Season: Book of Acts
Episode 15: “Peter is Freed from Prison
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 12:6-19

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr7Udj8lEUU (Teaching Kids about Jesus – Peter in Prison)

“Peter finally came to his senses. ‘It’s really true!’ he said. ‘The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!’” (Acts 12:11, NLT)

As the church grew larger, so did the numbers of people of didn’t want to see it grow any bigger. King Herod tried to discourage people from becoming Jesus’ followers by persecuting some of the early believers—he even had the Apostle James killed! When he saw that this made the Jewish leaders happy, he also had Peter imprisoned with the plan to bring him to trial…and probably killed too.

While in prison, Peter had 16 guards, to make certain he didn’t escape. But one night, he woke up and standing in front of him was an angel who told him to get up, get dressed and to follow him out of the prison. Peter thought he was just dreaming, but as he did what he was told, the chains he had on fell off, the doors to the prison opened by themselves, and then when he had followed the angel outside, the angel disappeared!

Peter went to the home of some friends who had been praying for him. When he knocked on the door, the servant girl Rhoda heard Peter’s voice and was so excited she went back to tell the group Peter was at the door. But they didn’t believe her! Finally, she convinced them to come and see, and there was Peter. He told them what had happened, asked them to spread the word and then he left.

Think about it...
• King Herod didn’t want people to become followers of Jesus. How did he try to stop the church from growing?
• The Pharisees were happy that Herod had James killed. What did Herod do then?
• Peter was arrested and sixteen men were given the job of making certain he didn’t escape. What did God do?
• After he was free, Peter went to tell his friends. Why didn’t they believe he was at the door?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, for keeping Peter safe. I know that nothing can stop the work that you want us to do; not even kings and prisons. Help me to be brave like Peter to always follow your directions.

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 14: “Walking & Breathing Miracles”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 10

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMeDRIDFuIk (Fellowship Kids – Peter & Cornelius)

“34 Then Peter replied, ‘I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.’” (Acts 10:34-35, NLT)

As the early church grew, the majority of people who believed in Jesus were Jews. In fact, the Jews had some pretty strict rules about not associating with people who weren’t Jewish. But that all changed one day when God gave Peter a special vision. In Peter’s vision, a sheet was lowered from heaven full of animals that the Jewish people weren’t supposed to eat, according to the rules of the old agreement they had made with God. But a voice told Peter that things had changed. These animals were not to be thought of as unclean; God had made a new covenant through Jesus. Then Peter heard God tell him that some non-Jewish men had come to see him and that he should go with him. So after spending the night at the place where Peter had been staying in Joppa, they began the trip to Caesarea.

In Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, who, even though he wasn’t a Jew, believed in God and did many kind things. An angel had told him to invite Peter to his house, because he had a message from God for Cornelius. That was why the men had gone to get Peter. Peter understood the message that he was to give Cornelius….and what God was trying to teach him too. Just as God didn’t consider any animal unclean, Peter was to treat all people the same—Jews and non-Jews alike. The good news about Jesus was for everyone! Cornelius believed Peter’s message about Jesus and his whole family was baptized.
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Think about it...
• God had made a special covenant/agreement with the Jewish people. What kind of rules did they have concerning food and other people?
• God wanted Peter to understand that the old agreement no longer existed. How had Jesus changed the relationship between God and people?
• Jesus didn’t just come for the Jewish people, but for everyone. What did Cornelius do when he heard the good news?
• Anyone can now have a relationship with God. Do you have a relationship with God?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that everyone can be your friend. Help me to be quick like Peter to tell others about you and what you have done. Thank you that you will forgive me when I admit the bad stuff I’ve done and am sorry. Help me to obey you always.

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 13: “Walking & Breathing Miracles”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 9:32-42

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiZHs-wV0Ic (Two Fish Talks – Aeneas & Tabitha)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhlRTne06es (Lifekids – Tabitha)
“The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord.” (Acts 9:42a, NLT)

One of the reasons that so many people began believing the news about Jesus was because of the miracles that members of the early church were able to do with the help of the Holy Spirit. In Lydda, many people believed in Jesus after Peter healed a man named Aeneas who had been unable to walk for eight years. When the townspeople saw Aeneas up and walking, they saw this as proof of the truth about Jesus that Peter had told them.

Word got out and soon some people from Joppa came and asked Peter to please come to their town. A woman named Tabitha (a.k.a. Dorcas) had died. She had been very kind and generous and had always done so many nice things for others. The people of Joppa hoped that Peter would provide a special miracle.

Peter went to Joppa as requested and when he got there many people showed him all the nice things that Tabitha had made for them. He told everyone to leave the room where Tabitha’s dead body had been laid, then he prayed. Jesus answered Peter’s prayer and Tabitha came back to life. Now people who had not believed in Jesus in Joppa had a big reason to!

Think about it...
• In Lydda a man named Aeneas had been unable to walk for eight years. What happened?
• When the people of the town saw Aeneas walking around, they believed Peter’s message about Jesus. What was Peter’s message?
• Tabitha was a believer in a nearly town. What was special about her?
• When she died, the people in her town of Joppa really hoped Peter would help them. What did they want Peter to do?
• Peter prayed for Tabitha and she came back to life. What happened in Joppa after that?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, for using Peter to convince others about Jesus. Thank you that he trusted you to do some amazing things. Help me to trust you and allow you use me to convince others about Jesus.

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 12: “A Changed Heart”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 9:20-31

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_BaCLcVMeU (Cartoon Works)

“Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.” (Acts 9:22, NLT)

After Paul (a.k.a. Saul) discovered that he had been completely wrong about Jesus, he went right to work telling others the truth he had learned—Jesus had been the long-promised Messiah! He was so convincing, that some of his old friends, the religious leaders, decided they needed to put a stop to Paul…they made a plan to kill him. The believers in Damascus learned about the plot against Paul’s life and they helped him escape from the city by lowering him down over the city wall in a basket.

He traveled to Jerusalem and tried to join the believers there, but they were too scared of him. Remember, that before Paul had gone to Damascus, he had been involved in trying to stop the early church in Jerusalem and had been responsible for beating, imprisoning and even killing Christians. One brave man, Barnabas, came to Paul’s defense and was able to explain to the believers that Paul wasn’t just putting on an act…he really had become one of them.

After that, Paul began preaching in Jerusalem, but again, his former friends and colleagues decided to shut him up by killing him and the believers helped Paul escape to his hometown of Tarsus. Then, for a time, the Christians were able to experience some peace and they continued to grow as more people believed in Jesus.

Think about it...
• Before Jesus had stopped Saul on the road to Damascus, he had been convinced that Christians needed to be stopped. Once he met Jesus, what did he become convinced of?
• Paul had studied the Scriptures for many years and once he understood that Jesus had been the Messiah, there was no stopping him from telling others. How did his old friends respond?
• The Christians had to help Paul escape plots on his life. Why did his old friends and colleagues want to see Paul dead?
• At first the Christians in Jerusalem doubted Pauls’ sincerity. Why? What convinced them that he was now a believer like them?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that the story of Saul shows us that you can change anyone. You can use anyone. You love everyone! Help us to be brave like Paul to share our faith in Jesus.
~Pastor Jane
#familydevotional #acts9 #hopechapel #collingwoodchurch #Paulconversion #paulescapes

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 11: “Cold Blooded Murderer”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 9:1-19

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q48KtECYDXk (Hillsong Kids)

“Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers.” (Acts 9:1, NLT)

The number of people who believed in Jesus continued to grow as people of the early church spread out. This made some of the Jewish leaders very angry. They didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah and thought His followers were spreading lies. Saul, a Pharisee, wanted to put a stop to the early Church and he even got letters from the religious leaders to give him authority to arrest any of Jesus’ followers he found. On his way to Damascus, intent on arresting any Christians he found there, Jesus literally stopped Saul in his tracks!

A bright light shone and Saul was knocked to the ground. A voice from heaven asked Saul, ‘Why are you persecuting me?’ Saul knew he better listen, but didn’t know who was talking to him, ‘Who are you?’ The voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the one you are persecuting. Go into Damascus and wait there for further directions from me.’ And after the light and voice stopped, Paul discovered he was blind! The men who were with him led him to the city and he stayed with a man named Judas for three days.

Then God spoke to Ananias, a follower of Jesus, and told him to go and heal Saul. This freaked Ananias out a little bit, but he trusted God and went to the house Saul was staying at. Saul was given back his eyesight when Ananias prayed for him, he was baptized and immediately he began telling others about Jesus—Saul, the man who had tried to put a stop to Christianity, became one of the leaders of the early church. He travelled all around telling people about Jesus, planting churches and even writing many of the letters we find in our Bibles today.

Think about it...
• Saul was convinced that the early church was spreading lies against God. What did he want to do?
• He was on his way to Damascus to arrest any Christians he found there. What happened before he got to the city?
• Jesus told Saul he needed to stop what he was doing. What new job did Jesus want Saul to do?
• God told Ananias to go and pray for Saul. Why did this make Ananias a little fearful?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that you stopped Saul in his tracks. He thought he was doing what was right, but was he ever wrong! Help me to always do the right things and obey you.

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 10: “Philip & the Ethiopian”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 8:26-40

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGEqn7_teFo (Saddleback Kids – Philip and the Ethiopian)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWPDlh5Euqw (Children’s Ministry Deals – quiz)

“Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ The man replied, ‘How can I, unless someone instructs me?’ And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.” (Acts 8:30-31, NLT)

Philip didn’t hesitate to go wherever he heard God directing him to go. And everywhere he went, he was sure to tell others about Jesus. One day Philip heard the Holy Spirit telling him to go down the desert road between Jerusalem and Gaza. As he walked he saw the royal treasurer of the Queen of Ethiopia traveling in his carriage. The Holy Spirit told Philip to walk beside the carriage, so he did. Philip heard this important official reading from the book of Isaiah and asked him if he understood what he was reading. So, the official invited Philip up into the carriage and Philip was able to explain the Scriptures and about Jesus. The official believed Philip. When they came across some water, the official wanted Philip to baptize him, so Philip did. But afterward, the Holy Spirit took Philip away…*whoosh*…and he was gone. The official praised God and Philip found himself on a road farther north in the town of Azotus. Philip continued to teach people as he traveled and eventually went to Caesarea.

Think about it...
• Philip heard the Holy Spirit tell him to take a walk. What did he do?
• He saw an important Ethiopian official. What did the Spirit tell Philip to do then?
• Philip heard the man reading and asked if he understood what he was reading. What did this important official then invite Philip to do?
• Philip was able to explain the Scriptures to the man and he believed what Philip told him about Jesus. What did he want to do right away to show his faith?
• Have you ever heard God talk to you? Would you be as quick as Philip to obey?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that Philip heard you speak and didn’t hesitate to obey. Thank you that the important official was able to learn about Jesus and was then able to share the good news with the people of his country. Help me to ask for help when I need it and be quick to help others, too.

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 9: “The Samaritans Believe”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 8:1-25

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iudbr16N6I8 (Two Fish Talks – Philip Goes to Samaria)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dtvkiOrT9Y (Children’s Ministry Deals – quiz)

“But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah.” (Acts 8:4-5, NLT)

After the religious leaders had Stephen stoned, they set about the try and eliminate any belief in Jesus. But instead of stopping the early church, many of the believers left Jerusalem and went to new places telling others that Jesus had been the Messiah. Philip left Jerusalem and went to Samaria. He began to teach the people and God helped him do many miracles. The people were amazed and believed in Jesus, too.

When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans were believing in Jesus, they sent Peter and John to check out the situation. They were very pleased to see that people were coming to believe in Jesus and when Peter and John prayed for them, the Holy Spirit came to the Samaritans, just as had happened on the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit first came.

One of the new believers, Simon, thought he could buy the power of the Holy Spirit and offered to give money to Peter and John so that he could pray for people too. He didn’t understand that the Holy Spirit was a gift from God and not something people could buy or control. Peter told him how bad this kind of thinking was. Simon quickly asked Peter and John to pray for him so that he wouldn’t suffer from his wrong ideas about God.

Think about it...
• The Jewish leaders tried to stop anyone from believing about Jesus. Instead of stopping, however, what did the believers do?
• Philip had been a leader in Jerusalem. Where did he go?
• Many people thought the Samaritans were enemies. But what did they do when Philip told them about Jesus?
• Simon thought he could make a name for himself by buying the Holy Spirit. What did Peter tell him about that sort of thinking?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that even though the Jewish leaders tried to stop people from believing about Jesus, their plan backfired. Thank you that more people got to hear the good news. Help me to share about Jesus wherever I live.

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 8: “A Sad Day”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 6:8-8:2

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u9eN72iFjo (God’s Story – The Life of Stephen)
“As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.” (Acts 7:59, NLT)

Remember the seven men that the believers chose to help run the food program in the early church? Well, these men didn’t just deal with food. They also knew a lot about Jesus and could tell others about him. One of these men, Stephen, was very convincing and many people believed in Jesus through his teaching. But that made some of the other Jewish leaders, who didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah, angry. They spread lies about Stephen, accusing him of talking badly about Moses and God’s laws.

The Sanhedrin held court and told Stephen to explain himself. He didn’t back down from the truth. He explained clearly about how everything that had happened in history had been leading up to the Messiah, which was Jesus. When he accused the leaders of killing the long-promised Messiah, because they refused to believe that it was Jesus, they became furious. They dragged Stephen out of the city and stoned him to death. It was a horrible way to die. But Stephen showed incredible courage. Even if the leaders didn’t want to hear what Stephen had to say, he asked Jesus to forgive them—he followed Jesus’ example, even in death!

After that, things got very dangerous for Jesus’ followers for a while. A man named Saul decided that he wanted to get rid of this idea that Jesus had been the Messiah once and for all…but that story will have to wait!

Think about it...
• Stephen was one of the men chosen to run the food program in the early church. What other things did he do?
• Stephen was very smart and could explain things very convincingly. As the church continued to grow, how did the Jewish leaders respond?
• Because of their jealousy, Stephen was accused of telling lies about Moses and God’s laws. Who got involved?
• The Sanhedrin, the Jewish leaders, told Stephen to explain himself. When he did, however, they got really angry even though he only told them the truth. What did they do?
• Stephen was really brave. Could we be as brave as Stephen?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, for being with Stephen. Even though he died for telling others the truth, you helped him be brave and remain forgiving. Help us to be brave for you, too!

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 7: “Sharing the Work”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 6:1-7

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjeU74WVzOE (TrueWay Kids)

“We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.” (Acts 6:2-3, NLT)

The early church grew really quickly and it became a challenge for the Apostles to continue to meet the needs of everyone. It didn’t make sense that they should spend less time teaching people about Jesus, but they also saw a need to run their food program well in order that everyone was taken care of. Rather than trying to do too much all by themselves, the Apostles asked the other believers to identify seven trustworthy people who could take over that responsibility. Seven men were chosen and everyone got to work. As a result the church continued to grow and even some of the Jewish priests became Jesus’ followers.

Think about it...
• A complaint was made to the Apostles. What was causing concern for some people in the church?
• The Apostles recognized that there was a problem, but didn’t have time to take care of it themselves. What did they propose as a solution?
• Seven men were chosen to run the daily food program. What others jobs needed doing in the early church?
• When we all work together, all the work will get done. Why can’t we do everything ourselves?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that the Apostles found a good solution for helping everyone. Thank you that we don’t expect us to do everything by ourselves, but you bring people together to do the work of being the church. Help me to do my part.
~ Jane Peck

Season: Book of Acts
Episode 6: “Persecution Begins”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 5:17-42

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQhkWmFJKnA (The Bible Project – Acts 1-7 – for parents and older children)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKjWlETMYxc (Saddleback – The Apostles & High Council)

“Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people all about this new life.’” (Acts 5:17-20, NLT)

As the early Church grew bigger and got more and more popular, the Jewish leaders became jealous. They thought that this new teaching about Jesus needed to be stopped…immediately. So, they arrested the apostles (‘apostle’ is another name for the specially chosen disciples of Jesus who had traveled with him for three years as his students) and put them all in jail overnight. But an angel showed up and let them out of prison. The angel instructed them to go back to the Temple and continue to teach about Jesus. So they did.

The Jewish leaders, the High Council, didn’t know about the angel and they told the soldiers to go and get the apostles out of the jail so that they could stand for trial. But when the soldiers arrived they found that the prison was fully guarded, but the apostles were nowhere to be found. A man who had just been at the Temple, told the leaders that the apostles were once again teaching there.

This infuriated the members of the Council and they told the apostles that they needed to stop talking about Jesus. They even whipped them as punishment to try and discourage them. But that didn’t stop the apostles. They continued right on talking about Jesus because they knew God wanted everyone to know the truth, no matter what the High Council had said.

Think about it...
• The apostles obeyed God and told everyone who would listen about Jesus. Who tried to stop them?
• The Jewish leaders had the apostles arrested. What happened that night?
• The High Council told the apostles they couldn’t talk about Jesus anymore. What did Peter tell them?
• The apostles were whipped for talking about Jesus. Why didn’t that stop them?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that Peter and the other apostles didn’t stop talking about Jesus. You gave them the courage they needed and they kept right on telling others the truth. Please give me the courage I need.