A NEW MAN

2022 Theme: “Doing Life with Jesus”
Week 32: Paul – A New Man
Weekly Bible Bite: Acts 9:19b-31

Video lesson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlXFy3zjJh4 (Saddleback Kids – Paul’s Ministry)

Can Jesus really change people? Absolutely! Just look at Saul. He went from wanting to stop people from believing in Jesus and even imprisoning Christians, to becoming one himself.

But he didn’t stop there. Immediately after he realized the truth and he could see again, he began to teach that Jesus was God’s promised rescuer. Saul knew the Scriptures very well, he just hadn’t accepted that Jesus had been the One that God had promised to send. Once he met Jesus and realized who he was, there was no keeping him quiet.

He went from trying to stop people from teaching about Jesus to being one of the people that others tried to stop. In fact, he was so convincing (and irritating to the other religious leaders) that they tried to have him killed in Damascus. But the followers of Jesus heard about the plot to have him killed and helped Saul escape in a basket over a wall during the middle of the night.

He then travelled to Jerusalem and continued to teach about Jesus. That’s where he met Barnabas, who would later become his partner in sharing the good news about Jesus, and the apostles. But again, some people wanted Saul dead so the other Christians sent him to his hometown where he stayed for a time before embarking on many missionary journeys.

During the rest of Saul’s life, he told many people about Jesus, started new churches, was imprisoned and beaten, and wrote many letters. The man who had been determined to stop people from teaching about Jesus, became one of the early Church’s greatest followers of Jesus.

Family goal:
There are many people who don’t know that Jesus loves them. How can we help change that?
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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:
1 Timothy 1:16, NLT – “But God had mercy on me, Paul, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”

Family activities:
• Colour the picture of Paul being lowered in the basket.
• Make a basket and deliver a treat / note of encouragement to someone on your street.
• Can you think of any ways that you would like Jesus to help you change? Why not pray about it as a family?

Prayer:
Thank you, God that you can change people. Help me be brave to tell others how much you love them and of the wonderful things that Jesus has done for us.