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May 19, 2015 -- Issue #18

In today's newsletter:

1) Pentecost--Feast of Weeks

2) Pentecost Activity

3) Bible Game: Spread the Good News

4) Fire-Dove Mosaic & Bible Lesson

An Overview for Children
on the Book of Acts and the Glory of God

1) Pentecost--Feast of Weeks

Pentecost is a Greek word in the New Testament, meaning fifty. In the Old Testament, Pentecost is called the Feast of Weeks, or the Feast of Harvest. It is one of the Feasts* that God told the Israelites to celebrate. (See Leviticus 23) It is to be observed fifty days after the feast of Firstfruits.

Pentecost Sunday is celebrated by Christians fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, our Passover Lamb. It is the day Christians were first given power from God's Spirit to do his work on earth. To have the children think of powerful things to remind them of the power of Pentecost for believers. Have the children work in teams, using the letters in PENTECOST as an acronym to describe powerful things. (For example, power, electrons, nuclear, etc.) 

Read or summarize Luke 24:1-53 

(Have the children imagine and discuss what the disciples felt like after Jesus' death. Imagine what you would feel like if someone you loved had been brutally killed.) Jesus' followers hopes and dreams were dashed, and their leader was dead! 
But . . . get the rest of this Pentecost Bible lesson.

2) Pentecost Activity for Children's Ministry

". . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you . . . 
and you will be my witnesses . . ."

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them." (Acts 1:8; 2:1-3) Read on.

The "Feast of Pentecost," or "Feast of Weeks," is celebrated 50 days after the resurrection, and occurs this year on May 24, 2015.

3) Bible Game: Spread The Good News
(Commission, Ascension & Pentecost)

Set Up: Divide players into teams of at least 8-10 players per team. Each team will need 3 Hoola-Hoops. On each hoop write the following words: Jesus, Loves, and You. Loop a piece of wide masking tape around the hoop allowing it to hang away from the hoop. Then write one of the words on the tape for each hoop. Tell the players they are to pass the message written on the hoops around their circle. The circle represents our world. Jesus told us to spread God’s good news around the world. This game will help us to remember to obey Jesus’ command.

How To Play: Teams stand in circles holding hands. Choose one player in each circle to be the beginning point. Place the three Hoola-hoops onto his or her arm. At the go, the beginning player says, “Jesus”, then passes the first Hoola-Hoop to the player on his or her right. Players must not let go of their hands, which requires them to move their bodies through the hoop to pass it around the circle. When a player passes a hoop, he or she must tell the next player what is written on that hoop. Teams pass the messages on the hoops in consecutive order around the circle one at a time (first Jesus, then Loves, then You). If any of the players let go of their hands the hoop must go back to the beginning player. Allow teams to practice a few times before competing against the other team(s). The team that passes all of their hoops around the circle first, one after the other, passing Jesus, then Loves, then You, without letting go of their hands wins. Play as long as time allows. 

From our Bible Curriculum Tell Me The Story Of Jesus, Chapter 12: Commission, Ascension, & Pentecost (for K-5th Grade).

4) Pentecost Fire-Dove Mosaic & Bible Lesson

In the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit is often pictured as a hovering or descending bird, particularly a dove, while his glory is displayed in light and fire. At Pentecost, following the resurrection of Jesus and his ascension to heaven, the Holy Spirit was seen hovering like tongues of fire over the people of God (Acts 2:3). This marked a new beginning. The Holy Spirit was poured out to empower believers, and God’s promise to write his laws on their hearts had begun to be fulfilled (Jeremiah 31:33).

The dove and fire images tell us about the character of the Holy Spirit of God. The dove reminds us that he is a loving God who hovers over his children, providing, protecting, caring, and making peace with God for us. On the other hand, the fire image reminds us that God is powerful, holy, and just. He is without sin, and perfect in every way. The Bible tells us that God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29). Sin must be punished, because God will not tolerate sin or look the other way. He will not allow the guilty to go free (Exodus 34:7). 

Yet, because the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and rich in love, he sent . . . 
read on.

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