Teacher Enrichment

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4th/5th 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 activity sheet – 1 per child - Poster Board - Church Plant Worksheets  Place an arrival activity at each place on the table.

Welcome SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards, Attendance chart, stickers, Lydia activity sheet, pencils/pens  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 their Lydia activity sheet. 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.

Children’s Worship SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards  Arrive at Ruth Hall at 9:20 or 11:05. Character Stories  Lesson 2

 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 110. 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 110.

The Lesson SUPPLIES: Church Plant worksheets, poster board, sharpie or markers

SAY: Today we met a woman named Lydia who worshipped God. When Paul and Silas came to Lydia’s town, she learned about Jesus and was baptized to show she was now a follower of Jesus. Lydia likely started a church in her home and helped lead others to God. She was a minister. We are all called to be ministers like Lydia and help lead people to God and Jesus. SAY: What if you could be in charge of the church? Would you like that? Maybe you would keep some things the same as Arcola and maybe you would do some things differently. Well today you get to do just that! To help us think how we can be ministers and lead people to God, you are going to create your own church. Each group will describe what their church would be like and how it would help people know and follow Jesus. SAY: When a new church is being created, it’s often called a “Church Plant” because you are “planting” a new church community. When you plant something you want to nurture it and see it grow. It’s the same with a “church plant.” You want to see the church grow. This Church Plant worksheet will guide you with some questions to answer about your new church. One thing that is already decided is this is a church of God where you worship God and Jesus and follow the Bible.

Character Stories  Lesson 2

Read some of the Church Plant worksheet questions aloud so children get the idea. Direct them to answer the questions and also create a visual representation on the poster board. They can draw their physical church as well as represent some of their answers. (Ideas: people doing some of the “other than Sunday” activities, a sign with the first sermon topic, a “pamphlet” of what they teach).  Divide the class into groups of no more than 5 children.  Give each group a Church Plant worksheet and a sheet of poster board.  Provide groups 15 minutes to complete the activity.  Leave 5-10 minutes at the end for each group to present their church to the class.

Please keep the posters in the classroom. We will hang them in Ruth Hall! SAY: You may not get to start your own church, but you do get to teach other people about God. The question “What will you teach people?” applies all the time! You don’t need your own church to teach people about God every day!

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. Dear God, Thank you for the people, like Paul, who help us learn about God. Help us to minister to others and lead people to follow Jesus. Amen  If time remains before parents arrive, encourage children to return to their Lydia activity sheet 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

Character Stories  Lesson 2

Church Plant You are starting a new Christian church! Think about how you will minister to people and help them follow Jesus. Answering these questions will help describe your church.

1. Where will your church meet? (e.g. house, school, church building, other?) ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 2. Where will your church be located? How will the location help you minister to people? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 3. How will you get people to come to your church? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 4. What will you teach people? How will people learn to follow Jesus? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

5. What will your first sermon be about? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 6. What will your services be like? Consider the music, who leads, food, where do people sit, etc. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 7. What other things will your church do besides Sunday services? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 8. What is the most important thing people should know about your church? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ 9. What is the name of your church? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

Draw your church on the poster board. Show some of your answers from above.