Paul's First Mission Trip

7/22/2024

When believers began to spread the Good News, they used the massive Roman highway system that connected every corner of the Empire. Many of these roads remain to this day. Early Christian preachers, such as the apostle Paul, carried the gospel to cities across the Roman Empire. Some found this new God intriguing, while others felt threatened. However, the Roman Empire also provided the early Church with its greatest obstacle. Christians held very different views than the Roman government. For example, they only worshipped one God and not the pagan gods or the emperor. The Roman Empire began to view the early Christians with great suspicion. This was the situation the apostle Paul faced as he taught about Jesus.

Key Themes:
1. The people Paul taught were often different from him.
2. We should share the message of Jesus.
3. God wants every person on earth to have the opportunity to hear the Good News, believe it, repent (turn away) from sin, confess and be baptized, so they can be saved!

Memory Verse

Romans 10:13-14
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[a]
14 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? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Songs

Books of the New Testament
Apostles Song
Every Move I Make
Jumping Up and Down
Roll The Gospel Chariot
Said I Wasn't
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. Going on a Trip
Bring a globe or map to class. If older, allow children to share places they have visited. With younger kids, you may suggest places that may be of interest such as Disney World, the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls or share about some great vacation spots you have visited. Show them how far you traveled to get there and some interesting things about that place. Then, SAY: Today, we are going to talk about an important trip that God chose Paul to go on. It was a missionary trip to teach and share about Jesus.

2. Adopt a Missionary
Find a foreign missionary that your church supports. Show pictures of them and their work and show the kids where they are working on a map. Discuss what might be good about being a missionary and what might be a challenge. Take a moment to pray together specifically for that missionary, let the kids make postcards or letters of encouragement. You could even make a care package to send to them.

Story: Jesus had gone up to heaven and his apostles and followers had formed the first churches. The gospel was spreading throughout the land. This brought great joy to many, but many of the Jewish leaders and Roman governors were suspicious of this new teaching. Paul, known as one of the boldest teachers in the New Testament, was chosen by God to go on an important missionary journey to spread the gospel. He traveled to Cyprus, Paphos, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe and Jerusalem. At each location, he preached the good news and many became followers and formed churches in their town. He was also met with persecution and was even stoned!

SHOW the video of Paul in Cyprus or read Acts 13-15:35 in the Bible.
EMPHASIZE that:

Paul was willing to go into the world to teach the gospel.
A missionary is someone who travels to teach the gospel in different parts of the world.
God wants everyone to hear the Good News!