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On the day of Pentecost, Jesus’ disciples were gathered together in Jerusalem. All of a sudden, a sound came from heaven. It was like a strong rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where Jesus’ disciples were staying. Then tongues appeared like flames of fire, and they rested on each of the disciples. The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit gave them the ability to speak in languages they didn’t even know!

Now, Jews were in Jerusalem who had come from every nation. They heard the disciples’ voices in their own languages, and they were amazed! How could the men from Galilee speak so many languages?

Peter stood up and said, “I’ll tell you what’s happening.” He reminded the people of something the prophet Joel had said long ago: “God says, ‘I will pour out My Spirit on all people … I will show you wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below … Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ”

Peter said, “You saw the miracles, wonders, and signs God did through Jesus. Even though God planned for Jesus to die, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him.

But death did not keep hold of Jesus; God raised Jesus from the dead.”

Then Peter said, “You have seen the truth: Jesus is alive! He went up to heaven to be with God the Father. Do not doubt this.” Peter continued, “When you killed Jesus, you killed the Messiah!”

The Holy Spirit convinced the people that Peter was telling the truth. “What must we do to be saved?” they asked. Peter told the people to repent, to turn away from their sins and to turn to God. “God will forgive your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Be baptized in the name of Jesus,” he said.

Everyone who believed Peter’s message was baptized. That day, about three thousand people joined Jesus’ followers. They learned what Jesus’ disciples taught, and they met with other believers every day. They broke bread together and prayed.

Christ Connection: God kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit’s help, Jesus’ disciples could begin their work to share the gospel with the entire world. God gives the Holy Spirit to everyone who trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Unit 28, Session 1

The Holy Spirit CameActs 2

Story Point: God kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit.

Open your Bible and read aloud Acts 2, or tell the story from the following Bible story script.

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INTRODUCE the Story

WELCOME TIME

Greet each preteen as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Prompt kids to share what languages they can understand. Ask if anyone knows more than one language. How might it feel to be in a place people speak different languages? How might it feel to hear someone speaking your own language there?

OPTION 1: Languages gathered

Supplies: strips of paper, marker, paper bags

Write the names of different languages on separate strips of paper. Based on the number of kids in your group, write one language for every two or three kids. Also include a strip with the words, Every language! Put the strips in a paper bag.

Invite kids to play a game similar to fruit basket upset. Choose one kid to stand in the middle of the room. The rest of the kids sit in chairs in a circle. Assign two or three kids to each language. The kid in the center pulls a language from the bag and announces it. Any kid assigned that language must find a new chair. The center player also finds a chair. The player left without a chair pulls the next slip. If a kid draws Every language! everyone finds a new chair.

• How many languages do you know? How many do you think Jesus’ disciples knew?

OPTION 2: Do you understand?

Form groups of four or five kids. Whisper to each group a tongue-twister, like “Sally sells seashells by the seashore” to the first kid in the group. He will then whisper what he heard to the next kid. Continue until all the kids have received the message. Invite the last kid to announce what he heard. Was the message communicated correctly?

Sample tongue-twisters: a proper copper coffee pot / Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches? / He threw three free throws. / She sees cheese.

• How would this game change if you all spoke different languages?

Preteen Leader Guide • Unit 28, Session 1 3

Preteen Leader Guide • Unit 28, Session 1

The Bible tells us what is true about God and about ourselves. All of the stories in the Bible fit together to tell us the big story of how God rescues sinners through His Son, Jesus.

Today we are going to hear how God kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit. Whether this is your first time or your tenth time hearing this story, there is always something new to learn in God’s Word.

Read Acts 2.

• What does this story teach us about God?

God kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit. God gives the Holy Spirit to everyone who trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

• How did the Holy Spirit help the disciples?

The Holy Spirit allowed the people to understand Peter’s message and convinced the people that what Peter said was true. As the people repented from their sin and turned to God, God gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• Form groups of two or three and practice retelling the Bible story in your own words. Think of someone you could share the story with this week.

CHRIST CONNECTION

God kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit’s help, Jesus’ disciples could begin their work to share the gospel with the entire world. God gives the Holy Spirit to everyone who trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

TEACH the Story

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TEACH the Story

MISSIONS MOMENT

When the Holy Spirit filled Jesus’ followers, they were able to do so much more than they could with their own power. The Holy Spirit empowers missionaries to tell people about Jesus. Explain that Lottie Moon served as a missionary in China over 100 years ago, but people still remember her today. We can support missionaries around the world and share the gospel wherever we are as we take part in the church’s mission to tell everyone about Jesus.

PRAY

God, You always keep Your promises. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit as a gift for all who believe in You. Thank You for never leaving us alone and providing everything we need to live and glorify You. May the way we live point others to You. Amen.

THE GOSPEL: GOD’S PLAN FOR METhe gospel is the good news, the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use Scripture and the guide provided below to explain how to become a Christian. Make sure kids know when and where they can ask questions.

GOD RULES. Ask: “Who is in charge at home?” Explain that because God created everything, He is in charge of everything. Read Revelation 4:11.

WE SINNED. Ask: “Have you ever done something wrong?” Tell kids that everyone sins, or disobeys God. Our sin separates us from God. Read Romans 3:23.

GOD PROVIDED. Explain that God is holy and must punish sin. God sent His Son, Jesus, to take the punishment we deserve. Read John 3:16.

JESUS GIVES. Ask: “What is the best gift you’ve ever received?” Say that Jesus took our punishment for sin by giving His life, and He gives us His righteousness. God sees us as if we lived the perfect life Jesus lived. This is the best gift ever! Read 2 Corinthians 5:21.

WE RESPOND. Explain that everyone has a choice to make. Ask: “Will you trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord? You can turn from self and sin and turn to Jesus.” Read Romans 10:9-10.

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Big Picture QuestionHow does the Holy Spirit help Christians?

The Holy Spirit comforts us, shows us our sin, and guides us as we live for God’s glory.

The Holy Spirit is a special gift God gives to His children. He helps Christians live for and bring glory to God.

• What do you know about the Holy Spirit?• What evidence of the Holy Spirit have you seen in yourself or in

other Christians?

Distribute Bibles. Guide preteens to open their Bibles to Acts 2. Choose a volunteer to read aloud Acts 2:16-21. Remind kids that Peter used these verses from the Book of Joel to remind the people that God had promised, long ago, to send the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, God kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit. Choose another volunteer to read aloud Acts 2:16-21 again. Then lead the group to discuss the following questions.

1. How did the people know what Peter said was the truth?

Help kids recognize that the Holy Spirit is the One who helped the people realize what Peter was saying was true and that they needed to be saved. (Option: Choose a volunteer to read Acts 2:37.)

2. How does the Holy Spirit help us carry out the Great Commission?

Help kids recognize that without the Holy Spirit, we could never carry out the Great Commission. God has given us the job of sharing the good news with everyone, but only the Holy Spirit can cause people to realize their sin and their need for the Savior. (Option: Choose a volunteer to read 2 Pet. 1:21.)

3. How should believers live, knowing they have the Holy Spirit?

Help kids recognize that believers can live boldly for the Lord because they have the power of the Holy Spirit within them. Believers have everything they need to serve the Lord and do His will for their lives. (Option: Choose a volunteer to read Luke 12:12.)

APPLY the Story

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KEY PASSAGE ACTIVITY

Supplies: Bibles, magnifying glasses (1 per group), strips of paper

Before the session, print each word of key passage in a small font on separate strips of paper. Prepare one set per group.

Form groups of four or five kids and direct each group to sit around a table. Instruct kids to open their Bibles to 2 Peter 1:3. Lead the kids to read the key passage together. Place the prepared key passage strips of paper with each word from the key passage and one magnifying glass in the center of each table.

Challenge the kids to work together using a magnifying glass to decipher what word is written on each piece of paper and arrange them in the correct order. When groups finish, call on them to say the key passage.

PRAY

Invite volunteers to share prayer requests. Then pray, thanking God for always keeping His promises. Thank Him for sending the Holy Spirit so that we are never alone or without help.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY: Never the same

Supplies: school glue (1 bottle per group), baking soda, contact lens solution, water, disposable gloves, spoons, sandwich bags

Each group of three or four kids will work together to create a batch of slime. Direct kids to work together to mix all ingredients together in a bowl:

1 bottle of school glue½ teaspoon baking soda1½ tablespoons contact lens solution2 tablespoons water (optional) for stretchier slime

Consider providing latex-free gloves to keep kids’ hands clean. Allow kids to take home samples of the slime in sandwich bags.

Emphasize that God can use us in powerful ways when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. At Pentecost, God kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit. Like these ingredients cannot make slime on their own, we can do nothing for God without the power of the Holy Spirit.

APPLY the Story

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