When Jesus was on earth, He promised to send His followers a Helper – the Holy Spirit. What an amazing truth that God Himself comes to dwell within us when we accept Christ’s death on the cross as payment for our sin! He gives us strength to overcome sin, the ability to do the work God has for us, and even helps us know God personally.
HIGHLIGHTS from the Weekend…
This week you will get to talk to your child about what happened after Jesus went back to heaven. After Jesus ascended into the clouds, the disciples stayed in Jerusalem waiting for the special gift Jesus promised. As they were praying together one day, a loud noise that sounded like wind filled the room and what looked like fire appeared above each of their heads. Something inside of them began to change. They had received God’s Holy Spirit, the Helper that Jesus had promised. Now, they had the power to do God’s work. The Holy Spirit gave them the ability to tell others the good news about Jesus with courage and boldness. (Acts 2)
Teaching Truth:
- Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help people who follow Him.
- People who follow Jesus are called His church.
Memory Verse
"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 107:1
3 Activities that Help Us Learn This Week's Teaching Truth:
1. Church's Birthday
The sending of the Holy Spirit was the start of the Church. To celebrate this, make birthday cupcakes with your child. Grab a white cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, and food coloring. Let your child help you make the cake batter. Once you get all the ingredients mixed together, let your child add several drops of one color of food coloring. While he is mixing it, talk to your child about how the Holy Spirit changes the heart of someone who loves Jesus just as food coloring changes the color of the batter. After baking the cupcakes, decorate them with icing and sprinkles. While you are waiting for the cupcakes to cook and cool, read the story of Pentecost from Acts 2:1-6 in your Bible and ask your child these questions:
- Where did Jesus’ special friends wait for the gift Jesus promised?
- When the disciples were praying what appeared over their heads?
- What did Jesus give His friends?
- What did the disciples do after the Holy Spirit came on them?
After the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they began to tell others of the good news about Jesus! Pray for people who you know need to hear the good news about Jesus.
2. Holy Spirit Windsock
The Holy Spirit appeared as wind to the disciples. Grab a few simple supplies and help your child make a wind sock. You will need a sheet of construction paper, markers or crayons, tissue paper, scissors, tape, stapler, hole punch, and a long piece of string. Let your child decorate the construction paper with stickers, crayons, and anything else he wants. Cut tissue paper into wide strips and help your child tape them to one of the long edges of the construction paper. Roll the paper into a tube so the short sides come together and overlap. Staple and/or tape sides together. Punch two holes into the end of the tube without the streamers. Tie the ends of the string to the holes and hang it outside so it can catch the wind.
3. Holy Spirit Twirler
Help your child make a wind twirler that represents the Holy Spirit. You will need a sheet of craft foam, scissors, decorating supplies like stickers or markers, a hole punch, and a piece of string. Cut the foam into a circle. Then, starting from the outside, cut the circle into a spiral towards the middle. Let your child decorate the spiral with markers or stickers. When they’re done decorating, punch a hole at the interior end of the spiral and tie a string through it. Let your child run around pulling the twirler behind him or tie it to a tree and let the wind twirl it.
Pray
Thank God for this new day and that He gives us new mercies every morning. Thank Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit that He sends to all who follow Him.