FAITH CHALLENGE

Saul’s Work for God

January 4 – February 1, 2004

Lesson 1

Scripture: Acts 9:19b-31 (CEV)

Memory Verse: Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Concepts:

· When Jesus changes us, he calls us to do God’s work.

Objectives:

• Students will learn that God called Saul to do God’s work in the world.
• Students will create a map of Saul’s missionary journeys.
• Students will create a poster about and write letters to missionaries Dan and Elizabeth Turk.

Gathering Time

1. Have the statements from the “History of Israel” (attached) cut into strips and lying on a table. Note that there is a 7^th grade version and a shorter 6^th grade version. As students are arriving ask them to work together to place the statements in correct order and then place them under the correct headings on the timeline. This is a way to review the lessons studied in Faith Challenge before Christmas and is an introduction to the New Testament lessons they will be studying now.

2. The Coach leads the opening routine: snack, fellowship, Prayer Wall activity, and Prayer Chain. Name tags are available.

Workshop Lesson Procedure:

If any students arrived late, briefly review the timeline as it is now posted on the wall. Summarize by saying that all the events until the life of Jesus are recorded in the Old Testament. We are switching from Old Testament lessons to New Testament ones until summer. For 6^th graders, it might be helpful to mention that they will study the life of Jesus in Faith Challenge next year—but this year we are studying Saul.

Scripture/Bible Story

NOTE TO GUIDE: Common thinking often says that Saul’s name became Paul as soon as had his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. This is a mistaken idea. While it is true that God sometimes gives the people God calls new names (Abram/Abraham, Jacob/Israel, for example), this does not happen in the story of Saul’s/Paul’s conversion. Saul and Paul are two versions of the same name—Paul is the Latin form, and Saul is Hebrew. This lesson will refer to him as “Saul” throughout. The Bible story for today is just after Saul’s conversion experience, but the name Saul is still used in our text. It is not until Acts 13:9 when the first reference to Paul is made. “Then Saul, better known as Paul . . .”. It may be helpful to clarify any possible name confusion before reading the scripture for today.

1. Hand out Bibles and ask students to find Acts 9: 19b. Take turns reading through verse 31

2. Spend several minutes reviewing this reading using questions such as: Where was Saul at the beginning of this story? Damascus What did he do there? Preach about Jesus How did he leave Damascus and why? His friends lowered him down over the city wall to avoid being captured Where did Saul go next? Jerusalem What did he do there? Preach about Jesus, but he argued with the Jews who spoke Greek and they wanted to kill him What happened next? Saul left Jerusalem and went to Caesarea and Tarsus.

Application:

1. Explain to students they will be rotating among four “stations” this morning. Review the work they will do at each station as outlined below.

2. Ask the students to number off 1, 2, 3, 4 and then to move into these four groups. Start each group at a different station. Tell them they will rotate to the next station when you give a signal (whistle, shout, bell, etc)

3. Allow students to work approx 10 minutes at each station. Shorten or lengthen the time as needed.

Station 1-Maps

Students will use an overhead transparency and projector to make a large version of the map at the end of the lesson. Have several pieces of chart paper or similar paper taped to the wall to create a map approx. 4’x 4’ or larger. Students will project the map onto the paper and trace the map. Successive groups will label the cities, seas, and indicate Saul’s four missionary journeys using different colored pencils or markers. See attached maps and list of cities that Saul visited. Be sure students include a map key so it is clear which color corresponds to which journey. You might also have a globe available to help students see where this map is located in the world.

Station 2-Map art

Provide colored paper and ask each group to create a picture(s) that can be glued onto the wall map to illustrate something about Saul’s life, travels, times and/or places that he lived. For example: a temple near Jerusalem, a Roman soldier near Rome, a colorful title for the map, a sailing ship in the water, a basket being lowered over a wall near Damascus, names or drawings of Greek gods near Greece, etc. Students may be creative.

Station 3-Missionary poster

Provide poster board and information about the Kirk’s missionaries Dan and Elizabeth Turk (attached). The students will create one large poster or several smaller posters (whatever seems most workable) for the Mission Committee bulletin board in the narthex about the Turks. Remind them to work accurately and neatly since this will be posted for the congregation.

Station 4-Missionary letters

Provide note cards or colored computer paper cut in half. Ask students to write a note to the Kirk’s missionaries, Dan and Elizabeth Turk. For groups that are arriving at this station before station 3, the guide may have to provide extra assistance on what to write. Ask students be thoughtful in what they write. It is suggested that students sit to write their notes. Other stations might be done sitting or standing.

Wrap-up:

1. Ask students to tidy up and put supplies from each station away.

2. Ask students to sit briefly as you show the final products from each station. As time allows, review the map, journeys of Saul, and the work of Dan and Elizabeth Turk.

Closing (Coach):

1. The Coach conducts the closing prayer time.

2. Close/lock the door and turn off the lights.

Guide preparation in advance:

1. For questions on this lesson, call Nancy Stokes 387-7155.

2. Set up the “city room” with three tables and stools. If extra seating is needed, use stools without another table.

3. Obtain the overhead projector from the closet in the church office across from Carl’s desk. A church key opens this closet. It has been reserved for Faith Challenge for the two Sundays it will be needed. Please return it to the closet at the end of each class.

4. Make the attached map into a transparency. Bonnie can do this in the church office.

5. Buy poster board and colored paper if necessary

Supply List

• Chart paper, butcher paper or similar
• Colored pencils or markers
• Colored paper
• Poster board
• Overhead projector
• Map transparency
• Scissors, tape, glue
• Bibles

References

· Faith Quest Workshop Leaders’ Bible Study notes by Lori Houck.

· Faith Challenge Curriculum Writers Bible Study notes by Susan Mazzara.

· The Macmillan Bible Atlas, Yohanan Ahanoni, et. al., eds. (New York: Macmillan, 1993).

History of Israel—7^th grade

God called Abraham

Joseph was taken to Egypt, and became a government official.

The Hebrew people became slaves in Egypt

Moses led the people out of Egypt

The people entered the Promised Land

David became of Israel

The people did not always worship God

God sent prophets and judges to remind the people to turn back to God

Evil kings turned the people away from God

The kingdoms of Judea and Israel were overthrown

The people were taken as exiles to Babylon

Jesus was born, taught, died and was resurrected

Correct order of events and timeline groupings for 7^th grade:

God Chooses a People

God called Abraham

Joseph was taken to Egypt, and became a government official.

The Hebrew people became slaves in Egypt

Moses led the people out of Egypt

The people entered the Promised Land

David became king of Israel

God Judges and Redeems a Nation

The people forgot to worship God *

God sent prophets and judges to remind the people to turn back to God*

Evil kings turned the people away from God*

The kingdoms of Judea and Israel were overthrown

The people were taken as exiles to Babylon

God Sends a Son

Jesus was born, taught, died and was resurrected

* The order of these three items is flexible because over and over again, the kings and people forgot to worship God, God sent prophets and judges and the people worshipped God again for a time—and then they cycle started all over again. However, they all belong in the timeline category of “God Judges and Redeems a Nation”

History of Israel—6^th grade

David became king of Israel

The people did not always worship God

God sent prophets and judges to remind the people to turn back to God

Evil kings turned the people away from God

The kingdoms of Judea and Israel were overthrown

The people were taken as exiles to Babylon

Jesus was born, taught, died and was resurrected

Correct order of events and timeline groupings for 6^th grade:

God Chooses a People

David became king of Israel

God Judges and Redeems a Nation

The people forgot to worship God *

God sent prophets and judges to remind the people to turn back to God*

Evil kings turned the people away from God*

The kingdoms of Judea and Israel were overthrown

The people were taken as exiles to Babylon

God Sends a Son

Jesus was born, taught, died and was resurrected

The order of these three items is flexible because over and over again, the kings and people forgot to worship God, God sent prophets and judges and the people worshipped God again for a time—and then they cycle started all over again. However, they all belong in the timeline category of “God Judges and Redeems a Nation”

Saul’s Missionary Journeys

Saul (later called Paul) became a wonderful missionary for God. He traveled over much of the world as he knew it at that time. Below are summaries of the cities he visited during each of his major journeys.

Saul’s First Journey – Antioch, Cyprus, Perga, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe

Saul’s Second Journey – Jerusalem, Caesarea, Antioch, Tarsus, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch, Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, Beroea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Caesarea

Saul’s Third Journey – Antioch, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch, Ephesus, Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, Miletus, Rhodes, Tyre, Caesarea, Jerusalem

Saul’s Journey to Rome – Caesarea, Sidon, Crete, Malta, Syracuse, Rome