Curriculum
Filled with the Holy Spirit
Memory Verse:
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:4
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
Jesus loves us and wants us to never be alone. He sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples at Pentecost, and that same Holy Spirit gives us power and companionship as well.
Scripture Summary
Pentecost is an annual religious holiday that falls 50 days following Passover. Called a Feast of Weeks, Pentecost is one of three feasts observed on the church calendar. Jesus was crucified at Passover and ascended into heaven 40 days later. The Holy Spirit appeared at Pentecost 50 days after Passover.
The apostles and believers, now numbering about 120 people, were again gathered together for prayer and to select Matthias to replace Judas as an apostle. It was in that upper room that the rushing wind and tongues of fire came as a precursor of the Holy Spirit. This fire was a fulfillment of John the Baptist’s words of the Holy Spirit baptizing with fire (Luke 3:16).
Crowds of people, from many different countries, were already in Jerusalem for Passover. The people heard the great noise and commotion and wondered what was happening. Peter stood up and addressed the huge crowd of people. He referenced prophecies from Joel and David–prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus and the recent events. Men and women heard the same message of the apostles in their own tongue.
Peter publicly announced Jesus’ resurrection when it could be confirmed by many witnesses. Many of those listening would have also witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and may have heard of the resurrection quietly through word-of-mouth.
Those who heard the great message were asking what they could do. The best next step was for them to return home and share what they witnessed and heard and invite others to believe. Many nations were represented with people hearing the same message, and this gathering expedited the beginning of the modern-day Church.
Why Is This Important
The same powerful Holy Spirit that Jesus sent to the apostles as a guide is available to each of us today.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
The Same Peter
“Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.’” Acts 2:14
Peter addressed a great crowd at Pentecost defending Jesus, explaining what was happening, recounting Scriptures, and inviting all present to follow Jesus.
This was the same Peter who:
- Said that Jesus was the Messiah. (Matthew 16:13-20)
- Was often impulsive and spoke without thinking. He argued with Jesus as He wanted to wash Peter’s feet. (John 13:1-20)
- Confidently asked Jesus to call him out onto the water to walk with Him. But he sank when he took his eyes off of Jesus for a second. Peter desperately cried out to Jesus for help. (Matthew 14:22-33)
- Denied Jesus, not just once, but three times. He denied he even knew Him. (John 18:15-18, 25-27)
- Was sought out by Jesus, after his resurrection, for breakfast on the beach. Jesus entrusted His sheep to Peter’s care. (John 21:15-25)
- Was described as the rock on which Jesus would build His church. (Matthew 16:18)
What a track record. What a journey. Honestly, this journey is much like my own. Possibly yours, too? I see (and experience) lots of ups and downs in my Christian journey. Just as soon as I share Jesus with a friend, I find myself making some other poor choice and speaking without thinking.
But Jesus chose Peter, and He chooses you and me. Just as Jesus forgave and restored Peter, He can forgive and restore us. We’re not done yet.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for choosing me just like You chose Peter. Please help me seek You in all I do and say. I want to respond to You with love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: An inflated balloon for each child (Use the balloons from the children’s sermon.)
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:4
Give each child an inflated balloon. Play the game as follows:
- Children bat their balloon to keep it up in the air.
- As they pop their balloon in the air, the teacher says a part of the Bible memory verse and the children repeat it.
- Children continue to keep their balloons in the air until they have all repeated the verse back to the teacher.
- Continue with every phrase of the Bible memory verse.
- Hold the balloons and say the Bible memory verse together.
SAY: Today’s Bible memory verse reminds us that the Holy Spirit filled the people at Pentecost and helped them speak in different languages to one another.
Encourage kids to share their Bible memory verse with their families at home.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Poster board 1 half-sheet per child, Paint brushes, Paint, Newspaper, Something to clean up with
SAY: Today’s Bible lesson shows us great news and you don’t want to miss it. It was an amazing day at Pentecost! Things that looked like flaming tongues had landed on people. People were filled with the Holy Spirit and were speaking different languages. Some people thought these people had gone crazy, but these people had just experienced life-change in an amazing way.
Tell kids that they’re going to paint pictures of what happened in today’s Bible lesson. Give kids the supplies to paint.
Paraphrase the Scripture in these sections. Stop between each section to allow kids to paint more on their poster board.
Section 1: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.”
Section 2: “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
Section 3: “When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.”
After the paintings are finished, have children explain what they’ve painted.
Then SAY: The Bible is very clear in Acts 2 about how we can be saved. This good news is right in verse 21. We can’t be good enough, go to church enough, or save ourselves. There is only One who can save us and make us new.
Read aloud Acts 2:21.
SAY: This verse tells us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Think about that. We don’t have to get our lives together. We just have to see our sin and our need for a Savior. Jesus paid the price for our sins and if we call on the name of the Lord, we will be saved.
Snack
Fire Tongue Treat
You’ll Need: One brownie per child, Whipped cream, Strawberry slices cut in triangles, Napkins
SAY: In today’s Bible lesson, we learned that on the day of Pentecost what looked like tongues of fire came to rest on each person. Then the people were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke to each other in different languages. Let’s make a snack to remind us of what happened.
Have children follow these steps to make a Fire Tongue Treat.
- Put your brownie on a napkin.
- Place whipped cream on top of your brownie.
- Place a strawberry slice on the whipped cream with the point facing up.
- Enjoy.
Game
Good News Tag
You’ll Need: A large playing area, Pool noodles
Pick one child to be “Peter.” The rest of the kids scatter around the room. Explain to kids that they will be playing a game called “Good News Tag.”
Play the game as follows:
- “Peter” will run around the room.
- Anyone Peter tags with the pool noodle will have to sit down and grab a pool noodle.
- Once seated, those who have been tagged will also try to tag people as they go by.
- Keep playing until Peter or others have tagged everyone.
- Play several rounds as time permits.
Afterward, ASK:
- What happened once Peter started tagging everyone?
- How is this like when we share the Gospel with others?
SAY: In our game, once Peter started tagging others, those people also got the chance to tag other people. The tags spread much more quickly with everyone than if it were only Peter tagging people. As we share the good news of Jesus with others, they can also share the good news with other people and the Gospel can spread very quickly.
ASK:
- Who will you share the Gospel with this week?
Craft
Spaghetti Church Craft
You’ll Need: Spaghetti Church Craft How-to Video, Hard spaghetti, Large and small marshmallows
Give each child several pieces of spaghetti and some marshmallows. Help children follow these steps to make their Spaghetti Church Craft:
- Poke your spaghetti into the marshmallows to build a church building.
- After you’ve completed your church, pretend to blow air in your church.
SAY: On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit breathed life into the church. We’re going to put all our churches together on this table and pray that all the churches in our country would be filled with the Holy Spirit.
PRAY: Dear God, thank You that You give us Your Holy Spirit. Help all of our churches to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Prayer
Prayer for Churches
You’ll Need: Spaghetti Church Crafts from above
SAY: On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit breathed life into the church. We’re going to put all our churches together on this table and pray that all the churches in our country would be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Lead kids to put their Spaghetti Churches on the table and gather around them.
PRAY: Dear God, thank You that You give us Your Holy Spirit. Help all of our churches to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
