TC.7.8 Pauls JrnyTG 32761 xonline.nph.net/media/SampleFiles/PDF/736020.pdf · Reformation 200:1-4...

TEACHER’S GUIDEGRADES 7-8

On a MissionA STUDY OF PAUL’S JOURNEYS

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ContentsON A MISSION: A STUDY OF PAUL’S JOURNEYS

NOTES PAGE

INTRODUCTION vii

Saul’s Conversion ________________________________ 1

First Journey: Elymas ________________________________ 13

First Journey: Opposition From Unbelievers ________________________________ 27

Second Journey: God Blesses Mission Teams ________________________________ 39

Second Journey: Special Call and Blessing ________________________________ 51

Second Journey: Jailer at Philippi ________________________________ 63

Second Journey: Athens Marketplace ________________________________ 75

Third Journey: Riot at Ephesus ________________________________ 89

Third Journey: Farewell and Arrest ________________________________ 102

Paul’s Bold Witness ________________________________ 115

Paul Fulfills His Calling ________________________________ 130

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GRADES 7-8 | ON A MISSION: A STUDY OF PAUL’S JOURNEYS | INTRODUCTION

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IntroductionChrist-Light is a complete religion curriculumfor youth from birth through grade 12.

Materials for prekindergarten through grade 8have been thoroughly updated to reflectcurrent educational research.

Characteristics of 12- to 14-year-old children

Mental Development

• Can think abstractly

• Can delve more deeply into spiritual truths

• Can explore the application of spiritual truthsin many different ways

• Can grasp where and when events took place

• Can concentrate for longer periods of time

• Can memorize easily

Emotional Development

• Are becoming independent in forming personal attitudes and habits

• Can display irrational mood swings

• Are searching for identity and freedom

• Want to show that they are responsible

Social Development

• Can work cooperatively in small groups

• Learn from words, actions, and opinions of their teachers

• Are greatly influenced by words, actions, and opinions of their peers

• Tend to share less of what they are learning with parents

• Are beginning the process of becomingindependent from their parents

• May test parental authority

Teaching Materials

General Supplies

Each child will need a Bible, a hymnal (ChristianWorship), paper, and a pencil or pen. In order to best carry out many of the suggested activities, theteacher will need a chalk or marker board andprojection equipment.

Teacher’s Guide

Note that the Teacher’s Guide is set up withparallel lesson plans—one in the wide columnand one in the narrow column. Thus, Sundayschool and Lutheran elementary school teacherscan use entirely different activities when teachingthe same lesson. This coordination will maintaininterest for those students who attend bothSunday school and Lutheran elementary school.

When Sunday school and Lutheran elementaryschool coordination is not a factor, teachers haveseveral options:

Those who want one straightforward, completelesson can use the wide column, start to finish.

Those who want to design their own lessons mayselect activities from either the wide or the narrowcolumn, or from the Lesson Activities section.

Student Lessons

Each four-page lesson contains a full-colorcontemporary teaching picture, a Bible study withlife application, and grade-appropriate memorytreasures.


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Teaching the Lesson

Lesson Overview

Lesson goals are not listed separately but areexpressed in the Key Points, Application (WordToday), and Lesson Summary (Answer).

As Christians, we have thepriv ilege of being able toapproach our God in prayer.The Teacher Prays offers aprayer that might be just whatyou would like to say to Godbefore you begin teaching yourlesson.

Christ-Light provides a briefScripture reading and prayer orsong to open the lesson. Thebrevity makes it possible to teachthe “meat” of the lesson duringprime learning time.

This section is designed to createstudent interest in the cominglesson. Introductions pro videneces sary background, activelyinvolve students, and lead themto anticipate an answer to thequestion addressed in the lesson.

Teachers will use this section toteach the Word of God in a cre-ative, interactive way.

This section leads thestu dents to apply thetruth to their lives and toexam ine ways in whichthey can respond.

After leading the students tobriefly summarize the mainpoints of the lesson, each lessoncloses with a song or prayer.

Bible passage, catechism, andhymn memory treasures areincor porated into the lessons.Some of these memory treas -ures are taken from a corelist that has already beentaught in pre vious grades.Memory treas ures marked with

one aster isk are core mem ory treas ures for both Sundayschool and Luth eran elemen tary school; passages withtwo asterisks are addi tional core memory treasures forLutheran elementary school. The texts of the memorytreasure Bible passages aren’t included in the teacher’sguide or student lessons. Direct the students to usetheir Bibles for memorization. (Sometimes, due tospace limitations, hymn stanzas could not be printedon student lessons. A file that contains the text of thehymn stanzas, which can be copied for handouts, isfound on the Teacher’s Guide CD. The file is labeledHymntexts.pdf.)

Lesson Activities

These additional activities offer options for teaching,reviewing, applying, or responding to the truth ofthe lesson. Each lesson includes a Table Talk activitydesigned to encourage parent-child interaction. Theimportance of parents as the primary Christianeducators of children cannot be stressed enough.Teachers must do everything they can to encourage parentsto teach and use the Word in their homes. Teachers willnot only encourage parents and students to use theseactivities, they will also teach them how.

Suggestions: Attach the messages to student lessons, orincorporate the messages into classroom newsletters.

The following list of memory treasure hymns has been developed for the Christ-Light grades 7-8 topical Bible study courses.

* One asterisk indicates a core hymn for Sunday school and Lutheran elementary school.** Two asterisks indicate that the hymn is an additional core hymn for Lutheran elementary

school. Thus, Lutheran elementary school students learn both the Sunday school core hymnsand the additional core hymns. Hymns with no asterisk are used in some lessons but are notconsidered core hymns.

Sometimes, due to space limitations, hymn stanzas could not be printed on student lessons. A file thatcontains the text of the hymn stanzas, which can be copied for handouts, is found on the Teacher’s GuideCD.The file is labeled Hymntexts.pdf.

Hymn Category Hymn Number Hymn Title

Name of Jesus 76:1,3,5 Jesus! Name of Wondrous LoveLent 128:1,2 Not All the Blood of BeastsEaster 143:2,3 He’s Risen, He’s RisenEaster 152:1-3,7,8 ** I Know That My Redeemer LivesReformation 200:1-4 ** A Mighty Fortress Is Our GodEnd Time 207:1-3 The Day Is Surely Drawing NearWorship and Praise 234:1,3 Praise to the Lord, the AlmightyWorship and Praise 241:4 Alleluia! Let Praises RingWord of God 282:1 ** Lord, Open Now My Heart to HearWord of God 283:1 Speak, O Savior; I Am ListeningWord of God 284:1,3,4 How Precious Is the Book DivineWord of God 286:1-3 The Law Commands and Makes Us KnowWord of God 287:1,2,4 The Law of God Is Good and WiseWord of God 288:1,3,4 The Gospel Shows the Father’s GraceWord of God 291:1,4 We Have a Sure Prophetic WordWord of God 293 God’s Word Is Our Great HeritageConfession and Absolution 304:1,5,7 *Jesus Sinners Does ReceiveRedeemer 348:1,4 ** Jesus, Jesus, Only JesusJustification 380:1,2 Lord, ’Tis Not That I Did Choose YouJustification 384:1 By Grace I’m SavedJustification 390:1,2,5 Salvation Unto Us Has ComeJustification 399:1,2 To God Be the GloryPrayer 411:1,2 *What a Friend We Have in JesusTrust 417:1,2 I’m But a Stranger HereTrust 422:1-4 ** Jesus, Lead Us On


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Hymn Category Hymn Number Hymn Title

Trust 428:1,2 Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve MeTrust 429:1-3 *What God Ordains Is Always GoodTrust 436:1,2,4 ** Jesus, Shepherd of the SheepCommitment 455:1 Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ YouCommitment 457:1,2 Fight the Good FightCommitment 469:1-3,6 *Take My Life and Let It BeCommitment 472:1-3 Rise, My Soul, to Watch and PrayCommitment 478:1,2 ** With the Lord Begin Your TaskStewardship 484:1 Brothers, Sisters, Let Us GladlyChristian Love 490:1-3 ** Love in Christ Is Strong and LivingChristian Love 494:1,3,4,5 Blest Be the Tie That BindsChristian Home 505:4,5 Love Is the Gracious GiftChurch 539:1,4,5 In Christ There Is No East or WestMinistry 545:1,2 Send, O Lord, Your Holy SpiritMinistry 546:1 Lord Jesus, You Have ComeSaints and Martyrs 555:1-4 For All Your Saints, O LordEvangelism 560:1,2 I Hear the Savior CallingMissions 573:1,2,4 *Hark! The Voice of Jesus CryingEvening 587:3,4 ** Now Rest Beneath Night’s ShadowEvening 588:1,2,6,7 ** Abide With MeConfirmation 596:1 ** Let Me Be Yours ForeverDeath and Burial 606:1-3 ** For Me to Live Is JesusThanksgiving 610:1-3 ** Now Thank We All Our God


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Bible Passage Memory Treasures

* One asterisk indicates a core passage for Sunday school and Lutheran elementary school. ** Two asterisks indicate that the passage is an additional core passage for Lutheran elementary

schools. Thus, Lutheran elementary school students learn both the Sunday school core passagesand the additional core passages.

* Genesis 1:1

** Genesis 39:9b

* Exodus 20:11a

** Job 19:25-27

* Psalm 37:5

* Psalm 50:15

* Psalm 51:5

** Psalm 103:1,2

* Psalm 118:1

* Psalm 119:105

** Psalm 139:14

** Psalm 145:15,16

* Proverbs 3:5

** Isaiah 41:10

* Isaiah 43:11

** Isaiah 64:6a

** Matthew 4:10b

** Matthew 6:33

* Matthew 7:7

* Matthew 11:28

** Matthew 18:20

* Matthew 22:37

* Matthew 22:39b

* Matthew 26:41

* Matthew 28:19

* Matthew 28:19,20

* Matthew 28:20b

** Mark 10:45

* Mark 16:16

* Luke 11:28

** Luke 18:13b

** John 1:29b

* John 3:16

** John 5:39

** John 11:25,26a

* John 14:19b

** Romans 1:16

* Romans 3:23

** Romans 3:24

* Romans 6:23

* Romans 8:28

* Romans 10:17

* 1 Corinthians 10:31

** 1 Corinthians 12:3b

** Galatians 3:26

** Galatians 3:27

** Galatians 4:4,5

* Ephesians 2:8,9

** Ephesians 4:32

** Ephesians 6:1

* 1 Timothy 2:3,4

** 2 Timothy 3:15

** 2 Timothy 3:16

** Hebrews 11:1

** James 1:22

* 1 Peter 5:7

** 1 Peter 5:8

* 1 John 1:7b

** 1 John 3:15

** 1 John 4:19

* Revelation 2:10b


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GRADES 7-8 | ON A MISSION: A STUDY OF PAUL’S JOURNEYS | LESSON 1

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How did God change Saul, a man who waspersecuting Christians?

1. Jesus revealed himself as the Son of Godto Saul and brought him to faith.

2. Through Ananias, God indicated he hadchosen Saul to be an apostle who wouldteach others, including Gentiles, aboutJesus.

3. Saul fearlessly preached the message ofthe Savior to Jews and Gentiles.

God changed Saul by bringing him to faithand by making him an apostle who wouldreach many people, including Gentiles.

*Matthew 28:19*1 Timothy 2:3,4*The Third Commandment*The Second Petition of theLord’s Prayer

*Hymn 573:1,2,4A file on the Teacher’s Guide CD,Hymntexts.pdf, contains hymn stanza textthat can be copied for handouts.

Dearest Lord Jesus, thank you for changingme into a believer. Help my students andme boldly spread your Word, trusting thatit has power to change all people intobelievers. Amen.

On a Mission: A Study of Paul’s Journeys LESSON 1

Saul’s ConversionActs 9:1-31

© 2012 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Use The People’s Bible:Balge, Acts, for addi tionalbackground infor mationand explanation.

Franzmann, Bible HistoryCommentary: NewTestament will also havehelpful explanations formany of the Bible storyaccounts.

Use maps to help students

associate places and

events. Students will learn

and remember events

better when they can tie

them to the locations

where they occurred.

Sing: “By Grace I’m Saved”(hymn 384:1)

Pray: Lord God, it is completely because of your undeserved favor thatI have been rescued from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Youhave changed me forever by giving me saving faith. Strengthen me withyour Word. Teach me to thank you by fearlessly proclaiming your graceto others. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Change, Change!

Indicate one change that has taken placeduring the past year in each of the followingareas of your life:

• Your school ____________________________________________

• Your church ____________________________________________

• Your family ____________________________________________

• Your appearance __________________________________________

• Your social life ___________________________________________

• Your interests and hobbies _________________________________

Change is part of life. Some changes are bad; others are good. Thebiggest and best change that happened in our lives was when we werebrought to faith in Jesus as our Savior. Today we will learn how thatalso was true in the life of Saul, a man from the city of Tarsus.

In today’s lesson, we will answer the question,How did God change Saul, a man who waspersecuting Christians?

Read: Ephesians 2:8-10

Pray: Thank you, dear

God, for saving me

by grace. Show me the good

works I can do to show my love

and thanks to you. Give me

opportunities to share the

gospel with those who do not

know about Jesus, and send

your Holy Spirit to bring them

to faith. Amen.

Show a personal

planner or pocket

calendar. Have a

student explain what it is used

for and then have students give

examples of activities someone

might plan but that do not take

place. [Rain might cancel goingto a ball game; sickness mightruin a vacation.]

In our lesson, a man named Saul

planned to persecute Christians

and destroy the early church. But

God changed things. He had a

completely different and

wonderful plan for Saul.

Today’s lesson will

answer the question,

How did God change

Saul, a man who was

persecuting Christians?

On a Mission: A Study of Paul’s Journeys SAUL’S CONVERSION

Alternate Lesson Plan


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1. Read Acts 9:1-5 to see how God tookSaul on the road to saving faith. On the“Map Inquest,” write about two verydifferent events in Saul’s life.

2. Explain the contrast between the Saul spoken of in verses 1 and 2and the Saul described in verse 4. [First Saul is bold and full of zeal. WhenJesus comes to him, Saul falls to the ground in fright and humbles himself.]

3. Choose the most likely conclusion Saul might have drawn from hisconversation with Jesus.

“I must need more sleep; I think I’m hearing things.”

“Jesus really is the Son of God, and I’ve been trying to stoppeople from believing in him!”

“Perhaps I should rethink killing the followers of Jesus.”

How did Jesus show love to Saul on theway to Damascus?

Jesus revealed himself as the [Son of God]to Saul and brought him to [faith].

Mediterranean Sea

Jerusalem

Acts 9:1,2: ___________________________________

______________________________________________

Acts 9:3-5: _________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

____________________

Damascus

[A bright

light flashes, and a voice

asks Saul why he is

persecuting him.

Jesus identifies himself

as the speaker.]

[Saul threatens Christians and requests

letters permitting him to arrest them.]

1. Have the class read

Acts 9:1-5 silently.

Meanwhile, draw a

vertical, two-pointed arrow on

the board, with Highs at the top

point and Lows at the bottom.

Have the students offer things

that misguided Saul viewed as

highs in his life but that the Lord

viewed as lows. [FightingChristianity; finding andimprisoning believers.]

2. Explain that Saul was a highly

educated man who had heard

much about Jesus but who had

no faith in him as the Savior.

Then Saul met him! What

frightening thoughts likely were

running through Saul’s mind?

[“All the things I heard aboutJesus are true, and I’ve beentrying to stop people frombelieving the truth. I’ve sinnedand need help!”]

3. What truths would Saul not

have understood and believed

without help from Jesus? [ThatJesus is alive and really is theSon of God.]


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4. Talk about the

miraculous conversion

of Saul and discuss

whether or not our conversions

through the Word and Baptism

were miraculous. [God used nobright light or voice from heavenwhen he converted us, but whathe did was just as miraculous.Through his Word and Baptism,he changed us from lost sinnersto believers in Jesus.]

5. Explain that Paul was

disobeying the Third

Commandment when he

despised God’s Word by

persecuting Christians. How

might we become guilty of

persecuting the Lord’s church

without throwing a single

Christian into jail? [Possibleanswers: By not gladly hearingand learning God’s Word, notencouraging fellow believers,not standing up for the Savior,or not actively sharing thegospel. Praise God for a Saviorwho rescued us from this andevery sin!]

6. Read Acts 9:6-19a.

Have students form

pairs. One of each pair

portrays Ananias. The other

interviews him. On a sheet of

paper, the interviewer writes

questions about (1) the Lord’s

message; (2) Ananias’ reaction to

that message; (3) Ananias’ later

actions. Then that person

interviews Ananias. Choose one

pair to conduct the interview for

the class. [Interviews will vary.]

4. Chart some similarities and differences between the way Saul wasconverted to faith in Christ and the way we have been converted tofaith in Christ. Look ahead to verse 18 for an extra similarity!

5. How was Jesus’ message to Saul, that he was the one Saul waspersecuting, both law and gospel?

Law: [You have been persecuting me, the Son of God. This is a terrible sin.]

Gospel: [Through my voice and a heavenly light, you can see that I am trulythe Son of God. All that you have heard about me and about salvationthrough my name is true.]

6. Read Acts 9:6-19a. Jesus carried outhis plan to change a persecutor into anapostle—a witness of the Word. On the

forward arrow, write specific directions Jesus gave to Ananias aboutSaul. On the backward arrow, write Ananias’ objections. Under themerging arrows, write the planned results.

Jesus’ Planned Results

______________________________________________

[Go to Damascus. Find Saul at Judas’ house on Straight Street. Heal his eyes.]

[I heard that Saul has harmed many believers and came to arrest more.]

[Saul was healed, baptized, and brought to faith.]

Similarities Differences

[It was a gift. It was donethrough the Word. It was amiracle; an unbelieving heartwas changed into a believingone. Extra similarity: Saul andwe were baptized.]

[God did not use a bright lightwith us. Jesus actually spoke toSaul. Jesus speaks to usthrough his Word.]


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7. Read Acts 22:14,15, where at a later time Saul (then referred to asPaul) told others about Ananias’ visit with him. Compare Paul’s wordingin verse 15 with the wording in Acts 9:15. Who were all the people towhom Paul was to witness as a called apostle of the Lord? [The Gentiles,their kings, the people of Israel.]

What calling did God give Saul soonafter he had been converted?

Through [Ananias], God indicated hehad chosen Saul to be an [apostle] whowould teach others, including Gentiles,about Jesus.

8. Use the verses from Acts and 1 Timothy 2:3,4 to help you respondto the following statements:

• A neighbor was just released after serving a two-year prison sentencefor a drug conviction. A friend from church says, “Don’t waste timeinviting her to church. People like that don’t change.” [God changedSaul, and God changed me! He wants all people to be saved. God’s Wordhas the power to change unbelieving hearts into believing ones, so I’llencourage my neighbor with God’s Word.]

• That new kid isn’t like us. He’s from a country where peopleworship lots of fake gods and have weird customs. Just ignore himand let him hang around with others like him. [It is true that moreand more people are not Christian and are different from us in many ways.We must be careful that we do not take on their incorrect beliefs. But westill need to share our beliefs in the one and only God and Savior, whowants all to be saved. We present the message; God the Holy Spirit isthe one who creates saving faith.]

9. Read Acts 9:19b-31. What specificthings do you think Paul might have toldthe people about the Savior when hepreached that:

• Jesus is the Son of God? [Jesus is God from all eternity, who becamehuman and led a perfect life in order to save us from our sins.]

• Jesus is the Christ? [Jesus is the Anointed One, the long-awaitedMessiah, chosen by God to take away the world’s sin. Jesus is the

7. Read Acts 22:14,15 to learn

about Saul (then called Paul)

later telling people about his

amazing call to be an apostle—a

person sent out by God to spread

his Word. Also reread Acts 9:15.

Whom would Saul reach with

God’s Word? [He would reachJews and Gentiles (non-Jews).]

8. Ananias played

a supporting role

in presenting Saul

to the Lord’s church as a

missionary. In what ways do

we play similar supporting

roles that are, nevertheless,

very important in bringing

the gospel to the world? [Wesupport missionaries throughour prayers and offerings. Thesepeople represent us in bringingthe good news of Jesus toplaces we cannot go.]

9. Read Acts 9:19b-31.

Ask what Saul began

to do at once and

without fear. [Saul beganpreaching in the synagoguesthat Jesus is the Son of God:God’s Christ, the chosen one.]


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10. How did people react to

Saul’s preaching the truth about

the Savior? [Some people couldnot believe that he was nowconfessing Jesus as his Savior.Many were actually afraid ofhim because of his reputationfor harming Christians. SomeJews planned to kill him. Hissupporters got him out ofharm’s way and sent him toTarsus.]

11. Why did the church now

enjoy a time of peace and

growth? [God had changed itsfanatical enemy, Saul, so thathe no longer persecuted theChristians but insteadpreached fearlessly. Godblessed the church with peaceand growth.]

12. Read 1 Timothy

2:3,4. Ask what this

has to do with God’s

dealings with Saul and how it

also applies to us. [God wantsto save all people, including apersecutor like Saul and sinnerslike us. God wants us to sharehis saving message so otherscome to faith and are saved.]

13. Explain zeal: an eager desire

to carry out a goal. Saul had zeal

before and after his conversion.

But what was the difference?

[Before: Saul’s zeal wasmisplaced. He thought he wasdoing God’s will but waspersecuting Jesus. After: Saul’szeal was God-pleasing; hespread the gospel.]

fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies that pointed to him. As aresult, we can be sure that we have forgiveness of sins and eternal life inthe life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.]

10. Saul preached to people born as Jews and to non-Jews (Gentiles)who had come to faith in the Savior. List at least three words thatdescribe the various reactions people had to the message Saulfearlessly preached. [Angry, astonished, baffled, afraid, supportive,encouraged, questioning.]

11. Explain why you believe this is true or false: God allowed Saul tobe persecuted for his message in order to punish him for what he haddone to Christians. [False: Through the blood and righteousness of Christ,God forgave Saul for his sinful past. Being persecuted himself made Saulone with other believers. It may have helped those who were skeptical abouthis sincerity learn to trust him.]

As an apostle and God’s choseninstrument, what did Saul do?

Saul fearlessly [preached] the message of the [Savior] to Jews and Gentiles.

12. God had a plan for what Saul would do with his life, and God hasa plan for your life. Join a partner and read Ephesians 2:10. Then list atleast two good works God has planned for you that are similar to whathe planned and carried out through Saul. [God gives me opportunities tospread his Word and to help others.]

13. Why can you be especially thankful for the change God broughtabout in Saul and for the work God did through him? [Saul preachedto Gentiles. Help the students note that their ancestors likely wereGentiles, and therefore they are Gentiles. God had them in mind as heworked through Saul’s preaching.]

Question: How did God change Saul, a man who waspersecuting Christians?

Answer: [God changed Saul by bringing him to faith and by makinghim an apostle who would reach many people, including Gentiles.]


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Sing “I Hear the Savior Calling”(hymn 560:1,5) as a reminder that ourSavior calls us to share his gospel invitation.

Pray: God of grace,

you changed the

persecutor Saul

into a believer and a witness.

Thank you for changing us into

believers through the gospel.

Make us faithful missionaries

who gladly speak about you and

your Word to others. Amen.

* Matthew 28:19

* 1 Timothy 2:3,4

* The Third CommandmentRemember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

What does this mean?We should fear and love God that we do not despisepreaching and his Word, but regard it as holy andgladly hear and learn it.

* The Second Petition of the Lord’s PrayerYour kingdom come.

What does this mean?God’s kingdom certainly comes by itself evenwithout our prayer, but we pray in this petition thatit may also come to us.

How does God’s kingdom come?God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Fathergives his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believehis holy Word and lead a godly life now on earthand forever in heaven.

* Hymn 573:1,2,4✝

1 Hark! The voice of Jesus crying, “Who will go and work today?Fields are ripe and harvests waiting; Who will bear the sheaves away?”Loud and long the Master calleth; Rich reward he offers thee.Who will answer, gladly saying, “Here am I—send me, send me”?

2 If you cannot speak like angels, If you cannot preach like Paul,You can tell the love of Jesus; You can say he died for all.If you cannot rouse the wicked With the Judgment’s dread alarms,You can lead the little children To the Savior’s waiting arms.

4 Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do,” While the multitudes are dying, And the Master calls for you.Take the task he gives you gladly; Let his work your pleasure be.Answer quickly when he calleth, “Here am I—send me, send me!”

✝Hymn text is not in the Student Lesson. See theTeacher’s Guide CD, Hymntexts.pdf.


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Activities1. Table Talk

Have the students ask parents, grandparents, orother relatives: (1) how being a Christian haschanged their lives; (2) how they might feel andwhat they might be doing if they had never beenbrought to faith in the Savior.

2. Twenty-First–Century Sauls

Invite a guest to speak to your class about howChrist has changed his or her life. Considerinviting a pastor, teacher, or staff minister whochose the public ministry as a second career, orsomeone you know who lived a very differentlife before the Lord brought that individual tofaith. Be sure to interview the person prior tothe class presentation to ensure that it will beage-appropriate.

3. Options to Explore

Word 1Evaluate: Larry heard a television preacher saythat Jesus spoke to the preacher about what heneeded to do to build a bigger church andministry. [If the television preacher means that inScripture the Lord revealed how he makes disciplesthrough his Word and Baptism, the man’s commentcould be acceptable. If he means that the Lord spoketo him apart from the Word, we would have toquestion if the revelation really came from the Lord.]

Word Today 2When writing about the appearances of the risenSavior, Paul described himself in an unusual way.Read 1 Corinthians 15:8. What do you thinkPaul meant? [Paul was not an original disciple; hewas chosen after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.Unlike the other apostles, he had been an openenemy of the Lord’s church. Paul knew the evil thingshe had done. Nevertheless, he was chosen by theLord himself to be sent out with the gospel.]

Word Today 3While God entrusts all his disciples with the taskof preaching his Word, he obviously had a specialniche for Saul: bringing the gospel to Gentiles. Inwhat way does God do a similar thing with hisdisciples today? [Each believer can have a uniqueniche in which God provides opportunities for sharingthe gospel; it might be a certain talent, a closenesswith a specific group of people, or a job that offersopportunities for sharing the Savior. Even publicministers such as pastors and teachers have theirown respective callings and areas of ministry thatdiffer one from another.]

4. A Look Back

As a review exercise, write the followingstatements on slips of paper and put them into abag. Have students take turns choosing them andreading them aloud. Allow the rest of the class torespond.

a. Not every Christian has had “Saul days,” timeswhen he or she was opposed to God and hiswill. [Actually, every Christian comes into thisworld a “Saul” by nature, opposing God andeverything holy. This is original or inherited sinfrom which only God can rescue us. For some therescue came in infancy, and for others it occurredlater in life. But we all came into the world withoutfaith in Jesus as our Savior.]

b. Saul thought he was doing right by opposingChristianity when, in reality, he was harmingthe church and sinning. Give at least oneexample of a time when what we think is agood action really is a sinful or hurtful one.[Possible answers: Making what you hope is ahumorous comment and finding out that it hasinsulted someone; spending so much time helpinga relative with a project that you don’t study fora test or complete other homework.]

c. God’s plans for us are totally different thanthey were for Saul, since we aren’t nearly asgreat as he was. [God deals with each of usdifferently because we are unique individuals.However, his plans for us are very much the same:


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as redeemed children of God, we have the privilegeof serving our Lord throughout our lives andhelping others come to know him.]

d. Agree or disagree: God chose us from eternityto be his own. As with Saul, he used the gospelto bring us from unbelief to faith. [Agree:Although the circumstances may have beendifferent, the way in which we came to faith inChrist is the same as it was with Saul—throughfaith in God’s Word.]

e. Agree or disagree: Not everyone is cut out tobe a missionary like Saul. [Agree: Not everyonehas the gifts and talents needed to enter thefull-time ministry and be sent to foreign lands topreach to people of other races and cultures.Disagree: Every Christian is a missionary whoknows the good news of Jesus and is to share itwith others.]

5. Zeal Appeal

Have each student fold a sheet of paper in half.On one half of their papers, have the studentstake 45 seconds to list things they can hardly waitto do after class today, things they have a lot ofzeal to accomplish. When they are done, havethem use another 45 seconds to list, on the otherhalf, things they really want to do for the Lord.Discuss how our hearts might pound in ourchests as we think about an upcoming ball game,vacation, or party, yet we might not have thatsame feeling about giving money to send Biblesto Russia or inviting a friend to a Christmasparty at church. The devil loves to see us placegreat importance on and give lots of time andeffort to daily fun and entertainment and to letzeal for the Lord slip by.

Have the students discuss their lists of things todo for the Lord and choose one activity that allcan contribute to (helping a needy family in yourchurch, inviting neighborhood children to an“Easter for Kids” session at church, collectingused devotion books to send to prisoners orpeople in faraway countries). Brainstorm how tocarry out the activity, and then do it!

6. Changed People

Use Copy Master 1 to guide students in aBible study of lives that were changed by thegospel. Number 5 of the exercise allows studentsto provide a personal account of how the gospelhas changed them.

[Answers:

1. Mark 5:1-20

PERSON CHANGED: [Man possessed by manydemons.]

HOW CHANGED: [Before meeting Jesus, he was demon-possessed and acted insane. After hisencounter with Jesus, he was in his right mind andtold others about the Savior who rescued him.]

2. Acts 16:25-34

PERSON CHANGED: [The jailer at Philippi.]

HOW CHANGED: [He was in despair and aboutto commit suicide. After hearing the gospel, he wasfull of joy; he and his whole family were baptized.]

3. Luke 19:1-10

PERSON CHANGED: [Zacchaeus.]

HOW CHANGED: [He had been a tax collector,accustomed to taking more money than he wasentitled to. Jesus came to him and changed his lifewith his message of forgiveness. Zacchaeus showedhis faith by helping the poor and by returning morethan what he had stolen.]

4. Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32b; Luke 23:39-43

PERSON CHANGED: [One of the criminals on a cross next to Jesus.]

HOW CHANGED: [At first he joined with theother criminal in mocking Jesus. Later he came tofaith and asked Jesus to remember him when hecame into his kingdom. Jesus gave him a beautiful,reassuring response. He said that on that very daythe believing criminal would be with him in paradise(Luke 23:43).]


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5. HOW JESUS CHANGED ME

[Responses will vary. Some were changed through theWord at their baptisms at young ages; others laterin life. All have been changed from enemies whowanted nothing to do with the Savior to believerswho love the Savior and obey him in thankfulness.]

7. Proclamation Plans

Have partners use Copy Master 2 to brainstormways to reach someone with the saving Word ofGod. [Responses will vary.]


Changed PeopleRead each of the following Scripture references. Identify the person whose life was changed by the HolySpirit working through the gospel. Indicate how that person’s life changed from what it had been.

1. Mark 5:1-20

PERSON CHANGED: _______________________________________________________________________

HOW CHANGED: __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Acts 16:25-34

PERSON CHANGED: _______________________________________________________________________

HOW CHANGED: __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Luke 19:1-10

PERSON CHANGED: _______________________________________________________________________

HOW CHANGED: __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32b; Luke 23:39-43

PERSON CHANGED: _______________________________________________________________________

HOW CHANGED: __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

5. HOW JESUS CHANGED ME

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________


GRADES 7-8 | ON A MISSION | LESSON 1 | SAUL’S CONVERSION | COPY MASTER 1

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Name ______________________________

Proclamation PlansPrivately, think of a person (or persons) with whom you want to share the gospel. The person can be near or far, a person you see, or someone you contact by letter, phone, or computer.

With a partner, brainstorm things you can do or say at various times throughout the next year to reach yourperson(s), but don’t reveal any names. An example follows.

At the library: When sitting at the library with my friend, I could spend a few minutes reading the Bible. My friend might see what I’m doing and ask about it.

At school ____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

At a party ___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

At Christmastime _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

When a person is sick ________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

When there is a special activity at church ______________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

When at the mall, you and your friend hear someone using God’s name carelessly

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________


GRADES 7-8 | ON A MISSION | LESSON 1 | SAUL’S CONVERSION | COPY MASTER 2

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Name ______________________________

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