THE GOOD NEWS TRAVELS TO ETHIOPIA!
2022 Theme: “Doing Life with Jesus”
Week 33: Philip – The Good News Travels to Ethiopia!
Weekly Bible Bite: Acts 8:26-40
Video lesson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGEqn7_teFo (Saddleback Kids – Philip and the Ethiopian)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W64jSb7r9kI (Bible Kids – Philip and the Ethiopian)
After Philip was forced to leave Jerusalem, he had gone to Samaria and had been working hard to convince others that Jesus was God’s promised rescuer. God had also done miracles through Philip and many had become followers of Jesus. But one day, God had a new job for Philip and told him he should take a walk on a dessert road, back in the direction of Jerusalem where he had escaped from.
Philip didn’t hesitate and discovered that he was traveling the same road as the Queen of Ethiopia’s treasurer, who was a powerful man in his country, but had been to Jerusalem to worship God at the Temple. God told Philip to travel close to the official. As he walked along beside the official’s chariot, Philip heard him reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading; so, he invited Philip up into his chariot and then Philip was able to explain that Isaiah had been talking about Jesus.
The official was convinced and asked Philip to baptize him in some water that was near the road. Philip did…and then vanished! The official went home to Ethiopia praising God and the Holy Spirit gave Philip a new job in the town of Azotus where he continued to preach about Jesus.
Family goal:
How well do you understand the Bible? What could your family do to grow in your understanding?
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[Be sure to pick a measurable goal involving a task so that children will know when they have completed it.]
Weekly verse:
Acts 8:4-5, NLT – “The believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah.”
Family activities:
• Colour the picture of Philip baptizing the Ethiopian.
• Take turns explaining to one another who Jesus is, what he’s done for you and why you believe in him. Practicing with your family will make it easier to share with others when you have the opportunity
• If you believe in Jesus, have you been baptized like the Ethiopian was? Talk together about what baptism is.
Prayer:
Thank you, God that Philip learned to recognize your voice and as a result was quick to obey you. Thank you for using Philip to help spread the good news about Jesus to Africa through the Ethiopian official. Help me to always obey you too and remember that when I do, you can do more than I could ever begin to imagine.