34604, Primary 7, 43: Paul Testifies of Jesus Christ, Purpose, 151
To help each child want to be valiant in testifying of Jesus Christ.
1. Prayerfully study Acts 13:2-4; Acts 14; and Acts 16:16-34. Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account. (See "Preparing Your Lessons," p. vi, and "Teaching from the Scriptures," p. vii.)
2. Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.
3. Prepare a copy of the puzzle located at the end of the lesson. Write the word VALIANT in large letters across the back before cutting the pieces apart.
4. Materials needed:
a. A Bible or a New Testament for each child.
b. A piece of paper and a pencil for each child.
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Distribute the puzzle pieces among the children. Discuss the meaning of each word on the puzzle pieces and have them fit the pieces together. Have the children turn the pieces over and fit the puzzle back together to find another word. Write VALIANT on the chalkboard.
* What does valiant mean? Explain that the words on the puzzle pieces help describe what it means to be valiant.
* What words on the puzzle do you remember? Write the words or display the puzzle pieces under the word VALIANT.
Review briefly Saul's conversion to the gospel, and tell the children that Saul's name was changed to Paul. Paul stopped persecuting the followers of Jesus and became a valiant Apostle and missionary for Jesus Christ.
Teach the children the account of Paul and Barnabas's missionary experiences found in Acts 13:2-4; Acts 14 and the account of Paul and Silas's experience in prison found in Acts 16:16-34. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see "Teaching from the Scriptures," p. vii.) Ask the children to listen for ways Paul, Barnabas, and Silas valiantly testified of Jesus Christ and his gospel.
Study the following questions and the scripture references as you prepare your lesson. Use the questions you feel will best help the children understand the scriptures and apply the principles in their lives. Reading the references with the children in class will help them gain insights into the scriptures.
* What did the Lord call Paul and Barnabas to do? (Acts 13:2-4.)
* After Paul and Barnabas healed the crippled man at Lystra, who did the people think they were? (Acts 14:11-12.) (Explain that Jupiter and Mercurius were false gods the people worshiped. They did not know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.) What did Paul and Barnabas try to teach the people about Jesus Christ? (Acts 14:14-17.)
* How was Paul treated by the Jews of Antioch and Iconium? (Acts 14:19.) Why do you think he continued preaching the gospel after being so badly treated?
* Why were certain men in Macedonia upset when Paul and Silas healed a woman by casting an evil spirit out of her? (Acts 16:19.) What did these men do to Paul and Silas? (Acts 16:20-23.)
* What did Paul and Silas do while they were in jail? (Acts 16:25.) Why do you think they prayed and sang praises to God? What effect do you think their actions had on the other prisoners?
* Why do you think Paul and Silas stayed in the prison when the earthquake opened the prison doors? (Acts 16:27-31.) How did their actions bless the keeper of the prison and his family? (Acts 16:32-34.) What kind of opportunities do we have to testify of and teach others about Jesus Christ?
* Have the children read Acts 14:3 and Acts 16:18, Acts 16:25, Acts 16:31. How do these scriptures show that Paul was valiant in his testimony of Jesus Christ wherever he went? How can we let other people know that we have strong testimonies of Jesus Christ?
* What are some of the challenges we may face as we try to be valiant in testifying of Jesus?
Challenge the children to think of specific things they can do this week to show others that they have strong testimonies of Jesus Christ. Have them write down at least one idea and place the paper where they can see it often. You may also have them write the words from the puzzle on their paper.
You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.
1. Prepare the following wordstrips or write them on the chalkboard:
Boldly bore testimony of Jesus Christ
Taught about "the living God"
"Prayed and sang praises unto God"
Stayed in prison and saved the keeper
Taught the keeper to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ"
Write the following scripture references on separate slips of paper: Acts 14:3, Acts 14:15, Acts 16:25, Acts 16:28, Acts 16:31.
Display the wordstrips and distribute the scripture references among the children. Have the children read the scriptures, one at a time, and decide which wordstrip each goes with. Explain that Paul was a valiant witness of Jesus Christ wherever he was and whatever he was doing.
2. Read the words on the puzzle pieces once more and have the children discuss how they could valiantly testify of Jesus Christ in these areas. You may want to have situations, similar to the following, written on pieces of paper. Then have each child select one and tell how he or she would choose to meet that challenge:
A friend teases you because you won't go swimming on the Sabbath.
You are invited to a movie that does not meet Church standards.
Some of your friends begin to tell vulgar jokes and stories.
At a store a friend takes a ring and puts it in his or her pocket and encourages you to do the same.
One of your classmates makes false statements about Church doctrines.
You are tempted to look on someone else's paper during a test.
3. Have the children dramatize the story of Paul and Silas in prison. Then have them pretend to interview Paul, Silas, the men in the prison, the jailer, and his family. Ask Paul and Silas why they were put into prison and what happened to them there. Ask the other men in prison how they felt when Paul and Silas prayed and sang and the earthquake opened the prison doors. Ask the jailer how he felt when he found the prison doors open and why he and his family were baptized.
4. Sing or read the words to "I Will Be Valiant" (Children's Songbook, p. 162), "Dare to Do Right" (Children's Songbook, p. 158), or "Stand for the Right" (Children's Songbook, p. 159).
Bear your own testimony of Jesus Christ. If appropriate, share a time when Heavenly Father blessed you when you valiantly testified of Jesus Christ.
Suggest that the children study Acts 16:16-34 at home as a review of this lesson.
Invite a child to give the closing prayer.
COURAGEOUS
FAITHFUL
TRUSTWORTHY
PRAYERFUL
VIRTUOUS
REPENTANT
HONEST
OBEDIENT
Valiant Puzzle