Launch 121: To The City
Family Discussion Questions:
Read through the Scripture passages as a family, then talk through the questions together.
“I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene. Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities." Acts 26:9-11
- Why does Paul share this part of his life story?
- Did you know that Paul wrote most of the books in the New Testament?
- How did Paul act towards Christians before meeting Christ?
- Is it surprising that God chose Paul to help write the Bible? Why or why not?
“One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’
“‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’" Acts 26:12-18
- How did Paul meet Jesus? (Have the kids recap verses 12-18 in their own words, or even have them act it out.)
- What did Jesus want Paul to do after He appeared to him?
- Have someone in the family share about the time that they came to know Christ.
“And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.” Acts 26:19-23
- Did everything go well for Paul after he became a Christian? Why? What happened to him?
- Can it be difficult to share your faith? Why?
- Who are some people that you could share the good news of Jesus with?
Family Ideas for Fun:
- Find a local pumpkin patch and pick out a family pumpkin or two. Instead of carving them, you can paint them as a family or let everyone pick out their own baby pumpkin to decorate.
- Have a Chubby Bunny challenge. Each person puts a marshmallow in their mouth and says, “Chubby Bunny”. Keep adding marshmallows and saying the phrase. Whoever can add the most marshmallows and still say “Chubby Bunny”, wins!
- Share the Gospel with M&Ms. Take a package of your favorite M&Ms. Teach your children to share the Gospel with the different colors of the candy: Yellow – God (Ps 135:5-6), Brown – sin (Rom 3:23), Red – Jesus’ blood (2 Cor 5:21), Green – Growth (2 Cor 5:17), Blue – Bold (Eph 6:19) and Orange – Others (Acts 1:8). Practice with each other several times, then pray that the Lord would bring people to mind that you and your family can share the Gospel with using the M&Ms.
- OR choose your own fun activity.