The Holy Spirit Helps Me Be Bold

BIG IDEA: The Holy Spirit helps me be bold.

This free Bible lesson, Peter & John Before the Sanhedrin, will teach preschool and elementary students about the boldness that comes from the Holy Spirit.

FOCUS BIBLE PASSAGE: Acts 3-4

All of the printable activities and digital slides needed for the lesson, as well as a full printable lesson plan for both elementary and preschool are available.

Below is the outline of the free elementary Bible lesson.

PREP & SUPPLIES

• printed and trimmed “Paper Plate toss” verse parts (enough for two teams per class)
• printed & cut “Hook Scripts” (2 copies of each)
• optional: printed or plastic “Sheriff’s Badge”
• optional: fake handcuffs
• Bible for leader to read from
• Bibles for students (enough for each student if possible)
• printed B-O-L-D station cards
• printed “I Can Be Bold” reflection pages (one for each student)
• pencils
• printed “Acrostic Poem Starters” (enough for each student to have one of each)

MEMORY VERSE: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITY:

• Divide the students into two teams.
• Position each set of paper plates in random order on the floor in front of a start mark. Each team will have their own start mark in separate areas of the room.
• Instruct each team to stand in a line behind the start mark. Give the first student on each team 3 small bean bags. That student must throw the bean bags and hit the plate with the first part of the verse. Once they hit the correct plate, they can run and get the plate and the bean bags.
• They will give the bean bags to the next person in line. The next person tries to hit the next part of the verse. Once they hit the correct plate, they can run and get the plate and the bean bags.
• The game continues until all of the parts of the verse are collected and are laid in order on the floor.
• If a student is unable to hit a plate in three tries, instruct them to gather the bean bags and pass them to the next person in line.

ALTERNATIVE: You may want to allow students to hit and collect the plates in ANY order rather than requiring them to collect them in the correct order. The team can work together at the end to place the words/phrases in order.

LESSON HOOK ACTIVITY

You will need the 2 story script cards for this activity.

Before class begins, ask 3 volunteers to help you with the first part of today’s lesson. Two of them will need to read a short story script off of a card in front of the class as if they were acting it out like in a play, while the third one will act like someone who is being helped. You can let each of the students preview the story and practice if they want to.

STORY SCRIPT 1: One reader, one actor with no speaking

STORY SCRIPT 2: One reader

For this activity, a leader will be acting as a law officer. There is a printable Sheriff’s badge (and mustache) at the end of the lesson or you can find fake plastic ones to use in your craft stash or at the Dollar Store. You can also have fun with this activity and use fake handcuffs if you have them available.

Today I have asked three friends to help me with this part of our Bible story. Each friend is going to act out a scenario (type of story or situation). I am going to play the part of the LAW OFFICER, or the POLICE OFFICER.

(SLIDE 3)

Allow student volunteer to read STORY SCRIPT 1 as you read the part of the Law Officer. After the story is read, dramatically act like you are arresting the student for their words.

What do you notice about what happened? Why did _____ get arrested? (allow discussion)

Repeat the process with STORY SCRIPT 2.

Did you know that people get put in jail for speaking about Jesus? We don’t see this happen in America, but in other parts of the world, it is against the law to speak about Jesus and the Bible. Jesus even predicted that this would happen in the future. But remember God is in control of everything and we don’t have to worry. I am so thankful that we are free to speak about Jesus and the Bible.

BIBLE LESSON

(SLIDE 4)

Jesus told us that people who believe in Him may have hard times and actually get in trouble for believing in Him and trying to teach others about Him.

He said in Luke chapter 21:

“…people will arrest you and treat you badly. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison. You will be brought to kings and governors. All this will happen to you because of my name. And so you will be witnesses about me. But make up your mind not to worry ahead of time about how to stand up for yourselves. I will give you words of wisdom. None of your enemies will be able to withstand them or prove them wrong.” [Luke 21:12-15 NIrV]

Jesus was saying these things to His disciples. He told them that they should expect to get arrested and be put in prison for speaking to other people about Him. Why do you think they would get arrested for speaking about Jesus? (allow responses)

The religious leaders at that time didn’t believe that Jesus is God, so they were trying to do everything they could to stop the spread of His name to other people.

But Jesus says “make up your mind not to worry…I will give you words of wisdom.” What do you think He meant by this? (allow responses)

(SLIDE 5)

In the hours before His death on the cross, Jesus spoke with His disciples teaching them many lessons and comforting them before He left the earth. The Gospel writers recorded this conversation and we can now read Jesus’s words in our Bible! Everything that God said in the Bible is meant for us!

Jesus promised His disciples, and us, during this conversation that He would send His Holy Spirit to live inside of the people who choose to believe in Him.

(SLIDE 6)

We can read about this conversation Jesus had with His disciples in the Gospel book of John in chapter 14:

“If you love me, obey my commands. I will ask the Father. And he will give you another friend to help you and to be with you forever. That friend is the Spirit of truth. The world can’t accept him. That’s because the world does not see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will be in you.” [John 14:15-17 NIrV]

Jesus was promising His disciples, AND US, that He would send His Holy Spirit to live inside of the people who choose to believe in Him and follow Him.

Remember that our God is three Persons. Does anyone remember the three Persons of the Trinity? (allow responses)

(SLIDE 7)

This is confusing, but our God is three Persons in one. God exists as:

• God the Father
• God the Son (Jesus)
• God the Holy Spirit (Who Jesus has promised to send to live inside of believers)

There is only ONE GOD.

Each Person of the Trinity is FULLY GOD.

Each Person of the Trinity is EQUAL to the other two.

The three Persons work together as ONE.

(SLIDE 8)

Who remembers Peter? (allow responses)

Peter was one of Jesus’s disciples (followers). He was very loyal to Jesus and also very protective of Jesus.

Who remembers John? (allow responses)

John was also one of Jesus’s disciples. In the Gospel book of John, which he wrote, he calls himself “the one whom Jesus loved”.

After Jesus died on the cross, rose back to life, AND went back to Heaven WHO did He send to live inside of the people who believe in Him? (allow responses)

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of the people who believe in Him. Why do you think He sends the Holy Spirit to live inside of people who believe in Him? (allow responses)

Some translations of the Bible actually say that the Holy Spirit is “our Helper”. The Holy Spirit lives inside of believers to HELP us all the time! Isn’t that amazing?

In today’s true story from the Bible, we are going to learn about a special time when the Holy Spirit helped Peter and John. We will begin in the book of Acts chapter 4. Is the book of Acts in the Old Testament or the New Testament? (New Testament)

What do we learn about in the New Testament? (Jesus’s life on earth and after He died and went back to Heaven)

(SLIDE 9) As you tell the story today, it is recommended that you open a Bible and read directly from it to model for the students, WHILE DISPLAYING THE SLIDES FOR STUDENTS TO FOLLOW ALONG. However, the text of each passage is also included in this lesson guide if a Bible is not available.

READ ACTS 4:1-4

Peter and John were speaking to the people. The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to the apostles. They were very upset by what the apostles were teaching the people. The apostles were saying that people can be raised from the dead. They said this can happen because Jesus rose from the dead. So the temple authorities arrested Peter and John. It was already evening, so they put them in prison until the next day. But many who heard the message believed. The number of men who believed grew to about 5,000. (NIrV)

So we know that Peter and John, two of Jesus’s apostles/disciples were teaching people about Jesus. What do you think they were telling the people about Jesus? (allow responses)

They were telling the people that Jesus raised from the dead. They were telling the people that Jesus is “Holy and Blameless”, and “the one who gives life”. (Acts 3:14-15)

They were telling the people that Jesus was the promised Messiah sent by God to save them and they didn’t see Him for Who He is so they put Him to death. (Acts 3:17-26)

The religious leaders did not like that Peter and John were telling the people about Jesus, so what did they do? (they arrested Peter and John)

But what happened BEFORE Peter and John were arrested? (about 5,000 people believed in Jesus and were saved)

Sometime before Peter and John were arrested, Peter performed a miracle. The Bible tells us in Acts chapter 3 about the miracle Peter performed. There was a man who had been unable to walk since he was born. Peter healed the man so the man could walk.

Peter was given the power through the Holy Spirit to perform miracles like Jesus had performed miracles when He was on the earth.

(SLIDE 10)

READ ACTS 4:5-7

The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas, the high priest, was there. So were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and other people in the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought to them. They wanted to question them. “By what power did you do this?” they asked. “And through whose name?” (NIrV)

The Jewish religious leaders are the people who are questioning Peter and John. They want to know how the man who couldn’t walk was healed and could now walk. They are asking Peter and John how they were able to heal the man. They ask “ by what power” and “through whose name” they healed the man. How do you think Peter and John replied to the religious leaders? (allow responses)

(SLIDE 11)

READ ACTS 4:8-11

Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! Are you asking us to explain our actions today? Do you want to know why we were kind to a man who couldn’t walk? Are you asking how he was healed? Then listen to this, you and all the people of Israel! You nailed Jesus Christ of Nazareth to the cross. But God raised him from the dead. It is through Jesus’ name that this man stands healed in front of you. Scripture says that Jesus is ‘the stone you builders did not accept. But it has become the most important stone of all.’” (NIrV)

So Whose Name did Peter claim that the man was healed by? (Jesus’s)

At the very beginning of the verse, Who does it say that Peter was filled with? (the Holy Spirit)

When we believe in Jesus, He sends His Holy Spirit to live inside of us. The Holy Spirit is our guide and He never leaves us!

Peter also quotes another part of the Bible in this passage. He is quoting from the Old Testament book of Psalms when he says that Jesus is “the stone you builders did not accept. But it has become the most important stone of all.” [Psalm 118:22]

Peter was claiming that Jesus was written about in the Scriptures long before He was even born! This is something that would have gotten the Jewish religious leaders’ attention. They studied those Scriptures and knew them very well.

Peter was saying that Jesus is the Messiah, the leader who came to rescue the people, but many of them rejected Him and didn’t believe in Him.

The next verse in this passage spoken by Peter is very important to what we believe as Christians.

(SLIDE 12)

READ ACTS 4:12

You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them. (NIrV)

What is Peter saying in this verse? (allow responses and discussion)

Peter is saying that NO ONE EXCEPT JESUS can save us! To be saved, you MUST BELIEVE IN JESUS! It is very important to understand this because the world we live in tries to teach us differently. But the TRUTH is that Jesus is the only way for us to be saved and go to Heaven.

Remember, when we believe in Jesus and ask Him to save us, He sends the Holy Spirit to live inside of us to comfort and guide us. Peter and John followed Jesus, so they had the Holy Spirit living inside of them. The religious leaders knew that something was special about them.

(SLIDE 13)

READ ACTS 4:13-15

The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were. They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders. They realized that these men had been with Jesus. The leaders could see the man who had been healed. He was standing there with them. So there was nothing they could say. They ordered Peter and John to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked things over. (NIrV)

Who made Peter and John bold? (the Holy Spirit)

The Holy Spirit made Peter and John bold. What does it mean to be “bold”? (allow responses)

Being “bold” means that you are brave and confident, and you stand up for what you believe in.

The religious leaders saw that something was different about them, but they still didn’t believe in Jesus. They tried to make Peter and John stop preaching and teaching about Jesus. (Acts 4:16-18) What do you think Peter and John did? Do you think they stopped teaching about Jesus because the religious leaders told them to stop? (allow responses and discussion)

(SLIDE 14)

READ ACTS 4:19-20

But Peter and John replied, “Which is right from God’s point of view? Should we listen to you? Or should we listen to God? You be the judges! There’s nothing else we can do. We have to speak about the things we’ve seen and heard.” (NIrV)

Peter and John knew what was right for them to do. Jesus had told them to teach others about Him.

Did you know that Jesus also wants you to share with others about Him?

Is it sometimes difficult, or even scary, to talk to someone about Jesus? (allow responses and discussion)

When we accept Jesus’s free gift and ask Him to save us, who comes to live inside of our hearts and never leaves us? (the Holy Spirit)

Who was living inside of Peter and John when they had the boldness to preach and teach about Jesus? (the Holy Spirit)

The Holy Spirit made Peter and John bold, and guess what? The Holy Spirit can also help you to be bold.

That is our BIG IDEA for this week.

(SLIDE 15) The Holy Spirit helps me be bold.

Anytime you are feeling weak or scared or nervous, you can ask the Holy Spirit to comfort you. He will even help you by giving you the words to say to someone who needs to hear about Jesus! You won’t even have to think about it. Just ask the Holy Spirit for the words to say and He will put them in your head!

Dear God,

Thank you for the true story of Peter and John when they were bold in front of the religious leaders. Thank You for sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that we can also have the Holy Spirit living inside of us to help make us bold. Please continue to help us understand the Truths that are found in the Bible and help us to learn more about you everyday.

We love you and we pray all of these things in Jesus’ sweet name, Amen.

LARGE GROUP ACTIVITY

We learned about one time when the Holy Spirit made people bold today in the book of Acts.

What does it mean to be bold? (to be brave and confident; stand up for what you believe in)

Did you know that there are many true stories in the Bible of times when the Holy Spirit helped people be bold?

You are going to read about 4 more times in the Bible when the Holy Spirit helped people be bold.

Pass out the “I Can Be Bold” Reflection pages to each student, along with a pencil.

Each person will grab a Bible and choose a partner or a small group of friends to work with.

Around the room, you will see the letters B-O-L-D. (If your director has set up multiple sets around the room, instruct students that they only need to visit each letter one time.)

At each station, you will see a Bible passage reference to find in the Bible. Find the passage in the Bible, read it to yourself or out loud with your group and then discuss the questions that are on the paper. You can use your “I Can Be Bold” Reflection page to answer the questions and write down what you want to remember about each passage and the discussion that you have with your friends.

LEADER NOTE: You will want to spread the students out to begin and possibly set a timer for each station and then instruct them to rotate a certain way so the entire class is not working on one station at the same time.

If possible, have a leader at each station to help students find passages, read passages, and interpret passages.

B: Acts 13:4-12 (Paul and Barnabas on Cyprus)

O: Ephesians 3:1-7 (Paul speaking to Gentiles) It will be important to tell students that “Gentiles” are everyone who is not a Jew.

L: Acts 13:42-52 (Paul and Barnabas in the synagogues)

D: Galatians 5:16-18 (Living by the Power of the Spirit)

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY

Today to help us remember the story about Peter and John and how the Holy Spirit can help us be bold, you are going to write a poem.

An “acrostic poem” is a type of poem where the first letter of each line spells out a word when you read it vertically (up and down).

(SLIDE 16) For example, look at these acrostic poems.

You are going to get to choose which word you use to write your poem. I have several choices for you. (BOLD, JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT) If you finish one early, you can start on another one if you like. You can also color your paper and add pictures after you write your poem.

Allow students to choose one of the poem pages. You may choose to allow younger students to draw a picture rather than write a poem. You may also choose to allow students to choose their own words to write their poems.

BREAK INTO SMALL GROUPS TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY.

Discussion Prompts for Leaders:

• Who is the Holy Spirit? (the third Person of the Trinity)
• What does the Holy Spirit do? (helps us, comforts us, guides us, makes us bold)
• Who can receive the Holy Spirit in their lives? (anyone who believes in Jesus and asks Him to save them)
• What are some ways the Holy Spirit has helped you in your life?
• What is this week’s Big Idea? (The Holy Spirit helps me be bold.)
• What is this week’s memory verse? (Galatians 5:22-23)
• How does this week‘s memory verse connect with the story about Peter and John? (they are both about the Holy Spirit and the good things that come from Him)

CLOSING REFLECTION

We learned that Peter and John were bold because the Holy Spirit was with them to comfort and guide them. Anyone who believes in Jesus and accepts His free gift will have the Holy Spirit living inside of them just like Peter and John did. Jesus wants us to accept His free gift of salvation. He came to the earth to live a sinless life, die on the cross, be buried, and raise again on the third day. He did this to take the punishment for our sins so we can live forever with Him in Heaven. All we have to do is ask Jesus to save us and accept His gift!

Reflection Questions:

• Who was Peter and John filled with? (the Holy Spirit)
• How do we know that the Holy Spirit comes to live inside people who follow Jesus? (Jesus told us that He would send His Holy Spirit to live inside of people who believe in Him – John 14:15-17)
• Does anyone have any questions about today’s lesson?

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