Paul and Silas in Prison

2/19/2024

Paul and Silas in Prison by Jennifer Tolbert

Biblical faith if more than just belief; it is also what we DO with that faith. God's story is filled with people of faith who DO the things God calls them to do. Noah demonstrated his faith by building an ark. Abraham demonstrated his faith by moving to a new home. Men and women of faith fought giants, faced lions, moved to foreign lands and fought foreign armies. The heroes of the early church are also known for what they did to demonstrate their faith in God. In this story, Silas and Paul face persecution when they share the gospel.

Key Themes:
1. We demonstrate our faith by what we do!
2. Faith gives us courage to live for Jesus.
3. The gospel is for everyone, even the jailer!

Memory Verse

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have-not heard?” Romans 10:13, 14

Songs

Books of the New Testament
Apostles Song
Every Move I Make
I Am a C
Jumping Up and Down
Roll The Gospel Chariot
Said I Wasn't
Sing and Be Happy
Stand Up and Shout It
This Little Light of Mine

Story

Begin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time

Open Class in Prayer

Introducing the Story Ideas
1. Reaching the Lost
Tape Paper Hearts or Candy Bars (anything kids would want to work to get) high enough that the students could not jump and reach them. Ask the kids to try to get the items down, but they cannot use furniture or each other to do it. They have to do it by themselves. (No one should be able to).
Then, allow the kids to work in teams of 3, giving each other a boost or forming a pyramid. Be sure to spot kids or encourage them to spot each other. Together, they should be able to reach the items. Discuss how difficult it was to reach the item by yourself. What about when you worked together? Why is reach the lost easier with a friend? Introduce Silas, a friend of Paul and partner in spreading the gospel.

2. What is a Missionary?
Show kids people of missionaries that you, or your church support. SAY: A missionary is someone who leaves their home and goes to another land to teach people about Jesus. These are some of the missionaries that we support. (Go over each one and tell their names and where they teach.) ASK: Do you think it would be lonely to be so far from home? Would you want to take a friend with you?
SAY: Do you remember Saul, who Jesus called to follow him? He changed his name to Paul and became one of the church's first missionaries. His friend, Silas joined him in many of those journeys and we are going to learn about something that happened on one of those journeys today.

3. Praise Time!
Discuss how singing makes God happy. Singing also is a way to lift our own spirits and encourage one another. Ask kids to share their favorite Bible class songs and share how they feel when they sing it. Take turns singing each of the songs. SAY: Today, we are going to learn about how two of Jesus's followers sang to encourage one another.

Story: The book of Acts is filled with lots of people who followed Jesus, built the church and spread the Gospel. Saul was called by Jesus on the road to Damascus. Then, he changed his name to Paul and began traveling all around the world telling people the Gospel, or Good News. One of the friends he took with him was named Silas and this is the story of something that happened to them while they were in a place called Philippi.

READ the story of Paul and Silas in Prison or read Acts 16:16-40 in the Bible.
EMPHASIZE that: