Paul Became a Missionary (Sunday School Lesson for About a 4th Grade Level)

1) How did the teachers and prophets in the Antioch church know to prepare Barnabas and Saul for a special job? They knew because they had been ministering and fasting and were more in tune to what the Spirit wanted.

2) What action did the teachers and prophets do to prepare Barnabas and Saul for their special job? This action is something we have dealt with in previous scriptures going back to Jesus with the apostles. The teachers and prophets placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul as they prayed for them.

3) Why would they have placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul? Because it was a method of blessing.

4) Saul's name changed to something before they left for the new cities? What was it? Paul

5) Did Paul and Barnabas preach only to the Jewish people? No, Paul and Barnabas preached to Gentiles-those who are not Jews.

6) As a result of teaching to the Gentiles, many glorified God and received a very special gift. Do you know what it is? Salvation

Memory verse: Go ye therefore and teach all nations- Matthew 28:19

Think about this verse. Do you think it means for just the teachers, prophets, apostles, and disciples to teach or for everyone? It means for everyone. Anyone old enough to talk can spread the word about Jesus and that is exactly what we should do in our lives.

*Important point: It wasn't just the Jews who were meant to receive good news. This is why Paul and Barnabas taught the Gentiles. The Gentiles knew only from their teachings that the salvation of Christ was open to anyone who accepted it without regard to color of skin, wrongs taken on in the past, etc. Paul and Barnabas left the Antioch church for their first missionary trip. Because the Antioch church is considered the first Christian church this is very fitting.

When Paul and Barnabas left on their mission, they stopped in a town known as Cyrus. Cyrus is where Barnabas was born. Do you think he was nervous teaching about Christ in an area where those he loved were from? Was he afraid of rejection? Was he filled with the Holy Spirit and didn't care? Is it easy for you to talk about Christ with your loved ones or are your torn as possibly Barnabas was? So many times opportunities to talk about Christ are lost due to people being afraid of what others will think of them. Don't let this happen to you. Christ's opinion is the only one that matters and we want to get as many people to Heaven as possible.

7) Who do you think needs to hear God's message of forgiveness? Obviously, the answer is everyone.

Paul gave an important message beginning in Acts 13 verses 17-48. Read this to the class as well 8) Who did he address when speaking of Jesus? He addressed Men of Israel and Gentiles who fear God.

Paul addresses the Jews who condemned Christ and led to his death. He then says it was for the forgiveness of sins through Jesus. Paul and Barnabas returned to speak with the Jews the next Sabbath but it was clear they were not interested in believing.

Verse 47 says "I have made you a light for the Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."

8) How do you think this made the Gentiles feel? They were ecstatic and honored the word of God. God's word was spread throughout the entire region.

I realize this lesson is very similar to last week's with the Antioch church. I should have switched craft ideas and had Popsicle stick churches made last week to represent the new church and saved the door knockers for this week but hindsight is always 20-20. After some thought, I came up with a very simple albeit somewhat plain craft idea.

I purchased a box of foam sheets at Wal-Mart that are sticky on the back. It isn't necessary to have sticky ones but I used them so they can be stuck somewhere. I'm sure moms will love me.

1) Find your cutouts. The picture of the map where Paul began his first missionary journey is at http://www.bible.ca/maps/ it will be necessary to scroll down the left hand side of the page to find Paul's first missionary journey between ½ and 3/4ths down the page. I took the map and trimmed it up. I used 4 different colors of markers to indicate the direction Paul went on his mission. Blue for beginning at Antioch, orange for Cyprus, teal for Perga, red for Amphilia, and purple for Pisidian Antioch and made a code at the bottom of the page. The problem is my background was red and the orange and red colors blended in a little too well.

2) The next cut out should be at http://clipart.christiansunite.com/Bible_Characters_Clipart/Paul_the_Apostle_Clipart/index4.shtml Paul is the first one on the second line. I had to trim this one up to show mainly Paul in order to get it on the paper. I placed it in the right corner near where Antioch began.

3) The next cut out should be at http://www.christianedwarehouse.com/cepub/images/db_images/4679StickKidsCutouts.jpg It is very small so you'll need to trim around it. I originally intended to put it near the church but ran out of room. Instead mine sort of ended up in the Mediterranean Sea

4) Last cutout should be at

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=children+church+clip+art+filterui%3aphoto-graphics&qpvt=children+church+clip+art&FORM=R5FD10#focal=e8104fef713347b3441f6a5c6c666118&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hem-of-his-garment-bible-study.org%2Fimage-files%2Fchurchisfun.gif

It is twelve rows down and four from the left. Because of the size of the clip art, I cut the top part where the steeple was and placed it in between the first Antioch and the Antioch that Paul's first missionary journey ended at. It still looked like a church but a very small one.

At the top I wrote Paul's First Missionary Journey. In hindsight it should have included Barnabas' name as well. It is difficult to see because I did not have any good markers. Some days I could kill for Sharpies but I'm honestly lucky to have not had to write it in crayon.

Sources: LifeWay for Kids inspiration, KJV of the bible, cutouts from various places already listed online, and my own head