Teacher Enrichment

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K/1st Grade – May 6

Character Stories  Lesson 2

Lydia Bible Verse One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. (Acts 16:14)

Teacher Enrichment This is the second lesson in the Character Stories series which encounters characters from both the Old and New Testament; some very well-known and others you may have never “met.” Each week will explore the actions, motivations and experiences of a character and determine what that person’s story teaches us about how God wants us to live. About mid-way through the Book of Acts we find Paul travelling through Asia spreading the good news about Jesus. Through a vision, God sends Paul westward into Macedonia; the first time Christianity is spread into Europe. There Paul finds a woman named Lydia who worshipped God, but had not heard of Jesus. The Bible does not tell us much about Lydia other than she was a dealer of purple cloth. From this we can infer that Lydia was well-off, as purple cloth was rare and costly. When Paul and Silas preach to her about Jesus she immediately believes, asks to be baptized and has her entire family baptized. Lydia is so excited about her new found faith, she insists on hosting Paul and his friends in her house. What can we learn from Lydia? First is to have an open heart to the good news about Jesus. Lydia listened and believed. Second is to spread that good news to others. Lydia didn’t keep her faith to herself; rather she changed hearts by sharing with her family and later with others by establishing a church. Third is that we are ALL called into ministry. Lydia was a single woman living in a non-Christian country; an unlikely minister for Jesus. Yet God is less interested in gender or race or status and more interested in heart and willingness to follow. This lesson will teach children that we are all called to “be the church.” Children will explore how they can spread what they have learned about Jesus to others.

Before Class Begins  Place the Sign In sheet and a pen where parents can see it upon arrival.  Place the Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards and pens where students can see them upon arrival.  Check that you have supplies for this lesson: - Arrival Activity, Lydia coloring sheet – 1 per child - Construction Paper (pre-printed with cut lines) – 1 per child - Open Heart cutouts – 1 per child - I Share the Good News cardstock squares – 1 per child - Purple Notes – 1 set per child - Lydia Bible Character Profile – 1 per child  Place an arrival activity at each place on the table.

Welcome SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards, Attendance chart, stickers, pens, Lydia coloring page, crayons  Greet each child individually as they arrive. Introduce yourself by name.  Help children find or add their name on the attendance chart. Provide each child  

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with a sticker to place in today’s column on the attendance chart. Encourage children to complete a Joy or Concern card if they have a particular joy or concern they would like to express. Collect completed Joy & Concern cards. Encourage children to complete a Time or Talent offering card if they gave their time to God or used their talents to serve God or others during the previous week. Children should keep their own completed Time and Talent cards. If children bring monetary offering, they should keep it with them. Direct children to complete Lydia coloring page. Encourage conversation among the children and with you! Get to know the children in your classroom by asking about their week including school, activities and families. Introduce new children to each other and encourage friendships.

Character Stories  Lesson 2

Children’s Worship SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards  The Children’s Worship Leader will direct your class to come to Ruth Hall at 9:20 or      

11:05. Bring the Sign In sheet and completed Joy & Concern cards to Ruth Hall. Hand the Joy & Concern cards to the Children’s Worship leader as you arrive. Have children bring their completed Time & Talent cards and any monetary offering. If additional children arrive while in Ruth Hall, have parents complete the Sign In sheet and remind parents that pickup is in Room 107. Encourage children to participate in Children’s Worship and provide re-direction if necessary. Assist the Children’s Worship leader as needed. At the conclusion of Children’s Worship, have children line up and return to Room 107.

The Lesson SUPPLIES: Construction paper, Open Heart cutouts, I Share cardstock squares, Purple Notes, glue, scissors, stapler, crayons/pencils, Lydia Bible Character Profile  Gather all the children in a circle on the carpet. As you are able, sit on the floor

with them or use a chair as part of the circle. SAY: Today we met a woman named Lydia. A disciple of Jesus named Paul came to Lydia’s town. Lydia already believed in God, but Paul told her all about Jesus. ASK: What did Lydia do when she learned about Jesus? (Asked to be baptized) Was Lydia the only one who was baptized? (No, her whole family was baptized too!) SAY: History tells us that Lydia probably started a church out of her home and became the leader of that church. Once Lydia learned about Jesus, she told many other people about Jesus! ASK: How does God want us to be like Lydia?

Character Stories  Lesson 2

Allow children to provide answers. Examples: learn about Jesus, decide to follow Jesus, tell others about Jesus ASK: Lydia started her own church and shared the good news about Jesus with others. If you were going to start your own church, what things would you teach people about God and Jesus? Allow children to provide answers. SAY: Today we are going to make a craft to remind us that we can all share the good news about Jesus. When we open our hearts to God, we can then tell others about God! Inside our heart craft are notes we can use to share the good news with other people. ASK: Why do you think the notes are purple? (Lydia sold purple cloth) When we share the good news with other people their hearts are changed, just like the cloth Lydia sold was changed when it was dyed purple. SAY: You can give these notes to people to share the good news about Jesus! There are three printed notes and two blank ones. You can write your own message on the blank note.  Show children the sample craft. Read the words and demonstrate how the heart    

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opens and the notes go in the pocket. Read the pre-printed Purple Notes Have children move from the carpet to seats at the tables. Give each child a Purple Notes sheet. Have them write their own messages on the two blank notes. Give each child a folded piece of construction paper and an Open Heart cutout sheet. Direct children to cut out the heart shape on the construction paper, the shapes on the Open Heart cutout sheet and the Purple Notes. (Note: Children may simply cut the Purple Notes in circles if they have difficulty cutting out the word bubbles or if time is running short) Direct children to glue the Open Heart cutouts on the front of their heart. Give each child an “I Share the Good News with Others” cardstock square and help them staple it inside their heart to create a pocket. Direct children to place their Purple Notes inside the pocket. If time remains, children may decorate their heart. Character Stories  Lesson 2

Closing  Lead the children in a closing prayer. You may say your own prayer, ask one of the

children to say a prayer or use the one below. God, Help us share the good news about Jesus with others! Amen  If time remains before parents arrive, encourage children to return to their Lydia coloring if they did not complete it. Also encourage conversation between children and with you. This is another opportunity to build relationships with the children in your classroom!  Send each child home with a Lydia Bible Character Profile. Remind children and parents this worksheet can be completed at home as a family.

Character Stories  Lesson 2

Open Heart Craft

Character Stories  Lesson 2