Paul's Travels

Video/Art Station

Workshop Goals:

• Realize that God has a plan for their lives, just as He did for Paul.
• Think of those things that they can be thankful to God for.

For scripture and background - see above.

Preparation:

1. Review Background notes. The Bible story is from Acts 9: 1-25.
2. Gather the materials.
3. Refer to schedule and decide how you will make adjustments for the different ages.
4. Each of the students has their own passport, which is kept in the teaching box for the summer. At the end of class, you or the guide should hand out the passports. The students will have the opportunity to write/draw on the passport page. There is also a space for you to put their passport stamp. Check the supply list for the proper stamp (the stamp applies to the lesson).
5. Look at the passport page for your “city” for the background information and question of the day that the students will be getting (copy at end of lesson).
6. Tape the map onto the wall and locate the city/region you are teaching about today so you are ready for the first part of the lesson. so you are ready for the first part of the lesson
7. Cut the plastic containers according to the craft directions (you may want to publicize the need for containers to the congregation)

Materials List:

• Bibles (supplied in teaching box)
• Large map of Paul’s journeys (tape to the wall)
• Construction paper star to place on the map
• Tape
• Passport stamp of a basket
• Inkpad
• Pencils, markers, crayons
• Student passports (kept in teaching box for the summer)
• TV/DVD Player
• “The Visual Bible: Acts” DVD
• Clean plastic containers—1 per child (could be cottage cheese containers, deli containers, large margarine tubs, etc)
• Wool in different colors and thicknesses
• Scissors
• Glue
• Felt
• Blank strips of paper to put in the baskets
• Strip of paper with the Bible verse on it—see end of lesson.

Lesson Plan

Opening:

Make sure you have your nametag on. Introduce yourself to the students.

Open with a prayer .

We would like to have a consistent opening and closing to each class, especially since the teacher and station changes each week. Please start the class by having everyone make the sign of the cross and say: “We make our beginning in the name of God the Father—and God the Son—and God the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dig:

Introduction & Bible Story:
Please make sure that the students hear and “get” the Bible story as well as the application of that story to their lives. The Bible story is the MOST important part of the lesson—it is much more important than the activity associated with this station!

Say: This summer for Sunday School we are going on a Mediterranean cruise with the Apostle Paul. Every week we will visit a different port and learn something about Paul’s life or his teachings. This week we are visiting Damascus. Locate this city/region on the large map and put the construction paper star with the appropriate name on the map. After the first week, you could ask the students some of the other places that they have “visited” and what they did and learned.

This story happens at the very beginning of Paul’s ministry—and even before his ministry. When our story begins, Paul was actually known as Saul. He was a very devout Jew—a Pharisee—and he hated the Christians. In fact, he was present when Stephen was stoned to death—he was watching over the clothing of the men throwing the stones. Saul’s plan was to hunt down Christians and put them in jail, but God had other plans for him. We’ll watch this video, which is actually the Bible Story word-for-word from the Bible. Pay close attention because there will be lots of questions and answers while you are doing your craft.

From the DVD menu, open up chapter 9. You will be showing the video from verse 1-25 (the verse reference shows up in the bottom right part of the screen); however, you will be pausing the video a few times to ask some questions.

1. Start the DVD at Chapter 9: 1. Pause after verse 2 (“take them as prisoners to Jerusalem”). Ask: What is Saul’s plan? Does Saul believe he is serving God? Is he really serving God?
2. Restart DVD. Pause after verse 4 (“do you persecute me?”) Jesus is talking to Saul. Why does Jesus say that Saul is persecuting Him (Jesus)—Saul isn’t trying to arrest Jesus? (whatever you do to God’s people, you do to God)
3. Restart DVD. Pause after verse 16 (“he must suffer for my name”) Did Ananias think that Saul was the kind of person that God would choose to do God’s work? (No, Saul was persecuting God’s people) What do you think Ananias was thinking about going to see Saul, especially after he has heard about the terrible things that Saul did to Christians? Why does Ananias go to see Saul? (obedient to God)
4. Restart DVD. Pause after verse 22 (“Jesus is the Christ”). God transformed Saul/Paul from a persecutor of Christianity to a follower of Christianity. How did Saul start following God’s plan for his life right away? (preaching in the synagogues about Jesus) Not all of the people liked hearing this message though, as we shall see.
5. Restart DVD. Stop after verse 25 (you see Saul in the basket). Why did Saul have to leave the city in a basket? (people planning to kill him) God’s plan for Paul did not involve Paul dying right after he became a Christian, so God use Paul’s friends to help him escape. (DVD clip without commentary is about 5 minutes).

Activities:
Basket making (see picture at end of lesson)

1. Use the scissors to cut strips around the plastic container (do this before class). Use wider strips for younger children. Tall containers take longer to do—take this into consideration.
2. Pick the first color of wool for the bottom of the basket. Put it between two strips and start weaving in and out around the basket.
3. As each row is finished, make sure you push it down tight to the row below it.
4. The wool should be tight as you work around the container, but not so tight that it pulls the sides into the center.
5. Change colors by starting a new piece of wool.
6. You don't need to cut off the first color if you are using it again. Keep the unused wool in the center as you are working around the basket.
7. Be sure to to weave them under the new color when you are back at the starting point (or else you will see the strand on the inside of the basket).
8. Once you have finished weaving the sides of the basket, trim off the wool and glue down the ends.
9. Cut out a felt center piece to glue inside at the bottom of the basket.
10. Make a wool braid to glue on the top of the brim, or cut out a felt piece to cover the brim.
11. The students may not have time to finish their baskets—you can send some yarn home
    with them if needed.

Question and Answer:
While the children are working on their baskets, ask questions about the story and have them raise hand to answer:

• Where was Saul going when he saw Jesus? Damascus
• Why was Saul going to Damascus? to find and arrest Christians
• Where in the Bible do we find the story of Paul’s conversion? Book of Acts
• What street was the house on that Saul went to when blind? Straight Street
• Who spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus? Jesus
• Who did Jesus send to heal Saul? Ananias
• Where was Saul from? Tarsus
• Who gave Saul the authority to arrest Christians? the high priest
• Who said “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Jesus)
• Who said “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.” (Ananias)
• What did Saul hide in to escape from those who wanted to kill him? (basket)
• How many days did Saul go without food or drink? 3
• What happened to Saul right after he could see again? he was baptized
• After seeing Jesus on the road to Damascus, what happened to Saul physically? he was blinded
• What did Saul do in the synagogues after he became a Christian? he preached
• General question for more than 1 person to answer: God had a plan for Paul. What kinds of plans does He have for you.
• General question for more than 1 person to answer: What are some things that you can say thank you to God for?

We are making these baskets to remind us that God had a plan for Saul. God’s plan was that Saul would continue to preach and teach for many years. I’m sure that Saul/Paul was very thankful that God saved his life. You can use this basket to remember God’s plan for you and to remember what God has done for you. Here are some slips of paper to put in your basket. One has a Bible verse on it—the others are for you to write other verses on or to write things that you are thankful for. You can read through these to remind you of God’s plan for you and how He cares for you.

Read the verse that is on the strip of paper:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” --Jeremiah 29:11

Reflection:

Pass out the passports to the students. Have each student write their name on the cover. Read the key point and the question for the day. Give them a few moments to write/draw in their passport. While they are doing this, go around and stamp in to each passport.

Closing Prayer:
We would like to have a consistent opening and closing to each class, especially since the teacher and station changes each week. Please end the class with this benediction from Numbers 6: 24-26 (CEV). Make the sign of the cross and say:
I pray that the LORD will bless and protect you, and that He will show you mercy and kindness. May the LORD be good to you and give you peace. Amen.

Resources/Bibliography

• “Saul on the Road to Damascus—Movie Workshop”. This lesson was written by Amy Crane for River Community Church in Prairieville, Louisiana. Copyright 2003 Amy Crane. Permission granted to freely distribute and use, provided the copyright message is included.
• Woven Basket from http://www.creativekidsathome....es/activity_73.shtml
• Paul’s Conversion—Game Station. Mary Ann Bethea, Joy Lutheran Church, Moore, SC

A lesson by Cathy Walz from: St. John Lutheran Church

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