Paul's Journey to Rome: Shipwreck

Paul is Shipwrecked by Jennifer Tolbert

One of the interesting things about Paul it seemed his priority ever day was to preach the gospel and tell others about Jesus. He never seemed to take a day off. Even when he was in a violent storm in the middle of the sea, his priority was to preach and teach. 

Key Themes: 
1. Paul showed courage in preaching about Jesus in spite of persecution. 
2. Paul obeyed and followed God in everything he did. 
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

22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
I Corinthians 9:22

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. Storm in a Bottle
Make 1 or more "storm in a bottle" crafts. Demonstrate it to the students and allow them to play with it. Discuss storms. What are some things your family does when there is a storm? Is it scary? Etc. SAY: Remember last week, Paul appealed to Caesar. Now, it is time for him to board a boat and leave for Rome. While he was on that boat, a big storm rose up. Let's talk about what Paul did when he was in that storm. 

​2. Shark Attack from TruewayKids.org
Place some hoops on the floor to become islands. Choose one person to be a shark. The other players are swimmers. When the music plays, children all swim around the room. When the music stops, children must safely go to an island without being tagged by a shark. If they are tagged, they are out. Each time the music stops, one island is removed.

Story: Paul was a missionary who traveled to many places. However, the High Priest and other Jewish leaders did not like Paul and considered him a troublemaker. They wanted to stop Paul from spreading the gospel so much, that they told lies about him to get him in trouble. However, Paul was also a Roman citizen and had the right to appear before a Roman official in the court of law. Paul used this right to save his life from the Jews, and also testified about his faith to some of the highest rulers in the Roman empire. Paul boarded a boat to Rome to appeal to Caesar, but along the way there was a terrible storm and his boat was of course. 

READ the story of Paul's Shipwreck above or read Acts 27:1-44 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! 

Visual Aids

Video: God's Story-Paul is Shipwrecked

Video: Paul is Shipwrecked by Trueway Kids

Video: Paul's Shipwreck by Saddleback Kids

God is...

Connect the story back to God and his character. Explain how this story fits into God's overall story. ​

Activities

Boat Races
Use recycled materials or folded paper to create small boats. Let the kids race them across a bucket or kiddie pool using straws to blow it on course. 

Paul's Shipwreck Paper Boat Craft from TruewayKids

Paul's Shipwreck Find It Sheet from Oriental Trading