHelping others by telling them about Jesus makes me glad.
CollectBible, brown paper grocery bags, scissors, ruler, white paper, markers, rubber bands; optional—Lesson 34 Scroll Words Pattern from Discovering God’s Love CD-ROM.
PrepareCut bags into 6x10-inch (15x25.5-cm) rectangles, avoiding the print on the paper bags as much as possible. Prepare one rectangle for each child. Print “Jesus loves you!” three or four times on a sheet of white paper. Photocopy and cut apart sentences so that there is one sen-tence for each child. (Optional: Make copies of Scroll Words Pattern from CD-ROM and cut apart.)
Do1. Children glue sentences to paper rectangles to make a scroll. Using markers, children decorate
their scrolls.
2. Assist children in rolling up scrolls and securing them with rubber bands.
Talk About➥ In Bible times, people read from scrolls. A scroll
is like a long rolled-up sheet of paper. A man in our Bible story was reading a scroll. The scroll told about Jesus. Let’s make some scrolls to tell about Jesus, too.
➥ You can help people know the good news that Jesus loves them! You can draw a heart to re-mind you that Jesus loves you, too.
➥ The Bible says, “Tell the good news about Jesus.” Who can you help by telling them about Jesus? What can you tell your friend about Jesus? You can show her your scroll!
For Younger ChildrenProvide stickers or rubber stamps and ink pads for children to use to decorate their scrolls.
For Older ChildrenBefore decorating their scrolls, children crumple the paper and then smooth it out several times to make paper look old and worn.
Lesson 34
God’s Word“Tell the good news about Jesus.” (See Acts 8:35.)
God’s Word and MeHelping others by telling them about Jesus makes me glad.
CollectBible, Bible Story 47 pictures from Bible Story Pictures #1, blocks, toy people, small cardboard box for chariot; optional—toy horse and string.
Do1. Briefly tell the Bible story, referring to pictures.
Children use blocks to outline a road wider than the box.
2. Children take turns pulling the small box along the road and acting out the Bible story with toy people. (Optional: Using string, attach box to toy horse for chariot.)
Talk About➥ The Bible tells us about a man named Philip.
He rode with a man in a chariot—a special cart people rode in during Bible times. Philip told the man about Jesus. Let’s pretend this box is our chariot.
➥ The Bible says, “Tell the good news about Jesus.” What is some good news about Jesus that we learn at church? Morgan, Jesus loves you! That is very good news.
➥ Ansley, who is your friend? You can tell Jett the good news you learn about Jesus at church.
For Younger ChildrenProvide several small boxes for children to use as chariots.
For Older ChildrenChildren decorate chariot using crayons or markers.
Lesson 34
God’s Word“Tell the good news about Jesus.” (See Acts 8:35.)
God’s Word and MeHelping others by telling them about Jesus makes me glad.
CollectBible, one of each of the following for each child: paper cup, paper bowl, paper rolled into a tube.
Do1. Lead children in saying “Jesus loves me!”
Children compare how their voice sounds when placing a (bowl) in front of their face.
2. Continue experiment with other items you provide. Invite children to listen to others as they say “Jesus loves me!” into different items.
Talk About➥ The Bible says, “Tell the good news about Jesus.” Let’s use
our ears to hear some sounds we can make.
➥ How did your voice sound when you spoke into the (cup)? God gave you ears, so you can hear sounds! God loves you very much! I want to tell you some good news: Jesus loves you! Who can you tell this good news to?
➥ We can help others by telling them the good news about Jesus. Mason, I’m glad God gave your brother his ears, so he can hear this good news!
For Younger ChildrenSome children may be hesitant to place an object in front of their face. Children can also cover their mouth with their hand for this experiment.
For Older ChildrenChildren sing “Hear the Word” (track 9 on CD) together as part of the experiment.
Lesson 34
God’s Word“Tell the good news about Jesus.” (See Acts 8:35.)
God’s Word and MeHelping others by telling them about Jesus makes me glad.
CollectBible, Bible Story 47 pictures from God’s Story for Me Poster Pack #1, Preschool Music #1 CD and player, toy telephone, bell.
Greet Each OtherLead children in this rhyme:
Who needs help? I look and see, (Shade eyes and look side to side.)
Someone to help right next to me. (Point to neighbor.)
I can help, I can share,
Tell about Jesus,
Anytime, anywhere.
Ask, Benjamin, who is sitting next to you? You can help Kyle.
Tell the StoryOpen your Bible to Acts 8. Tell the story using the pictured motions (keywords in bold) or show Bible Story 47 pictures.
Who helps you know what God’s Word says? Listen to this Bible story to find out about a man who needed to know what God’s Word says.
Philip was one of Jesus’ friends. He told many people the good news that Jesus loved them. One day an angel came to see Philip. (Angels are God’s special helpers.) This angel told Philip an important message. “There is a road that goes into the des-ert,” the angel said. “God wants you to go walk on that road.” Then the angel left.
Philip did exactly what the angel told him. On the road Philip saw some horses run-ning toward him. Philip saw that the horses were pulling a chariot. (A chariot is a spe-cial cart people rode in during Bible times.)
Riding in that chariot was a man from a country in Africa. The man was reading some words from the Bible. The words were written on a scroll. (A scroll is like a long rolled-up sheet of paper.) Philip ran up to the chariot. The man must have looked confused. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked the man.
“No, I don’t. I need someone to tell me what the words mean,” the man said. Then the man asked, “Will you talk with me about these words?” So Philip got into the chariot. Together he and the man read the Bible scroll. Philip told the man the good news about Jesus. “God sent Jesus to the earth,” Philip might have said. “Jesus is God’s Son! Jesus loves you.”
The man was happy to hear the good news that Jesus loved him. The man believed that Jesus is God’s Son. The man said, “Look! Here is some water. I want to be bap-tized.” People are baptized to show that they believe in Jesus. Philip was glad he could help the man learn about Jesus. Then Philip left the man and went to tell other people that Jesus loved them, too.
Talk About the StoryWhat did Philip tell the man about Jesus? (Jesus loves him. Jesus is God’s Son.) We can help others by telling them about Jesus! We can tell them Jesus loves them. Janna, who will you tell? You can tell your mom that Jesus loves her.
Sing to GodWe can hear about Jesus in God’s Word, the Bible. Let’s sing a song about hearing God’s Word. Lead children in singing “Hear the Word” (track 9 on CD). God’s Word says to tell others about Jesus. March in place if you can tell me something about Jesus. Call on a child who is marching. You’re right, Keely. Jesus loves us!
Hear and Say God’s WordHolding your Bible open to Acts 8:35, say verse aloud. We can tell others the good news that Jesus is God’s Son. We can tell others the good news that Jesus loves us! I’m glad to help others by telling them the good news about Jesus. Lead children in saying the Bible verse together a few times. Ask a particular group of children to say the verse together (everyone wearing pants, everyone with black hair, everyone with shoes that tie, etc.). Choose several categories and repeat the Bible verse several times.
Pray to GodDear God, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus. Thank You that He loves us and forgives us. We are glad to tell others about Jesus. Please help us tell them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Praise to GodChildren sit in a circle. Children pass toy telephone around until you ring a bell. The child holding the telephone when the bell rings answers the phone by saying “Hello.” Ask the child, What can you tell me about Jesus? If necessary, give child a sentence to repeat (Jesus loves me. Jesus is alive. Jesus is with me everywhere I go.). Start the telephone moving around the circle again, con-tinuing the activity until all have had a turn to answer. I am glad we have such good news about Jesus to share with others!
Option: Briefly tell an age-appropriate example of a time someone told you about Jesus.
Talk to LearnBible Story Activity Pages CenterCollectA copy of Activity 47 from The Big Book of Bible Story Activity Pages #1 for yourself and each child, scissors, crayons or markers, tape; optional—sand, glue.
DoLead children to complete pages following the instruc-tions. (Optional: Children glue sand to ground.) Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages and retell the story.
Preschool Puzzle CenterCollectCopies of Puzzles 67 and 68 (p. 141 and p. 143 from The Big Book of Kindergarten Puzzles) for each child; pencils, crayons or markers.
DoChildren complete the puzzles and color pages. Use the conversation suggestions on the pages.
Read-Aloud Story CenterCollectA copy of Story Picture 34 from The Big Book of Read-Aloud Stories #1 for yourself and each child, crayons or markers.
DoRead the story and distribute pictures. Use the conversation suggestions as children complete their pages.
“Tell the good news about Jesus.” (See Acts 8:35.)
• Who can you tell the good news about Jesus to?
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Name ____________________________________
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• What did Philip do to help the man in the chariot?
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• Teacher cuts slits in rolled page. • Child colors page.and cuts off and folds chariot through slits, taping together at X’s.• Child slides chariot back and forth along road.
