Bible Story 258

Paul’s First Missionary Journey

Acts 12:25-13:52

OPENING ACTIVITIES
• Craft
o Jesus wants us to be a light to those around us
o Give each child a baby food jar
o Glue a label onto each jar that says, “I can be a light to everyone around me.”
o Have the children decorate the jar with glitter glue
o Place a votive or a tea light candle into each jar

WORSHIP

PRAYER

STORY
Acts 12:25-13:52
• Introduce the story by showing the children a map of the places Paul and
Barnabas traveled
• Act out the story
o Have a teacher pretend to be Paul as the class acts out the story

MEMORY VERSE
Acts 13:47a

“For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles...’”

• A light helps people to see the way they need to go. Jesus wants us to be a light
as we tell people about Him and show them the way they need to go
• Practice verse by shining a light
o Make a path on the floor with masking tape
o Tape the words of the verse inside the path
o Seat the children along the path on either side
o Choose one child to stand at the end of the path, holding a flashlight
o Turn off the classroom lights and turn on a small lamp so the room is dim and the
flashlight is noticeable
o The child holding the flashlight shines the light on each word so the children can see the
word they are supposed to be saying
o Repeat the verse several times with various children shining the light to show the way to
go
 ACTIVITIES

• Color
o Color the picture with the memory verse on it

• Application
o Paul and Barnabas told people about Jesus wherever they went. We can
be missionaries every day as well
o Lead the children on a walk (outside if possible) pretending to be walking
through a child’s day; discuss getting up, getting dressed...
o Stop periodically as you come to a witnessing opportunity in his day
o When you are stopped, role-play the scenario and a response (some good,
some bad)
o Lead the children back to the room, or back to their seats if you had to walk
around the room. Discuss how they can be a light and a witness for Jesus
each day. They can be missionaries too

• Testimony
o Share pictures and stories from modern day missionaries, maybe even
from your church

MATERIALS
- Coloring paper with memory verse on it (Print the coloring page from
http://children.calvarychapel.com/site/curriculum_n.htm and cut and paste the memory
verse onto the bottom)
- Crayons
- Costumes
- Map of the area Paul and Barnabas traveled
- Masking tape
- Words of the verse written on separate pieces of paper
- Flashlight
- Pictures from modern day missionaries
- Baby food jar for each child
- Label for each child that says, “I can be a light to everyone around me.”
- Glue
- Glitter glue
- Votive or tea light candle for each child
- Props for role-playing