Aim to know the story of the Pentecost
Aims
* To know the story of the Pentecost
* To learn key words: Ascension, Pentecost, Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues
Materials
* Bible stories – Acts 1:6-12; Luke 24:50-53, Acts 2:1-12
* Children’s Picture Bible, Retold by Carol Watson
* Visual Aids – large picture of the Ascension of Jesus and the Pentecost
* orange tissue paper
* display cards of the key words
* worksheet – picture and questions
Lesson Outline
1. Background information
2. Introduction
3. Story & Discussion
4. Activities – act out the story, worksheet
5. Review the aims
6. Prayer
1) Background information
The word ‘Pentecost’ comes from the Greek; it simply means ‘fiftieth’. It is celebrated on the 50th day from Easter Sunday. Historically it comes from to the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot or the day, fifty days after the Exodus, on which God gave the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, Pentecost now celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles as described in the Book
of Acts, Chapter 2.
2) Introduction
Review story of the crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus’ spirit appeared to his disciples for 40 days after he resurrected. On the 40th and 50th days something special happened. Today’s story is about what happened during those 50 days.
3) Story & Discussion
a) Jesus chose Peter to be the leader
b) On the 40th day Jesus ascended in the sky
c) On the 50th day the disciples received the Holy Spirit
Because people didn’t listen to Jesus and he was crucified, he couldn’t finish what he started. Jesus’ spirit appeared to his disciples for 40 days after he resurrected. He wanted them to continue what he started, to teach people the way to God and find many followers. Jesus promised they would receive help from God. The Holy Spirit filled them with love, happiness, faith, hope and courage. It gave them the power to tell people about Jesus and the power to cure sick people. On that day they went out and baptized 3,000 new followers of Jesus.
Questions
* What did Jesus ask Peter three times?
– Do you love me?
* What did Jesus ask him to do?
– be the leader and take care of the disciples
* What did Jesus ask the disciples to do
– make all people disciples,
– baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
– keep the commandments
* What two things did Jesus promise them?
– He would be with them always
– They would receive help from God
* What happened to Jesus on 40th day?
– He ascended into the sky, hidden by clouds and disappeared. He went to spirit world
* What happened on the 50th day?
– The disciples received the Holy Spirit
– First, they heard the sound of wind
– Then tongues of fire appeared over their heads
– They were filled with God’s love and felt happy
– They spoke in different languages
* What do these words mean?
Ascension – rising of Jesus into heaven on the 40th day after his resurrection
Pentecost – 50th
Holy Spirit – God’s spirit
Speaking in tongues – speaking in different languages, because of the Holy Spirit
4) Activities
* Act out the story of the Pentecost
* Worksheet 1 – What happened to Jesus and his disciples?
Colour the pictures, answer the questions, draw or cut and paste Jesus ascending, cut flame shapes from tissue paper to paste above the heads of the disciples
* Worksheet 2 – The Ascension
Colour the spaces that have a heart to reveal Jesus
5) Review the lesson aim
* To know the story of the Pentecost
* To learn key words: Ascension, Pentecost, Holy Spirit, Speaking in tongues
6) End with a prayer
