The First Church Shares and Prays - Teacher (Standard) (print)

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Objective: Retell the main action in Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35 and explain in simple language that jesus' followers became a praying, learning, and generous community.

Read: Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35

Opening: Ask: What do you notice first in this passage before we explain what it means?

Say:

The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.
They spent time together and shared with people who had needs.
They praised God and ate together with glad hearts.
Jesus' followers became a praying, learning, and generous community.

Ask:

What happens or is said in the passage?
What does this show about Jesus, God, people, or the biblical story?
Which statement is directly in the text?
What is one careful response for us?

Do: Complete the Church Family Action Sort activity.

Close: Pray using one truth from the passage and one faithful response.

Materials: Bible; Church Family Action Sort

Standard outline · 35 minutes

4 minConnect. Connect the lesson to the biblical storyline.
4 minContext. Connect the lesson to the biblical storyline.
9 minRead and observe. Read and observe the principal passage. Ask: What does the passage directly say or narrate?
7 minDiscuss. Work from the text and keep observation distinct from interpretation. Ask: How does the big idea arise from the passage? What should we avoid claiming from this passage?
7 minActivity. Complete Church Family Action Sort. Activity: Church Family Action Sort. Printable: K1-L22-P01-church-family-actions.
4 minRespond. Name one faithful response and pray. Ask: What is one faithful response that follows from this lesson?

Activity details

Church Family Action Sort · 8 min

Materials: Church Family Action Sort; Pens or pencils

Work through the resource using the passage.
Mark observations separately from conclusions.
Discuss one careful application.

Low-resource option: Use blank paper and create the same categories by hand.

Closing

Memory verse: Acts 2:42-47

Prayer: Thank God for the truth in this passage and ask for wisdom to respond faithfully.

Take-home line: Jesus' followers became a praying, learning, and generous community.