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Welcome to our public Pentecost ~ Acts 1 and 2 ideas and lessons forum. Don't forget to check out the supporting members' "Wind, Fire, Faith!" Pentecost lesson from our Writing Team. The lesson summaries and Bible background are open to all. If you're looking for Ascension lessons and ideas, go to our Jesus After the Resurrection forum.

This topic is for posting your lesson and ideas for teaching Pentecost in the Bible Skills and Games Workshop.  Acts 1 and 2.

Please attach photos of gameboards/pieces if possible.

Please consider ways to use gaming techniques DURING the study and skills portions of the lesson, and not merely as the activity AFTER the study.


The following tag game ideas have been moved here, by moderator, to consolidate posts:

Pentecost ~ Tag Game Idea

by Joy Feemster

Acts 2:1-8, 12-18, 36-47

Hear and understand the story of how the Holy Spirit caused thousands of believers to be added to the number of Jesus followers in just one day.

Say: today we are going to play a game about adding believers to our number. Like the disciples, we'll tell each other about God's love, and others will join us. The way we will do this is we will play a tag game. One person will be "Paul" (or It) and he will try to tag others. He will say "God loves you!" when he tags someone. Then, that person will link arms with "Paul" and they will run together and try to tag another person. They must say "God loves you!" when they tag someone, who will then link arms with them, and continue to play till all are linked together. Note: If this seems to take too long, you can give a five minute time limit.

When the students are finished playing, ask them why they think it's important to tell others about God's love. Is it only important just to get a bunch of people together, or is there something more than that going on? Is it only the responsibility of pastors or ministry people to tell others about God's love? What about other adults? What about kids? What about you? When have you ever told a friend about God?

Let's pray now for someone you know who needs to hear about God's love.


Pentecost ~ "Prui" (Tag) Game Idea

by Member Mike Burcher

Another way to play an inclusive tag game is based on an old game called "Prui."

In the original, players wander with their eyes closed and and arms out in front as bumpers. One player is silently designated as the "Prui."  When two players bumb into each other gently, one should say Prui.  If the other person is not the the Prui, that person also responds by saying "Prui."  If that person IS the Prui, he or she says nothing, but gently incorporates this new player connecting that individual to all the others that have found the Prui. All members of the Prui are now silent, and incorporates new people into the Prui until all are one big Prui.

It seems to me this could be adapted, with the Prui being the Spirit.  Players with eyes closed could "test the Spirit" ala 1 John 4:1 by asking "Spirit?"  when they encounter each other, but if they are not the Spirit, they are silent.  Only the designated "Spirit" can respond with "Spirit," until all are eventually collected and added to the group.

Follow up questions:  We have so many choices -- how do we test which ones to follow?  How do we place ourselves so that we can discern God's call more clearly?


Pentecost ~ Parachute Game Idea

by "a former member" (copied from the Games Workshop Forum - Parachute Ideas)

Hoist the parachute as high as possible, let go, then everyone tries to gather in a group underneath in the middle. After the chute drapes over the group they make noises like different "tongues". I imagine this would look and sound amusing to witnesses - as if the group under the chute were "filled with new wine."

Last edited by Luanne Payne
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Pentecost - Game Idea – "Carrying the Light & Passing it On"


Activity:
Playing this simple game will help the kids remember that the point of the story is to find the flame and pass it on!

How To Play:
One (or more people) are ‘firestarters’ and carry the flame. Players go around the room and take turns shaking hands. Those with flame give extra squeeze, as in a secret handshake. This transfers the flame to the new player. Keep playing until it becomes apparent that everyone now carries the flame!

Last edited by CreativeCarol

Pentecost

Games Workshop


Summary of Lesson Activities:

In this workshop, the learners play charades as a way to understand communicating without common words. They will act out ways to tell the world about God’s love and Jesus.


Supplies:

  • The Children’s Bible;
  • newsprint,
  • marker;
  • slips of paper with phrases, mixed up in a container;
  • roll of red crepe paper;
  • glue or tape;
  • poster board with memory verse.

Teacher preparation:

  • Read the Bible passages.
  • Read over the background material included in your teacher packet.
  • Read over the entire lesson plan and become familiar with the crepe paper prayer activity.
  • Try to plan your discussion so that you can begin the charades game by at least 9:55 a.m.


Lesson Plan

Opening:

Greet the children and introduce yourself. Remember that you are interacting with a different group of students each week—some may not know you. Wear your nametag and make sure that the children are wearing theirs.

Dig:

1. Gather together in the tent area and read the story of Pentecost from The Children’s Bible, pp. 384-385 (stories 338-339). Refer to the poster board and repeat the memory verse together. Following the reading, explain briefly about Pentecost. Pentecost was a Jewish holiday. During this holiday, Jewish people were expected to travel to Jerusalem to worship God. So at the time of our story, people from all over the world were in Jerusalem to celebrate this Pentecost. That is why there were so many languages spoken in that place at that time. Ask the children to name some languages people speak.

Define the use of the word tongues. In this context, it means to be able to speak the language of the listener, whatever that might be. Though many people in the crowd were from foreign places and spoke different languages, they all could understand Peter.

2. Discuss other ways to communicate besides language. Suggestions may be sign language, pantomime, actions or works. Ask, “How does the church speak about God?” Answers may be that it speaks through its worship, its Sunday School, or its missions. There probably will be others.

3. Using the newsprint on which to write suggestions, brainstorm ways (or tongues) we each can use to tell the world about God’s love and about Jesus. Write down their suggestions, and try to steer them to the following suggestions:

smile
be kind to people
make smart choices
say “please”
say “thank you”
do acts of kindness
do chores at home
come to worship
come to Sunday School
don’t fight with siblings
sing worship songs
come to Kids of the Kingdom or youth group
visit an elderly person
help at a homeless shelter
bring an offering to Sunday School or worship
bring food for Second Harvest Food Bank

4. Tell the children that the class will be playing a game of Charades. It is a game in which participants act out phrases, using no speaking, and others guess the phrases. Tell them that they will be acting out some of the phrases mentioned above (on the newsprint) about ways we each can tell the world about God’s love.

5. Divide into 2 teams, if there are enough children, or just let the children take turns acting out a phrase for the rest of the class. Feel free to take a turn yourself and ask the shepherd if they want a turn, too.
At his or her turn, have the student draw a slip of paper with a way to share the good news of Jesus. They will then act it out for the rest of the team or class. Be sure to move the game along enough to give everyone a chance. Do as many phrases as you can until 10:20 a.m.

Reflection:

Have the children stand around the room. Show the roll of red crepe paper and tell them that it represents the Holy Spirit, like the red tongues of fire in the story for today. Remind them that the Holy Spirit gave the disciples in our story the courage to tell the good news of God’s love, so when they are holding the paper they will feel the courage and strength to pray here today. Tell them you will start a prayer and toss the paper to someone else. When they receive the paper, they can add a word, phrase, or sentence to the prayer. After they have added to the prayer, they should toss the paper to someone else, making sure they hold on to a part of the crepe paper so it will unwind as it is tossed. You may suggest that the children turn around once before tossing the roll so that the paper surrounds them. Make sure the paper stays relatively loose or it will rip. If it does, that’s OK. Have the child grab the 2 ends and continue tossing and wrapping and praying.
Begin the prayer as follows:

Loving God, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to the apostles so they had courage to spread the good news of God’s love. Thank you also for sending the Holy Spirit to us so we can feel your strength and your love, too.

(Toss the paper to someone else and help the children continue the prayer.)
When everyone has had a chance to hold on to the crepe paper “web”, close the prayer with Amen.

Journal Time:
Help the shepherd pass out the journals. Let the children tear off 1 or 2 pieces of the red crepe paper. Glue or tape one in their journal and ask them to write down something they can do to tell about God’s love. Let them take another piece of crepe paper with them if they want, to remind them of the strength the Holy Spirit gives us.

Adjustments for younger children:
The Beginner class may need more help in acting out and guessing the phrases. They will probably do better having the whole class guessing instead of having teams. You and the shepherd may need to split up with one helping the “actor” and the other helping the “guessers.”


References:
Pentecost Lesson Set from Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church, Cary, North Carolina. https://www.kirkofkildaire.org/rotation-lessons/




A lesson posted by member Jan Marshall,
Brenthaven Cumberland Presbyterian Church,  Brentwood TN

Last edited by Luanne Payne

moved here by moderator to consolidate posts.

Day of Pentecost

Pentecost ~ Holy Spirit - Verse Translations Relay Game

Scripture:

Acts 2:1-47

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Students will play games to enhance and review the lesson.

Memory Verse: Acts 2:39:
“The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off…”

Objectives:

Students will…

  • be able to find the Pentecostal event in Acts.
  • understand the definition of “Pentecost”.
  • understand that this is the birth of the “church”.
  • be able to retell of the event in their own words.
  • learn different names and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Supplies:

  • Bible
  • Memory verse on poster board/White board
  • A list of eight Scripture Verses (divided 4/team)
  • Equal number of verses printed per team in three translations (I went to www.biblegateway.com)   
  • Envelopes to hold the verses

Preparations:

  • Pray
  • Study Bible Background for the Rotation
  • Read Scripture Text
  • Print out an even number of verses in three different translations. Cut them out removing all references as to book, chapter, and verse. Place them in envelopes marked “Set A” and “Set B”. (Keep a master set of each printed sheet for yourself.)
  • Lay out supplies


Lesson Plan

Opening:

Welcome students and introduce yourself and new visitors. Buddy up visitors with regular attendees.

Dig:

Say:

We have been learning this month about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the third person of what we call the Trinity.  “Trinity” means “three” as in the three persons of the Holy Godhead: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

God the Father is God who told Moses that He was “I AM”. God the Son is whom? Jesus. And, God the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit that Jesus said God the Father would send us once Jesus went to heaven.

We are going to play a game to help us learn some of the names of the Holy Spirit, which will help us understand the work of the Holy Spirit.

Activity #1: Verse Translations Relay

Say:

  • I have some envelopes here with verses in different translations in them.
  • Here is a list of the verses in the envelopes.
  • You will have to look the verses up in the Bible, then find all three translations for that verse.
  • Once you find the translations, one student will run to the wall and tape them under the correct verse reference posted.
  • The first team to get all 4 verses/12 translations posted in the correct order wins.

Reflection:

After the game, take time to point out and discuss the different names used for the Holy Spirit. Write them on a white board or newsprint paper for the students to see.

Clean Up:
Have the students help clean up.

Journal Time:
Have students complete an activity or journal page or send it home if you run out of time.


Resources:

  • Scripture taken from Bible Gateway, HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. © 1995-2009, The Zondervan Corporation. All rights reserved.        
  • New International Reader's Version, Publisher: Biblica
  • New Living Traslation, Publisher: Tyndale
    <http://www.biblegateway.com/>

A lesson by Lisa Saliga, Life Community Church,
Shippensburg, PA,

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability and added possible scripture verses below.


Moderator adds: here are 8 possible scriptures, in 3 versions. To get different versions or verses go to biblegateway.com as suggested by author. Attached to this lesson are these same verses with scripture verses removed and spaced so they can be cut and used in game.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 ~ Gifts of the Holy Spirit

New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

4 There are different kinds of gifts. But they are all given to believers by the same Spirit.

5 There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord.

6 There are different ways the Spirit works. But the same God is working in all these ways and in all people.

7 The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all.

8 To some people the Spirit gives a message of wisdom. To others the same Spirit gives a message of knowledge.

9 To others the same Spirit gives faith. To others that one Spirit gives gifts of healing.

10 To others he gives the power to do miracles. To others he gives the ability to prophesy. To others he gives the ability to tell the spirits apart. To others he gives the ability to speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before. And to still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages.

11 All the gifts are produced by one and the same Spirit. He gives gifts to each person, just as he decides.

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.

9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.

10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,c]">[c] while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.

5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

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Last edited by Luanne Payne

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