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Peter and John Heal a Lame Man

Lesson Set

Summary of all workshops & material in this Rotation:

  • Bible Background: Information on the story
  • Art Workshop: Make scrolls, which contain the memory verse.
  • Drama Workshop: “In the name of Jesus” echo drama as a warm up and Freeze drama. [Editor's note: no information is provided on the echo drama.]
  • Video Workshop: View portions of the video, Jesus: A Kingdom Without Frontiers, The Acts of the Apostles.
  • Cooking Workshop: Making Miracle Bar Cookies - they don't require baking. [Editor's note: they contain peanut butter - allergy warning!]


Scripture Reference:

Acts 3:1-10

Memory Verse:
"They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers."  Acts 2:42

Background Information on Peter and John

Today’s story of Peter and John is found in the Book of Acts in the New Testament. The Book of Acts tells about the many ways the apostles spread the word of God after Jesus’ death. During this time, many people in Jerusalem believed in Jesus. The leaders who crucified Christ tried to stop the apostles from preaching about Jesus. But the Apostles did preach, and like Jesus, they performed many miracles.

The many miracles of healing that Peter and the apostles performed were important because they proved that the apostles’ message about Jesus was true. They made the apostles popular and they helped protect them from the leaders who killed Jesus. The miracles helped many people to change their hearts and minds about Jesus. They turned to him as their Savior.

In this miracle, Peter and John heal a lame man. The lame man was a beggar. Being a beggar was a miserable life. There was no system at the time that provided for disabled or elderly people. They depended entirely on their family and friends and gifts from kind people.

This beggar was lying outside “The Beautiful Gate.” Most scholars think the gate was a gate to the Temple of Jerusalem leading to the part of the temple called the Court of the Women. It would have been a good place to beg since many people passed it every day.

They were questioned by a council. First of all, they couldn’t believe these fisherman could speak so well, let alone heal. The demanded the two men not preach about Jesus anymore but they would not relent. They would never stop sharing the Word of God.

What is the lesson in all of this? Certainly we are not capable of performing miracles? So what is it God asks of us? God asks that continue to be disciples by sharing his Word, by praying together and alone and by continuing to learn about His wonderful ways. At first, it seems overwhelming to us. After all, we are being asked to do something else in addition to our very busy lives? And that is where we should stop, and take stock; What is it that is getting in the way of the very thing we were put here on earth for, that Christ died for? God is not asking us to stop breathing! God is asking us to tell any and all of His good works, and about His love and His forgiving ways. We start today by sharing the story of the Healing of the Lame Man.

Peter and John could bring the gift of health and a new life in every sense of the word – both physical and spiritual. This miracle was a sign that God was interested in every part of human life.




Peter and John heal a lame man

Art Workshop


Summary of Lesson Activity:

Make scrolls, which contain the memory verse, using stamps & stamp pads, markers, & calligraphy techniques.

Workshop Objectives

After today's lesson, the students will be able to:

  • Define “miracle” and explain its importance in the years after Jesus’ death
  • Understand when the story took place
  • Be able to retell the story in their own words
  • Be able to recite the memory verse.

Leader Preparation:

  • Read Bible Background and scripture.
  • Make a sample of the project ahead of time to make sure you understand the process to be able to explain it to the children. [Editor's note: However you don't want to show your sample to the students. Allow them to create without trying to make theirs look like yours.]
  • Cut scroll paper to appropriate size (4” x 7” up to 5” x 9) - slightly dependent on the size of your skewers. [Optional: Allow older students to cut their own paper.]
  • For the 1st Graders, you will want to attach the scroll paper to skewers with a glue gun prior to class.
  • Cover the tables with newspaper for easy clean up.
  • Set out craft supplies.

Materials List:

  • Bibles
  • The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories by Mary Batchelor
  • wooden skewers
  • brown craft paper
  • calligraphy markers
  • Sharpie markers
  • stamps, stamp pads (in dark-bright colors– e.g., royal blue, red, purple, dark green. Lighter colors such as yellow or light blue do not show up well on the brown paper)
  • glue guns, electrical extension cords
  • ribbon, scissors
  • Optional: A book of calligraphy


Presentation

Opening:

Say: Today we will be hearing a story that took place after Jesus’ death and Resurrection. Ask:  Where do you think this story might appear in the Bible? (New Testament, after the Gospels).

Say:  It is a story that is considered to be a miracle (event with no other explanation but the intervention of God). After our worship time, we will be making scrolls of this story’s memory verse.

Review the memory verse for this Rotation using one of the tips in your folder. [Editor's note: These tips were not shared.] Acts 2:42 "They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers."

Do:  Light a candle.

Say:  We will now enter into our Worship Time. This candle that I light represents the light of Christ who is always in our midst. This is a quiet time for us to focus on the Word of God.

Opening Prayer: God of Us All, We are grateful to be here together today to learn about another wonderful story in the Bible, a story about your people. We are thankful that each of us are also your people. In Your Son’s Name we pray. AMEN.

Read the Bible Passage/Story: The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories,  Story #340 (or Read Acts 3:1-10)

This same story is being covered in each Rotation. If this is the 3rd or 4th week of the rotation, keep in mind that the children have heard the story 2 or 3 times already. They should be able to retell the story in their own words. You may want to choose a different way to present the story in the last 2 weeks of the rotation. Consider using maps, God’s Story Time props, felt board characters, puppets, etc. to tell the story. If you choose to read the story from the Bible, distribute Bibles to the students and have them locate the story in the Bible and follow along as you read.

You may also wish to set up the story by reading Acts 2:42-47.

The passage that follows today’s story, Acts 3:11-16, is also very interesting. It shows how these types of events were used to convert Jews to Christians. Peter adapts his speech, using a lot of Old Testament references, to his particular audience – devote Jews attending prayer services. His words proved so effective that 3.000 people were converted on that day. Jewish leaders soon arrested both Peter and John.

Prayer: Dear Lord, as we enter into our activity time, please keep our hearts and minds open to hear you speaking to us. Amen.

Do:  Extinguish the candle

Dig:

  1. If not done previously, cut scroll paper to appropriate size (apr 4” x 7” up to 5” x 9)
  2. Using stamps and stamp pads decorate the scrolls.
  3. When stamp images are dry, write the memory verse on the scroll using sharpie markers or calligraphy markers.
  4. Glue the edges of the scroll to the skewers
  5. Cut off excess skewer and sharp points with adult scissors
  6. Roll up scroll and tie with ribbon.

Reflection:

  • Who are the Apostles? Are they the same as the 12 Disciples? (The Bible calls the 12 special disciples of Jesus apostles. The word disciple means “a learner”. The word Apostle means “a person sent on a mission”. The Gospels tell how the disciples of Jesus were taught by Jesus. The book of Acts tells how the apostles were sent out by Jesus to tell everyone about him. Peter an Paul were Apostles of Jesus)
  • Why do you think verses 3-4 speak about “looked straight at him” and Peter told the beggar to “Look at us”? (In that time, as now, people generally didn’t look at the beggars. During the Bible times, the beggars were considered a lower class than everyone else and never looked at others. The Bible is trying to point out that Peter and John didn’t believe the beggar was any different from them, just as important in the eyes of God. It’s also surprising that Peter helped the beggar up by touching him.)
  • What do you suppose you would have done if you observed this event? Would you have believed it was a miracle or thought it was a trick? Would you have told others or kept it to yourself?
  • Do you suppose the lame man in the story became a believer?

Journaling:

Ask children to journal about something they found meaningful, surprising or interesting in today’s class. If you have a younger class, you should provide them with guidance regarding what they could journal about. If there is time, you could brainstorm with the class one or two important things you learned about today and write those on the board. You could choose to write the memory verse on the board (including reference) or you could write one or two partial sentences on the board for the children to finish. Remember that first graders are just learning to write sentences and you could also give them an idea of a picture to draw.

For example for younger grades (1st – 2nd):
Copy down the memory verse.
Draw a picture of today’s story.
Create an idea of your own.

For older grades (3rd – 6th):
Write about what you would have done if you witnessed this miracle. - or -
How might you apply the memory verse to your life today?
Create an idea of your own.

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Peter and John heal a lame man
Drama Workshop


Summary of Lesson Activity:

This workshop focuses on Worship. The children will learn about Peter and John preaching about Jesus and working miracles. As a warm-up they will use “In the name of Jesus” echo drama.[Editor's note: No info was provided about this warm-up exercise. The editor has provided a possible activity.] Then students will present this story using "Freeze drama" creating photographs of scenes from the story. A poster of the photographs will be created for church display.


Leader Preparation:

  • Read Bible Background and scripture.
  • Set up Worship Center
  • Get out costumes
  • Set up the appropriate scenes for the photographs (outside and inside a Temple)

Materials List:

  • Worship Center and Candle
  • Bibles
  • The Children's Illustrated Bible by Selina Hastings
  • Costumes and props, background scenery
  • Digital Camera, and a way to print the photographs
  • Poster board, glue and markers


Lesson Plan

Opening:

The focus in "Stages of Faith" is Worship. Assemble in God’s name. The first part of the order of worship helps us move from the world, or ordinary time and place, to the holy. As we gather we need a way to get ready to be with God, to move our attention from ourselves and our world, to God.

Greet the children with the formal greeting: “The Lord be with you,” teach the children to reply, “And also with you.”

Do:  Light a candle.

Say:  We will now enter into our Worship Time. This candle that I light represents the light of Christ who is always in our midst. This is a quiet time for us to focus on the Word of God.


Review the Memory Verse: "They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers." Acts 2:42 Sing the memory verse song. [Editor's note: No info was provided about this song.]

Prayer: Dear Lord, as we enter into our activity time, please keep our hearts and minds open to hear you speaking to us. Amen.

Do:  Extinguish the candle.

Dig:

Today we will do two drama activities. First, let's hear the story from the Bible (very important to read the story first.)

Bible Passage/Story: The Children’s Illustrated Bible, pages 286-287

Do:  Echo drama -- follow instructions completely.

Editor's note: These instructions were not supplied. Here is a possibility... Instruct the students to repeat after you.

Leader:  Peter and John were going to the Temple.  (students repeat)

Leader:  Meanwhile, others carried a man.  (students repeat)

Leader:  He could not walk, but he could beg.   (students repeat)

Leader:  Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have."   (students repeat)

Leader:  "But I have something better."   (students repeat)

Leader:  "In the name of Jesus Christ, walk!"   (students repeat)


Do:  Freeze drama -- create a tableau (a still picture) of each portion of the story.

If time allows: Make a poster of the pictures, the children decorate the poster so we can display it for the church.

Reflection:

What was your favorite part of today’s story?

Journaling:
Ask children to journal about something they found meaningful, surprising or interesting in today’s class or pose a reflective question as a journaling topic.

Pray a closing prayer, and release the class with a benediction: "God go with you, Go in Peace.”




Peter and John heal a lame man
Video Workshop (Which we call "BLAST Theater")

Summary of Lesson Activity:
Watch the video: Jesus: A Kingdom Without Frontiers - The Acts of the Apostles. (The video is 30 minutes long.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CMR4tHW3Ck

Workshop ObjectivesAfter today's lesson, the students will be able to:

  • tell about the Early Church and what happened to the disciples after Jesus’ death and Resurrection.

Leader Preparation:

  • Read Bible Background and scripture.
  • Prepare popcorn.
  • Cue movie.

Materials List:

  • the Video listed above
  • popcorn and other snack supplies


Lesson Plan

Opening:

Do:  Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Call the children by name. Have them wear their nametags.

Say:  Today we will watch a movie about the early Christian Church. First, let's review our Memory Verse.

Do:  Review the memory verse for this Rotation -- "They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers." Acts 2: 42

Do:  Light a candle.

Say:  We will now enter into our Worship Time. This candle that I light represents the light of Christ who is always in our midst. This is a quiet time for us to focus on the Word of God.

Prayer: Gracious God, Thank you for our church. Help us to love and care as Jesus has taught us to do. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Read the Bible Passage/Story:  Acts 3: 1-10

If this is the first week of the rotation, read the background information to the class so the children can familiarize themselves with an overview of the entire story. After covering the background information, continue on with the part of the story assigned to this Rotation.

Prayer: Dear Lord, as we enter into our activity time, please keep our hearts and minds open to hear you speaking to us. Amen.

Extinguish the candle.

Dig:

Show the Video.

Reflection:

  • Who begins talking in this story and who is he talking about? Peter is talking about Jesus.
  • Who comes to the door? A beggar.
  • How was he treated? Well, because that is what Jesus taught.
  • Why were the disciples gathered? To choose a 12th disciple.
  • Who became the 12th disciple? Mathias
  • What are the people to do? Repent of their sins and forgive in Jesus name.
  • What did the disciples say at each baptism? “In the name of Jesus your sins are forgiven.”
  • How did the disciples go out as sheep among wolves and teach about Jesus? They were inspired with new strength and power after being visited by the Holy Spirit.
  • What did Peter and John give the lame man? What they had. The power to walk in the name of Jesus.
  • What happened to Peter and John? They were judged and their lives were spared.
  • What happened to Stephen? He was stoned to death for his preaching.
  • Who was one of the men who helped the stone Stephen? Saul.
  • What happened to Saul on the road to Damascus? He was struck blind and became a believer. He changed his name to Paul. He preached the word of God.
  • Paul was arrested for his preaching and then what happened? He was executed for his beliefs.
  • What is the Eucharist? Communion.
  • Why do we have Communion? To remind us of God’s love for us, and that through Christ, our sins are forgiven.

Journaling:
Ask children to journal about something they found meaningful, surprising or interesting in today’s class or pose a reflective question (listed above) as a journaling topic.





Peter and John heal a lame man
Cooking Workshop (Which we call "Loaves & Fishes CafÉ")

Summary of Lesson Activity:
Make "Miracle Bar" Cookies.

Workshop ObjectivesAfter today's lesson, the students will be able to:

  • Tell about the miracles that happened even after the death of Jesus.

Leader Preparation:

  • Read Bible Background and scripture.
  • Set up Worship Center
  • Set out the supplies needed for the activity.
  • Determine how many children you will have and decide if you will need to double the recipe.

Materials List:

  • Bibles
  • Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Dry Roasted Nuts, M&M’s, Light corn syrup, Sugar, Creamy peanut butter, Vanilla extract
  • Bowls, measuring cups, mixing spoons
  • A saucepan
  • A 10x15" baking pan


Lesson Plan

Opening:
Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Call the children by name. Have them wear their nametags.

Say:  Today, we will be making “Miracle Bars.” First we will be in the kitchen and then we will move to the classroom for our lesson.

Dig:

Do:  Have everyone wash their hands.

Ask:  I wonder what the miracle is in our recipe?

Do:  Go over the ingredients. Take any responses as to possible miracles. (The miracle is they don’t require cooking!)

Do:  Assemble Miracle Bar Cookies.

Instructions for Miracle Bar Cookies

In a large bowl, combine:
4 cups Cheerios
2 cups Rice Krispies
2 cups Dry Roasted Nuts (nut allergy alert!)
2 cups M&M’s

Meanwhile, ask an adult to boil the following ingredients, stirring frequently:
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar

Remove from the heat and (depending on the ages of the children) have then stir in:
1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

Pour this liquid mixture over the cereal/nut mixture and toss to coat evenly.

Spread into greased 15X10X1 inch baking pan.

Allow to cool while you have worship time and read/discuss the story.

When appropriate, cut into squares and serve.

Worship Time:

Do:  Light a candle.

Say:  We will now enter into our Worship Time. This candle that I light represents the light of Christ who is always in our midst. This is a quiet time for us to focus on the Word of God.

Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, Please help us to hear Your Word with open hearts and open ears. Amen.

Work on the Memory Verse: Acts 2:42 "They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and prayers."

Read the Bible Passage/Story: The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories, Story #340 (or Read Acts 3:1-10)

This same story is being covered in each rotation. If this is the 3rd or 4th week of the rotation, keep in mind that the children have heard the story 2 or 3 times already. They should be able to retell the story in their own words. You may want to choose a different way to present the story in the last 2 weeks of the rotation. Consider using maps, God’s Story Time props, felt board characters, puppets, etc. to tell the story. If you choose to read the story from the Bible, distribute Bibles to the students and have them locate the story in the Bible and follow along as you read.

If this is the first week of the rotation, read the background information to the class so the children can familiarize themselves with an overview of the entire story. After covering the background information, continue on with the part of the story assigned to this rotation. For this rotation, different workshops are hearing different parts of the story, so take time with the story. It is not repeated in the other workshops.

If you choose to read the story from the Bible, distribute Bibles to the students and have them locate the story in the Bible and follow along as you read.


Prayer: Thank you God for these gifts. May we use them to Your glory. Amen.

Reflection:

  1. What is the lesson God wants us to hear? (that we need to read our Bible, spend time in prayer and spread His word.)
  2. What does it mean to be a disciple? (It means you follow God’s Word and share Gods Word with all.)
  3. Does God expect us to perform miracles?
  4. Why did the Council question Peter? (they wanted to know who gave them the authority to heal.)
  5. What does God expect from us?


Journaling:
Ask children to journal about something they found meaningful, surprising or interesting in today’s class. If you have a younger class, you should provide them with guidance regarding what they could journal about.

If there is time, you could brainstorm with the class one or two important things you learned about today and write those on the board. You could choose to write the memory verse on the board (including reference) or you could write one or two partial sentences on the board for the children to finish. Remember that first graders are just learning to write sentences and you could also give them an idea of a picture to draw.

For example for younger grades (1st – 2nd):
Copy down the memory verse,  - or -
Draw a picture of today’s story.

For older grades (3rd – 6th):
Write about what you would have have felt if you had seen this event, - or -
Use one of the reflective questions.


A lesson from Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church,
Sunnyvale, CA, USA

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

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Peter, John and the Lame Man

Lesson Set

Summary of Workshops:

  • Art Workshop: Word art for “walking in Christ”.
  • Drama/Puppets Workshop: "Peter Heal's a Lame Man" may be done by either puppets or actors, as a shadow play or in pantomime with a narrator reading the story.
  • Video Workshop: Watch a clip (approx. 10 mins.) from A.D. part I, session 3, by Gospel Films (1984)

Scripture Reference:

Acts 3:1-4:31

Memory Verse:
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.” John 14: 12
Bonus verse: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Lesson Objectives:

  1. Children will learn the story of the Peter, John and the lame man.
  2. Children will learn that each of us is as helpless to free ourselves from sin as the lame man was to walk unless and until we put our faith in Jesus.
  3. Children will see that God empowers believers by the Holy Spirit to do good things, just as Jesus did when he walked the earth, so that others can see that Jesus is God and that he loves us.
  4. Children will learn that the prayer made in faith in Jesus’ name and according to God’s will is answered.
  5. Children will learn that faith in Jesus’ name means faith that God has forgiven us through Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection.
  6. Children will see that God wants us to love and obey him and to love people.

Concepts:

  1. Peter and John commanded healing by faith in the name of Jesus Christ to a lame man.
  2. We are all helpless because of sin, just as the lame man was helpless, until we know God by faith in Jesus Christ.
  3. God gives us power by his Holy Spirit to obey him, to love people, and to ask for good things in Jesus’ name.
  4. When we ask in faith, as believers, God answers the prayers we ask according to his will.
  5. The only way to know God is by faith in Jesus’ work for us when he died on the cross for our sins and rose again.
  6. When we believe and obey God, other people can see that God loves them and has sent Jesus for them also.



Art Workshop

Summary: word art for “walking in Christ”.

Leader Preparation:

  • Read objectives, concepts and scripture.
  • Ahead of time take a large sheet of 48” wide roll paper about 6’ long and block print in large letters the name, “JESUS”. Make the letters about 4” to 6” thick, with open double walls (not colored in), and cut out the top and bottom outlines of the letters to about 6” down (or up) on the paper.
  • Print in large letters across the “JESUS” the words, “Walking and leaping and praising God!”

Materials List:

  • Bibles
  • 48" wide by 6 long paper
  • construction paper (assorted colors)
  • glue sticks and/or white glue
  • pencils
  • student scissors
  • felt pens
  • glitter


Lesson Plan

Opening:
Welcome the children and their guide to the workshop, introduce yourself, and open in prayer. Please try to start and end on time, and focus your attention on the children.

Dig:

Teach the lesson and the Bible verses.

Review the memory verse, John 14:12, explaining any difficult words or concepts, and likewise review the “bonus verse”, Acts 4:12.

Invite students to review with you what they already know of the story of the healing of the lame man.

Older students can take turns reading Acts 3:1-10 to begin the lesson.

You could ask if this reminds them of any of the miraculous healings that Jesus did.

The story of the healing of the man carried in by four friends and let down through the roof is somewhat similar. (Matthew 9:2-8, Mark 2:3-12, Luke 5:18-26)

Point out that just as the crowds were amazed when Jesus healed the lame man, people were amazed at the power of God in healing the lame man that Peter and John talked to. And so Peter and John were able to talk to the crowd about faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the only way to know God and be forgiven of sin. Since some people, especially the people in power, did not like this message, Peter and John got into trouble. Peter and John kept on proclaiming faith in Jesus’ name; they didn’t care if they got into trouble.

That doesn’t mean we should be proud or obnoxious about believing in Jesus, however. God wants us to deliver his message in love, with warmth and kindness and goodwill, because He loves everybody at all times. Because God loves people so much, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of each person so that each one who comes to Him in faith can be forgiven.

Since your particular lesson and project has to do with “in Jesus name”, teach what it is to have faith in Jesus to forgive and deliver from sin.

Art Project Directions:

  1. Have the students remove one shoe and sock and then trace one foot onto a piece of construction paper (their color choice), including the toes.
  2. Students should cut out their foot tracing carefully, including each toe.
  3. Students print their name lightly in pencil across the cutout foot so it fills the whole space, and then go over their name with felt pen tracing each letter line so it’s double or triple walled. They can fill in the space inside each letter with line designs or solid color.
  4. Students can add a bead of stick glue or white glue to outline the letters of their name, and dust it with glitter.

    (Put the cutout foot into a box top before applying glitter so you can save the excess glitter that doesn’t stick.)

    Remind them that using less glue is better because it dries faster. If stick glue holds the glitter, you won’t have to wait long for it to dry.
  5. Allow students to place and glue their name footprints “in” the name “JESUS”.
  6. When the project is dry, it might make a good hall poster display.

Discussion questions:

  1. What do you think the lame man in the story thought Peter and John would give him if they didn’t have money to offer him?
    (ANS: varied answers)
  2. What do you think the lame man thought of Jesus after being healed and hearing Peter preach?
    (ANS: He probably repented of his sins and asked God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ. He “believed on Jesus”.)
  3. The lame man appeared with Peter and John before the authorities, and he doesn’t seem to have said anything (Acts 4:5 – 14). What do you think the lame man was doing?
    (ANS: Answers may vary, but the man was standing before the authorities in verses 10 and 14, and he must have walked there, instead of being carried as he was in Acts 3:2.)
  4. How was the healing of the lame man similar to something Jesus did during his ministry when he was alive on earth?
    (ANS: Jesus healed a lame man that was carried to him on a mat by four friends. Jesus also got in trouble with the authorities when he did that healing.)

Reflection:

Write or draw about what act of faith is God asking you to do today. Do you need to pray and ask God to forgive your sins? Do you need to make peace with someone else, and forgive someone else? Do you need to pray and ask God to fill a particular need in your life today?

Close with a circle of prayer

Give all who want to pray a chance to do so. Invite children to return next week with their Bible and a friend.




Drama/Puppet Workshop

Summary: Today’s drama of "Peter Heal's a Lame Man" may be done by either puppets or actors, as a shadow play or in pantomime with a narrator reading the story.

Leader Preparation:

  • Read objectives, concepts and scripture.
  • Gather the materials.

Materials List:

  • Bibles
  • costumes
  • mat or chair or wheelchair
  • basket or cup
  • money pouch (bag)
  • prison cell


Lesson Plan

Opening:

Welcome the children and their guide to the workshop, introduce yourself, and open in prayer. Please try to start and end on time, and focus your attention on the children.

Review the memory verse, John 14:12, explaining any difficult words or concepts, and likewise review the “bonus verse”, Acts 4:12.

Invite students to review with you what they already know of the story of the healing of the lame man.

Older students can take turns reading Acts 3:1-10 to begin the lesson.

You could ask if this reminds them of any of the miraculous healings that Jesus did. (They will/did review the healing of the paralyzed man carried on a mat to Jesus when they do/did the art project.)

Jesus also healed a paralyzed man near the pool of Bethesda, or Sheep Pool, and the story is in John 5: 1-9, and there was trouble with the authorities because of the healing, John 5:10-15. Review this story briefly with your students before continuing with the story in Acts 3 & 4.

Point out that just as people were amazed when Jesus healed the lame man, so also people were amazed at the power of God in healing the lame man that Peter and John talked to. Peter and John were able to talk to the crowd about faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the only way to know God and be forgiven of sin. Since some people, especially the people in power, did not like this message, Peter and John got into trouble. Peter and John kept on proclaiming faith in Jesus’ name; they didn’t care if they got into trouble.

That doesn’t mean we should be proud or obnoxious about believing in Jesus, however. God wants us to deliver his message in love, with warmth and kindness and goodwill, because He loves everybody at all times. Because God loves people so much, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of each person so that each one who comes to Him in faith can be forgiven.

Dig:

Drama Activity: Today’s drama may be done by either puppets or actors, as a shadow play or in pantomime with a narrator reading the story. It’s written as a narrative because Peter’s sermon would be somewhat difficult for our child actors and actresses.

Scene I: The Lame Man is Healed
(Actors perform the actions described below appropriately as the narrator reads Acts 3:1-10.)

As some people carry in the lame man either on a mat or in a chair (or to be contemporary, push him in a wheelchair onto the stage), Peter and John walk in his direction, looking toward the Temple gate.
The lame man holds out his basket or cup for alms, but Peter and John shake their heads and turn their pockets or bag inside out, indicating they have no money.
Peter and John point to themselves and look straight at the lame man, and the man looks at them.
Peter lip-synchs the words of Acts 3:6 (or says the words in the verse, if you prefer), holds out his hand to the man, and the man takes Peter’s hand and stands upright, looking amazed.
The man begins to walk, tentatively at first, then runs around in a circle around Peter and John and jumps up and down, looking very excited, as the narrator reads Acts 3:8.
A crowd of people gathers, gawking and looking amazed, shrugging their shoulders to show that they can’t understand how this man, who’d been born lame and was over 40 years old, could possible be walking with Peter and John into the Temple courts.

Scene II: Peter Preaches to the Crowd in the Temple
Have the beggar (formerly lame man) stand up with Peter and John, holding on to them as Peter speaks to the gathering and excited crowd. Peter can lip-synch the sermon, if necessary, as the narrator reads Acts 3:11-16. To make the sermon more contemporary, you could leave out “men of Israel” in verse 12.

Scene III: Peter and John Are Taken to the Authorities
The “authorities” were the priests, captain of the temple guard, and Sadducees (who don’t believe in the resurrection), but to make the play contemporary, it could just be some well-dressed, authoritative-looking people. If you keep the play in the first century, the authorities would be dressed in richer clothing than the typical person in the crowd. As the narrator reads Acts 4:1-4, the actors perform the appropriate actions, concluding with putting Peter and John into a prison cell. The narrator could substitute the word “authorities” for “priests, captain of the temple guard and Sadducee” in 4:1 and in 4:7 after Peter and John are taken out of prison to stand before them again. You could skip 4:5-6. The actor who’s asking Peter and John “By what authority did you do this…?” should point at them and look intense and somewhat angry.
Then, as the narrator reads 4:8-12, have Peter lip-synch and gesture appropriately.
After 4:12, have the “authorities” put their heads together for a discussion about what to do with Peter and John. Some shoulder-shrugging gestures would be appropriate as the narrator reads 4:13-17.
Peter and John are brought before the authorities again, and commanded (finger shaken in their faces) “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (4:18). Peter then answers with 4:19-20, gesturing as the narrator reads the verses.
The onlookers could look concerned as the previous scene unfolds, and then look joyous, praising God, at the end of it.

Scene IV: The Believers Pray
Have Peter and John join the “believers” in another part of the stage after Peter and John are released, and everyone assume an attitude of intense prayer as the narrator reads 4:24b-31. After the prayer, everyone raises hands in joyous praise to God as they are filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit and the place is shaken by an earthquake.

Discussion questions:

  1. As you did this enactment of the Bible story of Peter and John and lame man, with whom did you most identify, and why?
    (ANS: Answers will be varied.)
  2. Can you think of any situation today in which the believer in Jesus should act in obedience to God rather than men, as Peter and John did in this story?
    (ANS: Again, answers will vary. Possible answers include praying to thank God (silently) at mealtime, prayer before taking a test at school, prayer around the flagpole done by Christians teens at school, or offering to pray for a friend in need.)
  3. Peter said the Jesus is the “only name by which you must be saved”. What does he mean? Aren’t all religions O.K.?
    (ANS: God loves all people, but the only way God has provided for our forgiveness of sins is by faith in the work of His Son Jesus Christ when he died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins and was raised to life on the third day. A person needs to choose to believe that God loves them, and believe that He did this for them.)
  4. Why do you think the religious authorities were angry with Peter and John?
    (ANS: They didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God, they didn’t believe in the resurrection from the dead, and they didn’t like Peter saying that they’d done wrong in God’s sight. They didn’t even like “uneducated” people like Peter and John preaching to people.)
  5. Could such a problem arise today?
    (ANS: It can, and it has, many times.)

Reflection:

Journal question:

When Peter and John were mistreated by the authorities, they could have been angry at the authorities for putting them in jail and for scolding them. Were they angry? Would you be angry? Draw or write about what you think Peter and John did that night in prison.

Close with a circle of prayer

Give all who want to pray a chance to do so. Invite children to return next week with their Bible and a friend.




Video Workshop

Summary:

Watch a clip from A.D. part I, session 3, by Gospel Films (1984).

[Or the video Visual Bible: Acts, Volume I (1996) also includes a section on the healing of the lame man that may be useful if you want a longer video showing. Search DVD disk Events, see Events list for this story below.
]

Leader Preparation:

  • Read objectives, concepts and scripture.
  • Preview video.
  • Have popcorn and juice ready.

Materials List:

  • Bibles
  • Video - A.D. Part 1, Session 3, by Gospel Films (1984)
  • Popcorn, Juice


Lesson Plan

Opening:
Welcome the children and their guide to the workshop, introduce yourself, and open in prayer. Please try Please try to start and end on time, and focus your attention on the children.

Pass out popcorn and drinks.

Show the video, A.D. part I, session 3, by Gospel Films (1984), which is just about Peter and John and the healing of the lame man and Peter’s sermon following the healing.

It runs about 10 minutes.

After the video, ask the children if there was anything new they learned about the story they didn't know.

Review some of the questions from previous weeks of this rotation, giving them time to share their answers (see questions as noted in above Art & Drama Workshops.)

Circle Game

  1. Play a circle game in which the memory verse is passed around verbally.
  2. Anyone missing the next word is “out”.
    For example, using John 14: 12, the first person would say, “I”, the next person would say “tell”, and the next would say, “you”, and so on around the circle.
  3. The game could be repeated with the bonus verse.
  4. Everyone gets a treat.

Reflection:

Close with a circle of prayer.
Give all who want to pray a chance to do so. Invite children to return next week with their Bible and a friend.


Resources:

  • Acts – Chapters 1-14 by J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Radio, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991
  • Bible Study Fellowship’s Life and Letters of Paul by A. Wetherall Johnson, 1972
  • The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 9, Frank E. Gaebelein, editor, Zondervan Publishing House, 1981
  • Halley’s Bible Handbook by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, 1962
  • The Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. IX, George A. Buttrick, editor, Arlington Press, 1952
  • The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, New International Version, 2nd edition by B. B. Kirbride Bible Co. Inc., 1990



A lesson Set written by Gail Smith of Silverdale UMC
Some of the lesson material ideas were adapted from ideas posted at https://www.rotation.org.

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

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Last edited by Luanne Payne

We are doing this rotation this month and are using the video Friends and Heroes DVD #8 - The One That Got Away. Also using the lesson material on the DVD to create a drama workshop (comic strip and creative prayer) and a Games Workshop to go with a craft workshop we gleaned from above.

Last edited by Luanne Payne

"Silver and Gold Have I None-" song - video with kids acting out story

This video could be used in a multitude of ways:

  • as inspiration for producing your own video featuring your kids singing (or lip syncing) and acting out song in a Video or Drama workshop
  • show as part of gathering/worship time before releasing kids to individual workshops
  • include this song in a music workshop
  • inspiration for walking and jumping and praising God in a movement workshop

Video from Cedarmont Kids is found on YouTube at https://youtu.be/rMkzWOqGLCk





Information on using YouTube in the classroom here: The Rise and "How-to" of YouTube as a Sunday School Resource

Information on downloading and playing videos in class here: How to Download Videos from YouTube and view them offline



Video Idea

This story is also found in the video "Peter's Escape" (Superbook Series) - see Peter Escapes From Prison forum for more details on this video.

Last edited by Amy Crane

Illustrations for Peter and John heal a lame man, from the Annie Vallotton Bible Illustrations Collection

A lame man begs from Peter & John illustration by Annie Vallotton
Peter and John saw a lame man begging at the Temple. They did not have money for him, but they healed him (Acts 3).

The healed man walks, jumps, & praises God illustration by Annie Vallotton
The man left the Temple Gate walking and jumping and praising God.

a right pointing orange arrow Link to larger and higher resolution versions of the Vallotton illustrations as well as color background options that are in our Vallotton Bible Images Forum. (A Supporting Membership is required to view. Become one today). Copyright and usage information here.

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  • Acts 3 Peter & John encounter a lame man in the TempleTemple-
  • The healed man praised God
Last edited by CreativeCarol

Peter Heals the Lame Man in Acts 3 is one of the terrific presentations found in the SunScool Bible App for Kids.

Look for it in the "Apostle Peter" sub-menu of the app. In Levels 1 and 2 and 4 it is title "Peter heals a lame man."  In Level 3 it is titled "Peter Heals."

The App is free, ecumenical, and can be downloaded for use on tablets, smartphones, Windows, and Mac!    Get the download link and look up the story you need in our Outline of all 170+ stories in SunScool. That page also includes app helps.

SunScool Bible App for Kids

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