This week’s lesson is based on Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1-2
Let’s Start!
Let’s Watch!
Let’s Talk!
PARENTS/GUARDIANS: before you begin, find a flashlight and remove the batteries (but keep them close by!) If you don’t have a flashlight, anything that requires batteries – or electricity – will work. Just adjust the questions below to fit your item!
- What is this? A flashlight!
- A flashlight has a really, really important job. What is it? To give light.
- When would you use a flashlight? Have you ever needed one in order to see? What happened?
Instruct your child to turn on the flashlight. (It won’t work).
- Why do you think it won’t work? It doesn’t have any batteries!
- Without batteries, can the flashlight do its job? No
- Jesus gave the disciples a pretty big job when He left too. Do you remember what that was? To go into all the world and tell people about Him.
- Could they do the job on their own? No.
- Who did Jesus say he would send to be with them and help them? The Holy Spirit!
Place the batteries inside of the flashlight, (or plug in your item).
- Jesus knew that the job he was giving the disciples was too big for them to do on their own. He knew they would need the Holy Spirit to give them His POWER and wisdom. It’s kind of like when you put batteries inside of the flashlight! Now see what happens when you try to use it! Have your child turn the flashlight on and shine it around.
- After the disciples received the gift of God’s Holy Spirit, what happened? They could speak in other languages, they performed signs and miracles, they worked together and helped others – and more and more people came to know Jesus!
- The Holy Spirit wasn’t just for the disciples! Jesus’ death on the cross made a way for you to be in relationship with God, and receive the Holy Spirit too. And the Bible says he’s with us always. He comforts us, guides us, gives us power, teaches us, and helps us to be more like Jesus!
Let’s Pray!
- How does it make you feel to know that God is always with you?
- Can you think of a time when you heard the Holy Spirit speak to your heart, or when you knew God was with you and helping you? What happened?
- What do you need the Holy Spirit to help you with this week? (Choosing kindness, to not be scared about something, to tell someone about Jesus).
- Let’s take some time right now to pray for the Holy Spirit to be with you and help you! While we pray, let’s spend a few minutes being quiet and listening for Him to talk to us.
Let’s Do!
Option 1: [For older children] Flashlight Tag
- If you want, you can play this like a game of normal tag after dinner in your backyard, once it’s dark! The person with the flashlight is “it.” When their flashlight beam touches another family member, they are now “it,” and the game continues.
- You could also play this in your house, like hide and seek. Turn off all the lights and let the “seeker” use a flashlight to try and find the rest of the family. Take turns being “it” and hiding.
Option 2: [For younger children] Catch the Light
- Turn off all the lights in the room that you are in, and – using a flashlight beam – dart the light around the room: including on the ceiling, walls, and floor.
- At random times, stop the light. When the light stops, your child has to run to stomp on it, jump up to smack it on the wall, etc. to make the light move again.
Let’s Memorize!
“So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”
Matthew 28: 19-20 NIRV
>> To help you memorize today’s verse, practice saying it in a dark room, using a flashlight behind you to make shadow puppets or your silhouette on the wall to act it out! (for example: run really fast for “go,” lay down and stand back up for baptize, open a “book” for teach. . . etc). See what creative movements or shadow puppets your family comes up with!
EGC KIDS TIP: For younger children, use just the second half of verse 20 this week: “You can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”
Let’s Bless!
Parents/Guardians, close out your lesson time by speaking this blessing (based on Ephesians 3:16-19) over your child(ren):
May you truly know how wide and long and high and deep Jesus’ love is for you. May you be changed by His Spirit from the inside out, and be filled with his joy, his presence, and his power – and may you share His love with those around you wherever you go.
